Himeji Castle is a hilltop Japanese castle complex located in Hyōgo Prefecture. It is considered the finest surviving example of prototypical 17th-century Japanese castle architecture. Often called 'Shirasagi-jō' (White Heron Castle) because of its brilliant white exterior and resemblance to a bird taking flight, the castle consists of 83 buildings with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. The walls are fireproofed with white plaster, and the castle features a labyrinthine path to the main keep designed to confuse and trap invaders. Small holes in the walls called 'sama' allowed defenders to fire arrows or muskets while remaining protected. Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji was never destroyed by war, earthquake, or fire, making it one of the few original medieval castles in the country. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a National Treasure of Japan.