Four Corridor Turrets, National Treasure since 1951
Himeji Castle, the I, Ro, Ha and Ni Corridor Turrets (姫路城イ、ロ、ハ、ニの渡櫓, Himeji-jo I Ro Ha Ni no Watari Yagura) are Momoyama-period castle structures at Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, made Important Cultural Properties on 19 January 1931 and designated National Treasures on 9 June 1951. The owner is the state, through the Ministry of Education.
Each is counted as one building, two-storeyed with a basement and roofed in plain tile, dated about 1609. Four buildings share one title, with individual names added in brackets.
9 June 1951 is the day on which both Yohen Tenmoku bowls and the Mikazuki Munechika were designated. 19 January 1931 is the day of the earlier listings for the Masatsune tachi and the Taihi Tenmoku bowl.
Two Buildings Called the I Turret, in Different Categories
Himeji Castle holds buildings whose names are nearly identical but whose categories differ.
The I turret within this property is a National Treasure. A separate record titled simply Himeji Castle, the I Turret is an Important Cultural Property, its National Treasure field left blank.
The earlier listing dates differ too: 19 January 1931 for this property, 14 December of the same year for the other. Eleven months apart.
So does the construction. This one is two-storeyed with a basement, roofed in plain tile; the other is a single-storeyed corridor turret. The dates are written differently as well, about 1609 against 1601 to 1609.
With the tachi inscribed Masatsune, several swords shared a signature; with Sashiki Castle Ruins, two sites shared a name. Those stood far apart. Here nearly identical names sit within one castle under different categories.
The same holds for Ro, Ha and Ni: separate records exist for each. All four pairs are doubled.
The Commentary Names Its Source
Something appears at the end of the commentary that has not appeared before.
A cited work is given: a dictionary of National Treasures, fourth volume, published in 2019.
The Agency's commentary shows where its text came from. Among the properties covered here, commentaries have not named sources.
With the Ataka and Kurohashi shell mounds and the Futagoyama site, a filename from the source document was left at the head of the commentary. That was an unintended trace. This is a citation added on purpose.
Both cases show how the record was made appearing in the text. But one was left behind, and the other was put there.
Eight National Treasures, Eighty-Two Important Cultural Properties
The commentary treats the whole castle. It opens by noting that eight buildings hold the designation.
It closes: the buildings of the castle listed as Important Cultural Properties, including turrets, gates and walls, number eighty-two in all.
Ninety buildings together. At Kankiin and Zuiryuji, the listed buildings did not reach ten in all. Himeji Castle is of another order.
The date of the great keep is recorded as well: an ink inscription shows that it was built from 1608 into the following year. Writing on the building itself grounds the date.
With the Vajrabhadrani Sutra, a colophon transcribed into the notes fixed the year 686. With the Konjaku Monogatarishu, no colophon existed and the date came from format and hand. Here an inscription in ink on the building gives it.
Visiting
The turrets stand at Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, owned by the state through the Ministry of Education. They form part of a castle, and access follows the arrangements of those who manage it.
The assessment is recorded: not only the finest castle representing the height of castle building in Japan, but valuable as the most completely surviving castle of all.
Of its form: within the keep enclosure, a five-tiered, six-storeyed great keep stands attended by smaller keeps to the west, north-west and east, and the varying heights and roof forms carry variation to its limit.
A corridor turret links building to building. These four stand among the keeps.
Conditions for visiting can change, so check the managing body's information before travelling.
- 📍 Plan Your Visit to Hyogo
- Find tours, activities & transport passes near Himeji Castle, the I, Ro, Ha and Ni Corridor Turrets
- [ Himeji Castle & Kobe Night View Cruise ]
Q&A
- When were the turrets designated?
- They became Important Cultural Properties on 19 January 1931 and National Treasures on 9 June 1951. They stand at Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, owned by the state through the Ministry of Education.
- Is there another turret of the same name?
- Yes. A record titled simply Himeji Castle, the I Turret is an Important Cultural Property, listed on 14 December 1931, eleven months later, and built as a single-storeyed corridor turret. Ro, Ha and Ni have matching pairs too.
- Does the commentary cite a source?
- Yes. It ends by citing a dictionary of National Treasures published in 2019. Commentaries for the properties covered here have not normally named their sources.
- How many listed buildings does the castle have?
- The commentary opens by noting eight National Treasures and closes by recording eighty-two Important Cultural Properties, including turrets, gates and walls: ninety buildings in all.
- When were they built?
- The turrets are dated to about 1609. Of the great keep, the record states that an ink inscription shows it was built from 1608 into the following year, so writing on the building grounds the date.
Basic Information
| Name | Himeji Castle, the I, Ro, Ha and Ni Corridor Turrets (姫路城イ、ロ、ハ、ニの渡櫓, Himeji-jo I Ro Ha Ni no Watari Yagura); separate records of nearly the same name are Important Cultural Properties |
|---|---|
| Location | Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | National Treasure (castle structure); the castle holds 8 National Treasures and 82 Important Cultural Properties |
| Year Designated | 1931 (19 January), Important Cultural Property; 1951 (9 June), National Treasure |
| Quantity | 1 building each, I, Ro, Ha and Ni together making 4 |
| Dimensions | Two-storeyed with a basement, roofed in plain tile, dated about 1609. Of the great keep, an ink inscription shows it was built from 1608 into the following year. The period is Momoyama |
| Owner | The state, through the Ministry of Education |
| Public Access | Part of a castle; access follows the arrangements of those who manage it |
References
- Cultural Heritage Online: the Ha corridor turret
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/123277
- Cultural Heritage Online: the I corridor turret
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/156805
- Cultural Heritage Online: Himeji Castle, the I Turret, an Important Cultural Property
- https://bunka.nii.ac.jp/heritages/detail/201199
- Himeji Castle official site
- https://www.himejicastle.jp/
Last verified: 2026.09.05
Cultural Treasures in the Same Area
All are within walking distance in the same area, so we recommend visiting them together.
- Himeji Castle I, II, III and IV Piers (Ninowatari Tower) 0.00 km
- Himeji Castle I, II, III and IV Piers (Ha-no-Watashi Tower) 0.02 km
- Himeji Castle I, II, III and IV Piers (Ro's Watari Yagura) 0.03 km
- Himeji Castle I, II, III and IV Piers (I-no-Watari Tower) 0.03 km