The South Gate Ruins mark the southern boundary of Nishi-no-Maru. Although the gate no longer stands, remnants of stone walls and the surrounding terrain clearly mark its former location. This gate once served as a functional entrance for those living and working within the women’s quarters, including court ladies and retainers. Since Nishi-no-Maru was home to Senhime and her entourage, the South Gate may have served as a discreet entry point for personal attendants or for deliveries of goods and supplies.

Ka-no-Yagura is a vital architectural element of Himeji Castle. Constructed between 1601 and 1609 under Ikeda Terumasa, a key Tokugawa ally, this corner turret exemplifies early Edo-period military architecture. Its dual-tiered structure and tiled roof provided both function and form as part of the castle’s defense system. Still standing today, it was designated an Important Cultural Property in 1931.

Located at the southern edge of Nishi-no-Maru, Wa-no-Yagura is a two-story turret that once played a critical role in defending the west side of the castle. The name “Wa” comes from the alphabetical labeling system used in castle blueprints to identify turrets. It served multiple purposes — observation, storage of arms and ammunition, and possibly as a temporary command post — and given its proximity to the Nishi-no-Maru Palace where Senhime lived, it was also tasked with protecting the residential zone. Today, visitors can enter through Wa-no-Yagura and walk the enclosed Watari-Yagura corridor leading to the Keshō Yagura, passing historical panels and exhibits on the way.

Keshō Yagura, or “Makeup Turret,” sits at the northern end of Nishi-no-Maru and stands out for its elegance. It is widely believed that Senhime, granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu and daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada, used this turret as part of her personal quarters while residing in Nishi-no-Maru. The interior includes a tokonoma alcove, storage spaces, and shoji paper screens, indicating it was built as a livable space rather than a combat zone — a blend of military architecture with refined courtly life.

The North Gate Ruins mark the location of a once-vital entrance to Nishi-no-Maru. Nishi-no-Maru was specially designed for Senhime, daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada and wife of Honda Tadatoki, lord of Himeji Castle. It served as a residential area where the princess and her attendants lived in relative seclusion, and the North Gate functioned as both a practical entrance to this private domain and a strategic defensive line. Though the gate itself is gone, its stone base and angled stone walls remain.

Nu-no-Yagura is a surviving turret at the north end of the Nishi-no-Maru Nagatsubone corridor, near the Keshō Yagura, forming part of the Nishi-no-Maru complex built up after the Honda family became lords of Himeji in 1617. It features sama (loopholes for firing) and ishi-otoshi (stone-drop chutes) as part of its defensive design.

Yo-no-Watari Yagura is a corridor turret in Nishi-no-Maru, combining residential space and defensive stronghold as part of the complex surrounding the Nishi-no-Maru Palace, where Senhime resided after her second marriage. It is structurally integrated with Nu-no-Yagura and Ka-no-Watari Yagura, forming part of the Nishi-no-Maru Nagatsubone (Hyakken Rōka). Inside were rooms used by court ladies, along with defensive features such as loopholes and stone-dropping chutes. As of this writing, the interior is not open to the public; access may change over time.

The Nishi-no-Maru Nagatsubone, also known as the Hyakken Rōka (“100 Ken Corridor”), is one of the most iconic architectural features of Himeji Castle. Stretching approximately 240 meters, it runs straight through Nishi-no-Maru, connecting various turrets and housing a series of private rooms (tsubone) for the court ladies who served Princess Sen (Senhime) — sister of the third shogun, Tokugawa Iemitsu, and wife of Honda Tadatoki, lord of Himeji Castle. Built when Senhime moved to Himeji Castle, the corridor housed these women’s-quarters rooms alongside genuine defensive features — lattice windows, sama (arrow and gun loopholes), and ishi-otoshi (stone-drop openings) — making it both a rare example of residential space for women within a military fortress and a functioning part of the castle’s defenses, including as a passage for rapid movement of guards in emergencies.

The Nishi-no-Maru Garden lies on the west side of the castle, where the lord’s wife once resided in the Nishi-no-Maru Palace. The garden is closely associated with Princess Sen (Senhime), daughter of Tokugawa Hidetada, who married Honda Tadatoki and spent a serene life here. Though the palace and its garden structures no longer remain, today’s well-maintained lawns, stone paths, and winding walkways are modern-era additions rather than survivals of the original Edo-period layout. Surviving watchtowers such as the Keshō Yagura, said to have been used by Senhime herself, still border the grounds. From here, visitors can view the castle keep from a diagonal rear angle — a hidden-gem perspective that’s less crowded and uniquely scenic.

Ru-no-Yagura, on the northern side of Nishi-no-Maru, is a surviving turret connected to the Hyakken Rōka, positioned midway along the corridor to reinforce it structurally and serve as a defensive checkpoint. Though its interior is not open to the public, its exterior of white plaster atop solid stonework showcases the signature aesthetic of Himeji Castle. It was built as part of the Nishi-no-Maru complex developed after the Honda family became lords of Himeji in 1617, and it also stood alongside the living quarters of court women in Senhime’s entourage.

Wo-no-Yagura, at the northwestern edge of Nishi-no-Maru, is one of the original surviving turrets of Himeji Castle, playing a critical role in defending the outer western perimeter. Situated at the northern end of the Hyakken Rōka, it functioned as both a lookout and frontline defense structure, offering sweeping views of the surrounding terrain. The turret was not part of Hideyoshi’s original construction; it was added as part of the Nishi-no-Maru complex developed after the Honda family became lords of Himeji in 1617.

Among the interconnected turrets of Himeji Castle, Re-no-Watari Yagura stands out as a structure where architectural elegance and military ingenuity converge. It forms part of the Nishi-no-Maru Nagatsubone (Hyakken Rōka) and was built up as part of the Nishi-no-Maru complex developed after Honda Tadamasa became lord of Himeji in 1617. Shaped like the Japanese character “レ” (re), it connects neighboring turrets along the corridor, with narrow loopholes, latticed windows, steep stairways, and zigzagging corridors reflecting Edo-period castle defensive design. The interior, specially opened to the public in recent years, features restored sliding screens and matchlock gun displays.