Himeji-jo is the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Japan that is home to the exceptionally preserved white Himeji Castle.
Himeji Castle stands in Hyogo Prefecture and is Japan’s most visited castle. Its brilliant white plastered walls give it the nickname White Heron Castle, while its defensive layout includes confusing paths, gates, walls, and openings for weapons.
The present main complex largely dates from the early 17th century, when Ikeda Terumasa expanded the fortress after receiving Himeji from Tokugawa Ieyasu. The five-story main keep is visually striking, although it contains six internal floors and a basement.
Himeji survived war, earthquakes, and fires with much of its structure intact. UNESCO inscribed Himeji-jo in 1993, recognizing it as a masterpiece of Japanese wooden castle architecture and a particularly complete example of traditional Japanese defensive design.