<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> show Transcriptions </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Romanization </Th> <Td> Himeji - jō </Td> </Tr> <P> Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji - jō) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan . The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period . The castle is frequently known as Hakuro - jō or Shirasagi - jō ("White Egret Castle" or "White Heron Castle") because of its brilliant white exterior and supposed resemblance to a bird taking flight . </P> <P> Himeji Castle dates to 1333, when Akamatsu Norimura built a fort on top of Himeyama hill . The fort was dismantled and rebuilt as Himeyama Castle in 1346, and then remodeled into Himeji Castle two centuries later . Himeji Castle was then significantly remodeled in 1581 by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who added a three - story castle keep . In 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu awarded the castle to Ikeda Terumasa for his help in the Battle of Sekigahara, and Ikeda completely rebuilt the castle from 1601 to 1609, expanding it into a large castle complex . Several buildings were later added to the castle complex by Honda Tadamasa from 1617 to 1618 . For over 400 years, Himeji Castle has remained intact, even throughout the extensive bombing of Himeji in World War II, and natural disasters such as the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake . </P>

Where is the himeji castle located in japan