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Himeji Castle facts for kids

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Himeji Castle
姫路城
Himeji, Hyōgo, Japan
Himeji Castle The Keep Towers
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle in May 2015 after the five-year renovation of the roof and walls
Himeji Castle姫路城 is located in Japan
Himeji Castle姫路城
Himeji Castle
姫路城
Coordinates 34°50′22″N 134°41′38″E / 34.83944°N 134.69389°E / 34.83944; 134.69389
Type Azuchi-Momoyama castle
Height 46.4 m (152 ft)
Site information
Condition Intact, restoration work for preservation recently completed
Site history
Built
  • 1333, 1300 (Himeyama fort/castle)
  • 1581 (expansion)
  • 1601–1609 (expansion)
  • 1617–1618 (expansion)
Built by
  • Akamatsu Norimura (1333–1346)
  • Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1581)
  • Ikeda Terumasa (1601–1609)
  • Honda Tadamasa (1617–1618)
In use 1333–1868-1945(as military camp)
Materials Wood, stone, plaster, tile
Demolished
  • 1346 (demolished for reconstruction)
  • 1601–1609 (demolished for reconstruction)
Garrison information
Garrison
  • ~500 (Ikeda family, soldiers)
  • ~4,000 (Honda family, soldiers)
  • ~3,000 (Sakakibara family, soldiers)
  • ~2,200 (Sakai family, soldiers)
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria Cultural: i, iv
Inscription 1993 (17th Session)
Area 107 ha
Buffer zone 143 ha

Himeji Castle (姫路城) is a Japanese castle which is in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture. It includes 83 buildings made of wood. It is sometimes known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior.

It is a Japanese National Cultural Treasure. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan.

Several movies have been filmed at the castle, like Akira Kurosawa's Kagemusha and Ran; The Last Samurai starring Tom Cruise; and the Shogun 1980 TV-miniseries/movie starring Richard Chamberlain.

In 2009, Himeiji Castle was recognized as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan which best show contemporary Japan and its culture in the Heisei period.

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See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Castillo Himeji para niños

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