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Due to its beauty and its extraordinarily good preservation, Himeji Castle was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site listed in Japan, in 1993. That same year, the government of Japan declared Himeji Castle a Japanese National Cultural Treasure.
The five story structure actually is just one of 83 different wooden buildings on the site. Its white color and flying rooflines lend Himeji its nickname, "The White Heron Castle."
Tens of thousands of tourists from Japan and abroad visit Himeji Castle each year. They come to admire the grounds and keep, including maze-like paths winding through the gardens, as well as the lovely white castle itself.
Other popular features include a haunted well and the Cosmetic Tower where the daimyos' ladies used to apply their makeup.