🕓 2025/1/30
#Castle
Himeji Castle: History and Overview Explained in Detail
Himeji Castle: History and Overview in Detail
Introduction
**히메지성(Himeji Castle)**은 일본을 대표하는 성 중 하나로, 웅장한 건축미와 눈부신 흰 벽으로 수 세기에 걸쳐 방문객을 매료해 왔습니다. 일본 성곽 건축의 정점으로 평가받으며, 마쓰모토성, 구마모토성과 함께 “일본 3대 명성”에 꼽힙니다.
Located in **Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture**, it was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. In this article, we will examine the overview, history, and main highlights of Himeji Castle in detail. We hope you fully experience the diverse charm of Himeji Castle.
Overview of Himeji Castle
**히메지성(姫路城)**은 효고현 히메지시 혼마치(兵庫県姫路市本町)에 자리 잡고 있으며, 하얀 회반죽 외관이 아름다워 **“시라사기조(白鷺城)”**라는 애칭으로도 널리 알려져 있습니다. 그 기원은 14세기 무렵, 남북조 시대의 무장인 **아카마쓰 노리무라(赤松則村, 엔신 円心)**가 축성한 작은 요새라고 전해집니다.
Subsequently, from the Sengoku to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, **Kuroda Yoshitaka** and **Hashiba (Toyotomi) Hideyoshi** repeatedly renovated and expanded it, developing it into a full-fledged castle with stone walls and a keep. Furthermore, **Ikeda Terumasa**, who governed the Harima region under the Toyotomi regime, carried out large-scale reconstruction from 1601 (Keicho 6), reportedly laying the foundation for the magnificent appearance we see today.
During the Edo period, it served as the administrative center of the Himeji Domain, with the Honda, Matsudaira, Sakai and other families serving as lords until the end of the shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration, many castles were demolished under the Abolition of Castles decree, but Himeji Castle was preserved in relatively good condition, partly used as military facilities and schools. In particular, having escaped air raid damage during World War II, it became a precious example that conveys prewar castle architecture to the present day.
1950년(쇼와 25년) 문화재보호법 시행 이후에는 여러 차례 대규모 보수가 이루어졌고, 1964년(쇼와 39년) “쇼와의 대수리”가 완료되었습니다. 또한 1993년(헤이세 5년)에는 호류지(法隆寺) 지역 불교 건조물과 함께 일본 최초로 유네스코 세계유산에 등재되어, 국보 및 중요문화재로도 높은 평가를 받고 있습니다.
The architectural features of Himeji Castle include the **linked-tower keep (renritsu-shiki tenshu)** centered on the **main keep (daitenshu)** with its 5-story exterior and 6-story interior, connected by **watariyagura (connecting turrets)** to the West, Inui, and East small keeps. The pure white plaster walls enhance fire resistance and durability, which is the secret to maintaining a bright and beautiful exterior even after many years.
Additionally, gates and walls are arranged in extremely complex patterns to prevent easy enemy intrusion, forming maze-like passages. Furthermore, defensive features designed for combat such as **ishiotoshi (stone-dropping holes)** and sama (loopholes) remain well preserved today, offering a glimpse into the excellent defensive functions of castle architecture.
With cherry blossoms in spring, autumn foliage, summer festivals, and winter snow scenes, visitors can enjoy diverse scenery throughout all four seasons, making it a famous spot visited by many tourists from both Japan and abroad. During illumination periods, it is also known for presenting a fantastical appearance at night.
From the Azuchi-Momoyama period through the Meiji Restoration and postwar recovery to the present day, Himeji Castle has never lost its brilliance and is valued as a precious cultural heritage from architectural, historical, and cultural perspectives.
History of Himeji Castle
History of Himeji Castle는 여러 세기에 걸친 개축과 보존 노력을 통해 지금의 모습에 이르렀습니다. 웅장한 구조와 눈부신 흰 벽은 수많은 방문객을 매료해 왔습니다. 자세한 내용은 아래를 참고해주세요.
1. 초기 축성 (1333년 ~ 1346년)
Himeji Castle’s origins are traced to 1333, when **Akamatsu Norimura (Enshin)**, a warrior of the Northern and Southern Courts period, first built a small fortress atop Himeyama. This was a turbulent period when the Kamakura Shogunate collapsed and Emperor Go-Daigo’s Kenmu Restoration began, with Norimura supporting Emperor Go-Daigo and controlling the region including Harima Province.
이 요새는 원래 군사적 요충지로서 자연 지형을 적극 활용해 지어졌고, 이후 노리무라의 아들인 **아카마쓰 사다노리(赤松貞範)**가 1346년에 “히메야마성(姫山城)”으로 재건하여 한층 더 성곽다운 모습을 갖추게 되었다고 알려져 있습니다. While the castle built on Himeyama land during this period is said to have become the foundation for the later development of Himeji Castle, records from the Northern and Southern Courts period are limited, leaving many aspects of the fortress’s specific scale and structure unclear.
