Castle and Town 城と町

Official explanation

Himeji Castle’s original fortifications extended beyond the main castle grounds to include several neighborhoods protected by moats and earthen embankments. This entire area was often collectively referred to as Himeji Castle. The residents were housed according to social standing: high-ranking samurai lived closer to the center, and merchants and craftsmen lived just beyond the middle moat.

Outside the castle fortifications were several villages that predated the castle. New communities and neighborhoods were established after the castle was constructed as people moved to the growing city. Some of the new areas were named for their residents’ occupations, including Zaimoku-machi (“lumber town”) and Takajō-machi (“falconer town”).

Read the full explanation

This scale model is based on a detailed housing map created during the rule of the Sakai clan, who oversaw Himeji between 1749 and 1868. The model’s property boundaries match those of the map, but the buildings and vegetation are the artist’s conception.

出典: 地域観光資源の多言語解説文データベース（観光庁） — www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db. この英語解説文は観光庁の地域観光資源の多言語解説整備支援事業で作成しました。
Source: Japan Tourism Agency, Multilingual Explanation Database. This English text was produced by the Japan Tourism Agency's multilingual explanation project and is shown unedited. Opening hours and services may have changed since it was written.