Otemon Gate and Sakuramon Bridge

Otemon Gate is the main entrance to Himeji Castle, though it looks quite different from its original form. The old structure, a double fortified gateway with guardhouses, was demolished during the Meiji era when the castle served as a military base requiring wider vehicle access. The current gate, built in 1937, follows the koraimon style with auxiliary roofs extending at right angles from the inner side. Facing the gate is Sakuramon Bridge, rebuilt in 2007 from Edo-period drawings, which crosses the moat and serves as the first view most visitors have of the castle complex.