Japan is host to a multitude of UNESCO World Heritage sites; we take a look at four
of these locations and peel through layers of its customs, lifestyle and culture.

Himeji-jo Castle, Kansai
This is a classic example of Japan’s beautiful castle architecture, where a world of bygone days still lingers. Its pure white appearance and design resemble a dancing egret with its wings spread, giving this famous castle its alternative names, Shirasagi-jo or Hakuro-jo.

Widely considered a national treasure, this spectacular castle, unlike others, was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form. Beauty was clearly not the only priority of those in power throughout the ages.

The complicated structure, particularly the three tall watchtowers connected by columns and winding maze-like passages, functions well as a war fort and conceals a mechanism to halt the invasion of enemies, throwing them into confusion. Without a map, you are bound to get lost!

By the way, the thick coating of white plaster on the outer surface also acts as defence, because of its excellent resistance to fire and bullets. The view from the top of the castle keep is spectacular; at night, the entire castle is lit up, so a visit after sunset is highly recommended as well.

Nikko, Kanto
The scale of Japanese heritage and culture can best be seen at Nikko, which hosts the Toshogu and Futarasan-jinja shrines, the Rinnoji temple and their surroundings.

Toshogu is where Ieyasu Tokugawa, the first shogun of Edo, is enshrined. As many as
127,000 craftsmen were involved in constructing the shrine, using the highest level of technology available at the time. The two-storey Yomeimon gate decorated with over 500 sculptures is particularly famous.

The Shinkyo Bridge is one of the three most unusual bridges in Japan. The arch-shaped
bridge covered in vermillion lacquer supported by stone piers is most attractive in the fall when the mountain trees are a dazzling red and yellow.

A must-see sight in Futurusan-jinga is the Bakedoro. The lantern is rumoured to change into a spooky shape when lit at night, and it still bears the scars from numerous sword strikes made by startled samurai warriors.

Rinnoji is one of the temples representing the Tendai School of Buddhism. A carved wooden Buddha with gold leaf, 8.5 meters high, is enshrined within the main hall.