The story of Himeji Castle in Japan highlights how easily historic sites can disappear. It nearly didn’t survive the test of time, facing multiple threats of demolition. Remarkably, local residents preserved it through their determination, not the government. By sheer chance, it also escaped destruction during the World Wars and a major earthquake.
How Himeji Castle Became an Iconic Landmark in Japan
The history of Himeji Castle in Japan can be traced back to 1333, when a fort was built on Himeyama Hill by Akamatsu Norimura, the ruler of Harima Province. Later, in 1346, the fort was replaced by Himeyama Castle by Norimura’s son, Sadanori, thus laying the foundation for what would eventually become the iconic Himeji Castle.
Himeji Castle’s Remarkable Survival Through History and Disasters
Himeji Castle’s Evolution
In 1545, the Kuroda clan also began remodeling the castle into what became Himeji Castle in Japan. They completed the work in 1561. In 1580, the castle was given to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three-story keep in 1581.
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demolished to Rebuild
In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu gave the castle to Ikeda Terumasa. Subsequently, between 1601 and 1609, Ikeda demolished Hideyoshi’s keep and rebuilt the castle, thereby transforming it into the structure we see today
Threats to the historical landmark
During the Meiji Period (1868–1912), many castles were destroyed. the Castle was abandoned in 1871. Some parts got demolished to make way for military barracks. A local resident purchased the castle at an auction for 23 yen (about 200,000 yen today). He had initially planned to tear it down, but the high cost of demolition led him to decide to renovate it instead.
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Both war and earthquakes played a significant role
Himeji Castle survived heavy bombing during World War II in 1945. Although the surrounding area was destroyed, the castle was left mostly unharmed. Notably, a firebomb was dropped on the top floor but failed to explode.
In 1956, repair work began to restore the castle. Despite the damage caused by the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995, Himeji Castle remained largely unaffected.
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