I had a chance on Saturday to visit Himeji Castle while on business in Japan. Himeji is about 20 minutes south of Kobe by bullet train. They've started a multi-year resoration project on the castle, but fortunately the scaffolds are only over on the end of the West Bailey at this point, so the beautiful Keep is still a great subject for photos and sketching.I sat by the main gate on a retaining wall and did this sketch in my Moleskine sketchbook. It was really cold and I was wearing a knit hat and had my scarf wrapped around my neck and face.
A number of Japanese tourists were curious and came by to look over my shoulder. One little lady smiled and clapped her hands together as she bowed. It was very cute. She only spoke Japanese and left me a little note that I couldn't read, but had translated later. It was a recommendation on another castle she thought I might like.
