The view of Himeji from Himeji Castle
A model of Himeji castle
The main tower of Himeji Castle
The main tower of Himeji castle
Mike and the main tower
This platform is believed to have been used as a place when seppuku was performed at Himeji castle.
This is one of the wells at Himeji castle
This stone is believe to have been used as the location where the witness to seppuku would sit.
A view of the seppuku square at Himeji castle
Okiku ido at Himeji castle. This is the location where the servant Okiku was framed, toutured, and thrown into the well for stealing a valuable dinner plate because she had learned of a conspiracy against the lord. After the incident, her ghost was said to haunt the grounds counting the dinner plates (ichimai, nimai, sanmai, ... ). When her remains were eventually removed from the well and honored as a hero for saving the lord of Himeji Castle, it is said that her ghost finally found peace.
The main tower of Himeji castle
Himeji Castle at sunset
The women's quarters at Himeji castle.
A hallway of the women's quaters of Himeji castle. At night the women were locked away in this building in order to prevent unseemly men from corrupting them.
Yuki imagines life in the women's quarters.
Princess Sen's quaters at Himeji Castle.
The front of the fastest Shinkansen Nozomi
The aerodynamic nose of the Nozomi Shinkansen
Nozomi Shinkansen
Nozomi Shinkansen
Mike at the gate of himeji Castle
The world heritage sign at Himeji Castle
Mike with the Himeji Castle in the distance
Mike again with Himeji in the distance
Miek and Yuki in front of Himeji castle
The fortifications at the Himeji castle were daunting. At no point during its history was it ever taken by force.
The main tower of Himeji Castle
Getting closer to the main tower at Himeji
A view of the landscape from Himeji castle