Himeji Castle, Japan
Sightseeing
Monday, February 25, 2008
The castle entrance.
I did not sleep well last night; not sure why. I got up
at 4:30 and worked on the computer. When Julia woke up, we had our (what has
become normal) breakfast at Starbucks, then took the fast train to Himeji to
see Himeji Castle. It was a quick trip, and the castle was really worth
the visit. It was started in 1333 and completed in 1601. Every temple, castle, or shrine
we visit claims to be the biggest wooden building in the world, but this
one might actually be it.
Here is a bit of trivia: Julia's mum's and David's
home was built in the 16th century, so it was already standing as the castle was
being finished.
What it might have looked like living in the castle.
The thought occurred to us as we took the tour of the
castle and explored the interior that you really had to have a castle in
those days, as someone was always wandering around wanting to take whatever
you had. So if you were lucky enough to be able to build your own world, you had
better surround it with a castle or lose it.
On our way out to another noodle place for lunch, we saw
a tree manicuring in progress. Here is a picture of men with scissors
snipping at the leaves.
From Julia: Again, we were struck by how freezing cold it
was inside the castle compared to outside (which was cold enough anyway).
There didn't seem to be any really comfy or luxurious living quarters in the
place; it seemed as if life was all military work and no play. The women
were locked up in a special part, and the rest seemed to be used to store
guns and rocks. There were holes everywhere in the walls for throwing anything at hand, such as
rocks, boiling oil, and other nasty stuff, at any silly idiot who tried to
climb the walls.
Tomorrow we leave Kyoto for Hiroshima.