Himeji

Even though this castle was built when Japan was in a continual state of conflict during the Tokugawa shogunate, this beautiful wooden castle was never destroyed in war including the 2nd world war when Japan was heavily bombed. As with all thing Japanese there is an attempt to merge function and form with beauty. It is boasted that even the small holes used to shoot arrows through or to pour oil and hot water are considered the most well designed and elegant in the world. The outer walls contain two large rocks that are larger than any rocks found in any European, Egyptian, or South American walls or castles.