CW's Blog: Himeji

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden, 好古园 (2)

One of the beautiful scenes in Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden.

It is early spring, many trees still without leaves except scrubs. The garden will look more greenish approaching mid-spring.

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden, 好古园 (1)

Nishi-Oyashiki-Ato Garden (好古园). This stroll-type Japanese garden was built to commemorate Himeji City's 100th anniversary, featuring ponds and springs against the backdrop of the world cultural heritage Himeji Castle. Composed of 9 separate gardens making use of the layout of the former Lord's Residence and other samurai houses in the Edo period, it covers an area of 3.5 ha. Pictures below showing beautiful scenes surronding the garden including koi pond.

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Himeji Castle (5)

Here is the sleeping area for ancient Japanese armies while defending their castle. There are gun emplacements (as the following photo) and stone-dropping holes nearby.

Ancient suits of armour

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Himeji Castle (4)

A closer look as we walked near the stair to the castle.

I like this tree very much especially its branches, is it kind of rain tree?

Castle gargoyle -- an imaginary tiger-headed fish, called kinshachi (金鯱); this motif is used as a talisman for fire prevention.

City view of Himeji

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Himeji Castle (3)

Another different angle view of Himeji Castle as we walked uphill.

One type of the crest tiles in Himeji Castle.

There are many types of crest tiles of the lords which were installed in building and repairing the castle over the years.

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Cherry Blossoms at Himeji Castle

Cherry Blossoms or Sakura (樱花) . Late March and early April of every year is flower viewing season called hanami (花見), this is a social phenomenon since Heian period (749 -1191).

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Himeji Castle (2)

Cherry blossoms trees and lamp post surrounding the castle.

Another different angle view of Himeji Castle - it widely considered to be Japan's most beautiful surviving feudal castle.

Day 2 - Japan Trip 2008 - Himeji Castle (1)

Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) is a flatland-mountain Japanese Castle complex located in Himeji in Hyōgo Prefecture and comprising 83 wooden buildings. It is occasionally known as Hakurojō or Shirasagijō ("White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior.
It was registered as the first Japanese National Cultural Treasure by UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Japanese National Cultural Treasure in December, 1993. Along with Matsumoto Castle and Kumamoto Castle, it is one of Japan's "Three Famous Castles", and is the most visited castle in Japan.