2024 Jcastle cleanup and Happy New Year 2025

Happy new Year Jcastle fans! This mini update brings together several small updates, some page cleanups, and technical fixes that have been on my to do list for awhile but that I never quite got around to finishing. I think I've shared the substantive content updates to the Facebook page at some p

2024 Jcastle cleanup and Happy New Year 2025

2025-01-03

Happy new Year Jcastle fans!

This mini update brings together several small updates, some page cleanups, and technical fixes that have been on my to do list for awhile but that I never quite got around to finishing. I think I've shared the substantive content updates to the Facebook page at some point, but feel free to visit the revised pages on Jcastle too.

Himeji Castle - updated the Karamete album with photos from the recent special exhibit, combining photos from visits in 2022 and 2024. This area of the castle will again be open from the mid February to Mid March 2025 for any who may be interested.

I also added the Oremawari and Bizen Gate limited exhibit photos to their own album. This makes a nice set because the Oremawari Yagura and Bizen Gate make up one side of the courtyard defending the To-ni-ichi Gate and courtyard at the top of the karamete entrance.

I also added a small album for the boat tour of the moats. I wasn't going to do so originally but thought people might be interested in this tour as a different way to visit the castle.

Hikone Castle - Added a video and album for the yakatabune boat tour of the moat. Similar to Himeji I debated putting this up but especially here, you can see more of the moats and stone walls than you are likely to see on a single visit, especially if you don't have time or energy to walk them.

Kurita Castle - ART created the original profile but I renewed photos and added some notes.

Ohmizo Jin'ya - added photos and information about the newly refurbished gate

Ohmizo Castle - added information about a relocated part of the palace at Shoanji Temple

Nijo Castle - added a few photos of the Honmaru Palace which was recently reopened to the public and updated the notes as well.

Finally I cleaned up some more technical admin bits and pieces which never seem to be completely done either!!

It's good to start the new year with a mostly clean slate. The next new content additions will likely be updates to Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, Shuzan Castle, and Hagi Castle from recent visits and then working on 31 new mountain castle profiles around Kyoto and Shiga including two more themed feature pages. There's lots to look forward to in 2025!

Himeji Castle / 姫路城

I may be biased, but Himeji Castle is probably the most amazing place you could visit in Japan. There are some beautiful temples out there too but the sheer size of the main keep at Himeji Castle and the fact that you can walk around unhindered inside of it cannot be experienced elsewhere. Combined with the various types of gates and walls, it really is like stepping back in time. It can be very crowded however and the website provides some information about wait times to enter the main keep. If possible, try to visit on weekdays and plan to arrive when it opens. Most of the pictures you see in these albums were taken on weekdays in the winter, so it is possible to get good photos if you have some freedom with timing.

Just before the ticket counter, off to your left, is an administration office where you may be able to connect with a volunteer English guide to tour the castle too. They are very knowledgeable and do great tours helping to make sure you don't miss anything important.

I've been to Himeji Castle 15 times in about 20 years, but there are still things I've missed or forgotten to look for in the excitement of this great castle. If you have time, the Koko-en gardens are a worthy visit. You can also walk the outer moats around the castle to see more interesting angles of the castle and the ruins of other gates and fortifications. During certain seasons a boat ride around the moat makes for an interesting way to see the giant castle walls and moat up close too. Himeji is a nice town and hotels are less expensive than Kyoto/Osaka. If you spend a night here you can see more of the sites in and around the castle. The town also has a good bicycle rental system if you want to visit the castle and outlying areas efficiently.

Himeji Castle is too vast with too many great things to show, recently they have been opening up parts of the castle for limited exhibitions a couple times per year too. I've split the photos of the main castle, surrounding castle town and these special exhibits into multiple albums you will see after the map below. The photos below are just a couple key photos of the main keep.

Videos

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