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. (Source: Japan Guide)
In 1545, the Kuroda clan 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. (Source: Wikipedia)
In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu gave the castle to Ikeda Terumasa. Between 1601 and 1609, Ikeda demolished Hideyoshi’s keep and rebuilt the castle, transforming it into the structure we see today. (Source: Japan Guide)
During the Meiji Period (1868–1912), many castles were destroyed, and Himeji Castle was abandoned in 1871. Some parts were demolished to make way for military barracks. A local resident purchased the castle at an auction for 23 yen (about 200,000 yen today). Initially planning to tear it down, the high cost of demolition led him to renovate it instead. (Source: Wikipedia)
