Which Japanese castle is known as the White Heron Castle?

The Japanese castle known as the White Heron Castle is Himeji Castle. Its brilliant white plastered walls and layered roofs are said to resemble a white heron taking flight, giving it the Japanese nicknames Shirasagi-jō and Hakuro-jō.

The site was first fortified in 1333 on Himeyama hill, but the castle complex seen today was largely rebuilt and expanded by Ikeda Terumasa between 1601 and 1609. It contains a network of 83 structures, including gates, corridors, storehouses, turrets, and the central keep. Its defensive design includes confusing paths, steep walls, loopholes, and multiple moats.

Himeji is sometimes confused with Matsumoto Castle, another celebrated Japanese castle, but Matsumoto is famous for its striking black exterior. Himeji survived war, earthquakes, and major urban destruction with remarkably little damage. It became one of Japan’s first UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1993 and remains one of the country’s most intact feudal castles.