2. 도요토미 히데요시에 의한 개축 (1581년)
Image is for illustration purposes
From the Sengoku to the Azuchi-Momoyama period, around 1580, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (then known as Hashiba Hideyoshi), while conquering the Chugoku region under Oda Nobunaga’s orders, established control over Himeji Castle and carried out major reconstruction in 1581. Through this, it is said he expanded the existing castle to a 3-story keep and strengthened its defenses by improving stone walls and expanding moats.
히데요시는 축성 자재를 마련하기 위해 성 아래 마을 주민들에게 돌 기부를 요청했고, 한 노파가 맷돌을 바쳤다는 ‘오바가이시(おばがいし)’ 이야기 역시 이 시기에 비롯되었습니다. Through this extensive reconstruction, Himeji Castle greatly enhanced its function as a military strongpoint, laying the groundwork for the subsequent major reconstruction by **Ikeda Terumasa** (1601-1609).
3. 이케다 테루마사에 의한 재건 (1601년 ~ 1609년)
Image is for illustration purposes
After the 1600 Battle of Sekigahara, **Tokugawa Ieyasu** appointed Ikeda Terumasa as the lord to govern Harima Province (present-day southwestern Hyogo Prefecture) and gave him Himeji Castle. Terumasa undertook large-scale reconstruction from 1601 to 1609, reportedly nearly completing the basic form of Himeji Castle as we see it today. It is said that approximately 2.5 million person-days of labor were invested, with workers and materials gathered from across the country.
가장 큰 특징은 천수를 포함한 ‘연립식 천수(連立式天守)’ 구조를 완성한 점입니다. 중심이 되는 대천수(大天守)와 소천수를 **와타리야구라(渡櫓)**로 연결해 입체적으로 배치한 것은 당시 최첨단 축성 기술을 보여주는 예라 할 수 있습니다. Furthermore, stone walls and moats were reinforced and improved, dramatically enhancing defensive capabilities.
4. 에도 시대의 발전 (1617년 ~ 1868년)
Image is for illustration purposes
After Ikeda Terumasa’s death, the lords of Himeji Castle continued to change, and the castle developed alongside its castle town (jokamachi). In 1617, **Honda Tadamasa** was appointed lord and reportedly promoted improvements to Nishinomaru, expansion of turrets, and strengthening of the defense system. White plaster (shiroshikkui) was thickly applied to the castle walls as fire prevention measures while also enhancing the castle’s exterior appearance.
타다마사의 아들인 **혼다 타다토키(本多忠刻)**가 요절한 뒤, 그의 아내이자 도쿠가와 이에야스의 손녀였던 **센히메(千姫)**가 히메지성에 들어와 생활했는데, 그녀가 기거했던 “니시노마루”가 오늘날 ‘센히메ゆかり의 땅’으로도 유명합니다. Throughout the Edo period, Himeji Castle was maintained without major destruction, with only some buildings added or modified in response to changes in domain lords and political circumstances, serving as a stable political and economic center.
5. 메이지 시대의 보존 (1868년 ~ 1912년)
메이지 유신 이후, 많은 성곽이 폐성령(廃城令) 등으로 철거되었으나 히메지성은 1871년(메이지 4년) “관공청 매각”(일명 ‘옥션’) 당시, 지역 실업가와 주민들이 매입하여 대규모 철거를 면할 수 있었습니다. Although parts were subsequently used as military facilities and school classrooms, the main keep and turrets were not destroyed and remained intact.
Designated as a National Treasure in 1931, the castle miraculously escaped major damage despite air raids on the area around Himeji City during World War II. In particular, records indicate bombs were dropped near the keep, but they were reportedly duds that did not cause fatal damage.
6. 세계유산 등록과 현대의 수리 (1993년 ~ 현재)
히메지성은 1964년(쇼와 39년)까지 “쇼와의 대수리”를 마무리하며 국보·중요문화재로서의 가치를 국내외에 알렸습니다. Then in 1993, along with the Buddhist monuments in the Horyu-ji area, it was registered as one of Japan’s first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites.
그 후에도 건축물 노후화와 회반죽벽의 손상 등 문제가 제기되어, 2009년(헤이세 21년)부터 약 6년간 “헤이세의 대수리”가 이루어졌고, 2015년(헤이세 27년)에 완료되었습니다. Thanks to various construction work including roof tile replacement, wall plaster repairs, and timber reinforcement, Himeji Castle regained its pure white exterior and maintains an appearance that allows visitors to feel its original grandeur to this day.
Highlights of Himeji Castle
히메지성은 웅장한 구조와 아름다운 경관으로 인해 많은 관광객들의 사랑을 받는 명소입니다. 아래에서 주요 볼거리를 자세히 Introduction합니다.
■ 천수각(天守閣)
The keep forming the center of Himeji Castle is a magnificent 6-story building that served as the defensive core of the entire castle. The keep consists of 6 above-ground floors and 1 basement level, with very sophisticated wooden structures inside. Particularly noteworthy is the massive central pillar spanning 24.5 meters that plays a crucial role in securing the keep’s stability. This pillar has a diameter of approximately 1 meter and extends from the basement to the 6th floor, skillfully joined from multiple timber pieces.
