Himeji Castle is nicknamed the White Heron Castle because of its bright white appearance and elegant, wing-like form.
The castle stands in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture. Its present main complex developed in the early 17th century under Ikeda Terumasa, who expanded the site after receiving Himeji from Tokugawa Ieyasu following the Battle of Sekigahara.
The white exterior comes largely from white plaster applied to the walls. This coating helped protect the timber-and-earthen structure from fire and weather, while also creating the castle’s famous appearance. Its defensive design includes layered walls, gates, winding routes, and openings for archers and firearm users.
Himeji survived war, earthquakes, and modern redevelopment with much of its historic structure intact. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Matsumoto Castle, by contrast, is widely known as the Crow Castle because of its dark exterior, making the two names an easy source of confusion.