5Himeji Castle – Japan (first built 1333 AD)

While Japan’s castles are very different from their Western counterparts, Himeji Castle is among the most beautiful and oldest surviving examples. First constructed in 1333, it was later expanded in the early 1600s.

Nicknamed the “White Heron Castle” for its graceful white exterior, Himeji has withstood wars, natural disasters, and modernization. It remains one of Japan’s most visited and best-preserved castles.

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