Himeji-jo, visible from miles away because it is very big. No-one ever tested the architecturally integrated defenses by attacking the castle, which seems a like a bit of a waste to me
Some people, for once. Gives an idea of the scale, although they could actually be a bit closer to the base.
A couple of floors of the main keep are occupied by a display of paintings of and by some of the occupants, and artefacts from various stages of the castle's history. The armour is supposed to be bulletproof. I think. I may have made that up. Bullet-resistant, let's say.
Next to the castle were some landscaped gardens, including a small lake full of monstrous carp.
The visitors' centre had free bicycle hire, so we took a ride round the castle. Not sure how long it takes, because I kept stopping to take pictures.
This might have been the best restaurant we went to, though that's a tough call. A Japanese/Korean place that does nabe and samgyeopsal is hard to beat.