Each floor is designed to become smaller as you ascend, forming Himeji Castle’s elegant silhouette. From the highest floor, you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of Himeji City, and see the decorative roof tiles called **shachigawara** up close. These tiles were considered a symbol of fire prevention and played an important role in the castle’s fireproofing measures.
The design has multipurpose functionality, serving as a defensive strongpoint during wartime and as storage during peacetime. These structural features and design sophistication are the factors that have led to Himeji Castle being regarded as the pinnacle of Japanese castle architecture.
■ 오테몬(大手門)
The Otemon is the main entrance to Himeji Castle, where visitors first pass through. Rebuilt in 1938, it faithfully recreates the original structure and exudes a strong historical atmosphere. The path after the Otemon is labyrinthine, designed to slow enemy invasion. Passing through stone walls, defensive turrets, and narrow passages, you can directly experience the castle’s defense system.
■ 니시노마루(西の丸)
니시노마루는 한때 **센히메(千姫)**가 머물렀던 여성 전용 생활 공간으로, 긴 복도가 특징입니다. 이 구역에는 당시의 생활상을 엿볼 수 있는 전시가 마련되어 있어, 성 내부를 천천히 둘러볼 수 있습니다. 니시노마루에서는 히메지성의 아름다운 외관을 촬영하기 좋은 명소가 여럿 있으며, ‘햐켄로카(百間廊下)’라 불리는 긴 복도가 성의 방어에 중요한 역할을 했다는 사실도 흥미롭습니다.
■ 사쿠라몬바시(桜門橋)
Sakuramonbashi is where visitors first encounter a full view of Himeji Castle, and is considered one of the best photo spots especially during cherry blossom season. Crossing this wooden bridge leads directly to the Otemon, and the elegant castle exterior viewed from Sakuramonbashi harmonizes with fully bloomed cherry blossoms, making it a popular tourist spot. This bridge was reconstructed in 2007 based on its original Edo-period design.
■ 오키쿠이도(お菊井戸)
오키쿠이도는 히메지성 구내에 있는 오래된 우물로, 유명한 괴담 **‘사라야시키(皿屋敷) 전설’**과 관련된 장소 중 하나로 널리 알려져 있습니다. The well itself is surrounded by stone with an open top, preserved and open to the public, with well-maintained information signs in the surrounding area.
일본 각지에는 ‘사라야시키 전설’이라 불리는 괴담이 여럿 전해지는데, 그중에서도 히메지성과 관련된 이야기가 특히 유명하다고 합니다. 봉사하던 여성 **오키쿠(お菊)**가 관리하던 집안의 보물 그릇 10장 중 1장이 누군가의 음모로 사라져 무고한 죄를 뒤집어쓰고, 결국 살해되어 이 우물(오키쿠이도)에 던져진 결과로 밤마다 유령이 나타나 “한 장, 두 장, 세 장… 아홉 장… 한 장이 없어…”라고 숫자를 세며 사람들을 공포에 떨게 했고, 이를 진정시키기 위한 공양이 이루어졌다는 이야기가 전해집니다.
■ 햐켄로카(百間廊下)
The Hyakken Corridor is a long corridor located in Nishinomaru that played an important role in Himeji Castle’s defense. Various exhibits are displayed in this corridor, allowing visitors to examine the castle’s construction techniques and everyday items of the era. It is particularly good for learning about wooden joinery techniques and defensive devices, with the great appeal of experiencing castle life and strategies of that period.
■ 히메지성 공원(姫路城公園)
Himeji Castle Park is a spacious park outside the castle with free admission. During cherry blossom season, many tourists come for picnics, and at night the castle is illuminated, creating a dreamlike landscape. The park contains plazas and ponds, making it ideal for walking or relaxing, and thanks to regularly held events, you can discover new attractions with each visit.
■ 고코엔(好古園)
Koko-en is a Japanese garden located near Himeji Castle, opened in 1992 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Himeji City’s municipal system. The garden was established on the former site of the Himeji Castle lord’s western residence and was designed based on Edo-period garden styles. Each area has its own unique beauty, with abundant Japanese garden elements including bamboo, pine trees, ponds, and koi fish harmoniously blended. 예를 들어, **‘다이묘 정원(大名庭園)’**에서는 큰 연못과 돌다리가 있어, 방문객을 에도 시대 풍경 속으로 이끕니다.
특히 눈여겨볼 만한 곳은 **‘차실 쌍수암(双樹庵)’**입니다. 이 차실은 우라센케(裏千家) 15대 가문주(家元)의 설계로, 전통적인 다실 양식을 재현했습니다. Visitors can enjoy matcha and Japanese sweets while appreciating the beautiful garden.
Conclusion
Himeji Castle offers profound inspiration to visitors through its historical value and beautiful scenery. Its complex castle structure, sophisticated defense system, and excellent state of preservation represent the pinnacle of Japanese castle architecture.
We would be delighted if this article has conveyed even a small part of Himeji Castle’s charm to more people. When you visit Himeji Castle, we hope you spend a special time experiencing its history and culture firsthand.