First built as a fort in 1933, Himeji Castle has gone through several major constructions and expansion throughout several hundred years, including surviving the Second World War in 1945. In 1581, the famous warrior Hashiba Hideyoshi built a 3-storied keep in Himeji Castle. The current 5-storied, 7-floored Main Keep was completed in 1609. In 1934, the Main Keep of Himeji Castle was designated as National Treasure. In 1993, Himeji Castle was registered as Japan’s first UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
A major maintenance and repair work of the Main Keep began in 2009 and completed in 2015 which was just one year ago. In my recent visit for the cherry blossom, part of the structure is still covered with scaffolding.
I think this is so far the only castle in Japan that I could see from a distance as soon as I get out the Himeji JR Station. Many photographers gathered on the second floor of the JR station and use a super long-range lens to take photos of the castle. I took this picture outside the castle. 我相信姬路城是我暫時在日本看過唯一可以一出 JR 站就可以遠遠看到的城堡。不少攝影發燒友就在火車站上層用超長鏡頭拍照。這張是我在城外拍的照片。You may get a boat ride on the moat which is only available since March 2016. It costs ¥1,000 per adult and everyone is given a traditional bamboo hat of the old days to wear. Look interesting from a onlooker’s point of view. 遊客可以坐遊覽船沿護城河遊覽姬路城。成人每位¥1,000，遊客都戴上古老竹帽，對我這些旁觀者來說，古城有這樣的游覽船，拍照才好看。This is the front gate (Ote Mon). 這是姬路城的正門（打手門）。After entering the front gate, there is a vast space in the middle (San-no-Maru) surrounded by cherry trees. It is a very popular park. There are lots of people sitting and walking around the park. 過了大手門後，就會看到三之丸，是一塊很大的空地，旁邊有草地和櫻花樹。草地上坐滿了賞櫻的人。Simply walk along the cherry trees on the left, you will get to the admission gate of the Main Keep. 左邊直行就會到達天守閣的售票處。沿途有很多櫻花樹。A single ticket to the Main Keep costs ¥1,000 but a combined ticket including the entrance to Koko-en next door is only ¥1,040. So why not. 天守閣的門票每人¥1,000，而可以同時進入旁邊的好古園的「共通入場券」才¥1,040，很划算，於是就買了共通入場券。There are many cherry trees in the paid area, beautiful. 進入天守閣範圍內後，看到很多櫻花樹，滿開真的很漂亮。Himeji Castle is one of the 10 best castles in Japan. Its 32 mud walls are designated as Important Cultural Properties, the 8 Keeps are designated as National Treasures, the premises within the inner moats are designated as Special Historic Sites, and the Main Keep designated as National Treasure and registered on the list of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. 姬路城是日本10大名城之一：城內的32處土牆是重要文物；八棟建築是國寶；護城河內都被指定為特別古蹟；天守閣更是國寶和世界文化遺產。The beautiful Main Keep of Himeji Castle with white plaster is also known as the White Egret Castle. 這座漂亮的白灰泥壁城堡，外形如白鷺挺立舞動的姿勢，又名「白鷺城」。This highly regarded castle has attracted a lot of tourists at the weekend. It takes more than one hour just to queue up to the Main Keep. My main objective was to see cherry blossom in this trip. So I turned back even after I’ve bought the ticket, and continue to visit other park area. 由於姬路城是日本主要名城，並且剛剛維修完畢重新開放，春天櫻花滿開跟吸引很多遊客前菜參觀。雖然已經買了門票並開始排隊入天守閣，但實在太多人了，要排隊一個小時以上才能進入，我的目的是賞櫻，所以放棄入天守閣。The sky started to clear up after 4pm. The castle looks so beautiful and spectacular! 多雲的天空到下午4點後開始轉晴朗，城堡在斜陽下真的很漂亮！You may capture the whole castle with full blossom cherry trees from the outside. Very nice! 沿城堡外圍行，就已經可以拍攝到整座姬路城和櫻花樹。Transportation : simply take JR train to Himeji station. It takes about 1 hour from Osaka station direct. Then walk about 20 minutes. 交通：乘搭JR可直達姬路。從大阪出發最快可以一小時到達。然後徒步約20分鐘。
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