11 Nov 2013

Himeji Castle: 2009-2014 Restoration

Worth visiting despite the scaffolding

Oleh Anonymous

Community writer

To be honest, it is hard to tell what is being worked on or replaced, it almost seems to be completed already

The castle is no longer visible from the castle park, as a temporary building has been built around it. They do, however, have an image of the castle on the outside wall to give you an idea of what lies inside

Here is a diagram of the construction frame, on the left are levels. The bottom level, and top two levels are accessible by tourists for a nominal fee

The gables look beautiful despite the addition of the renewal structures

A once in a lifetime chance to not only see Himeji, but to get an example of what reconstruction looks like

A surprisingly low amount of workers are visible from the platform

The fact that the main keep is under construction does little to dampen the excitement of other tourists

As only the main keep is under construction, you can still enjoy the gates and walkways in all of their beauty

One can imagine sentries of ancient times peering from the slits in the windows

I wouldn't want to storm through the many gates and doors of Himeji Castle

The might of medeival architecture juxtaposed with the delicate nature of Japanese gardening

The sprawling castle grounds make a pleasant walking area for locals

The moat is, by itself, enough of a sight to make a visit to Himeji city worthwhile

Often, when visiting historic locations throughout Japan, one can read things concerning the original building of the structure and later renewals or reconstructions. But what exactly happens when something is reconstructed?

Visitors who may be disappointed to learn that Himeji Castle, world-famous for its beauty, is currently closed for renewal might be excited to learn that this affords them the rare opportunity to watch the restoration in action. Himeji Castle is considered one of the three greatest castles in Japan, with a history stretching back to 1333. It is the largest and most visited castle in Japan.

Possibly for this reason, the main keep remains open to the public even during reconstruction, with a special elevator and exhibition levels open to the public in order that they not only don't miss the opportunity to see the castle itself, but also so that they can see the renewal in progress.

The restoration work is a 5 year project from 2009-2014.