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The White Heron Castle built by Hideyoshi and Ikeda Terumasa — Japan's most beautiful surviving keep, World Heritage

The head shrine of Gozu Tenno worship nationwide, founded by Kibi Makibi in 749 — Muromachi halls are Important Cultural Properties

The 'Mt. Hiei of the West' — Tendai training temple on Mt. Shosha, filming location of The Last Samurai

A 1992 stroll garden built on the castle's former west estate for the 400th anniversary — nine gardens using the castle as borrowed scenery

Sacred Tendai mountain founded in 966, the 'Mt. Hiei of the West' — filming site for The Last Samurai and a pilgrimage destination

Final temple of the Shin-Saigoku 33 Pilgrimage — Ruri-ji in Himeji, traditionally founded by Gyoki, a Kannon sanctuary in northern Harima

Founded 1893 — a gokoku shrine enshrining some 57,000 war dead from western Harima, set against Himeji Castle

Harima's grandest keyhole tomb, its name tied to a legend of Empress Jingū.