Since 1333, a fort has stood on a hill summit in Himeji, in west Japan, where Himeji Castle now stands. The current castle was built between 1601 and 1609, and all previous structures were demolished.  The early 17th-century castle is the finest surviving example of its kind. Primarily built of wood, the castle is also known as Shirasagi-jo (White Heron Castle) due to the white plaster that covers the castle’s earthen walls. Inside, a series of sliding panels (fusuma) and folding screens (byobu) divide the interior space into rooms.  The castle grounds graciously stretch across 41 square miles and contain 82 fortified buildings around a Tenshu-gun, or keep, a last refuge at the heart of the castle. The Tenshu-gun is further fortified by a series of gates, moats, ramparts, and high stone walls.  A maze of meandering paths and walkways lead up to the castle through meticulously manicured parks and gardens, …