姬路城，姫路，兵库县，日本 Himeji Castle, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan (© Julian Elliott Photography/Getty Images)

姬路城，姫路，兵库县，日本 Himeji Castle, Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan (© Julian Elliott Photography/Getty Images)

皇家景观 A royal view

姬路城，兵库县，日本

从“草莓日”到“猫日”，甚至“蔬菜日”，日本有一系列“谐音节日”，这些节日都来源于駄洒落（一种用读音相同或相近的词汇来玩乐的日本文字游戏，与英语中的双关语类似）。今天的日期是4月6日，而日语中的“shiro”（城堡）这个词恰好是由“shi”（4）和“ro”（6）组成的。因此，这一天就成为了庆祝城堡的日子。还有什么比城堡日更好的机会来了解日本最大、游客最多的城堡——姬路城呢？它的历史可以追溯到1333年，是联合国教科文组织认定的世界遗产，拥有先进的防御设计和五个国宝级建筑。

Castle Day in Japan

From Strawberry Day to Cat Day and even Vegetable Day, Japan has a list of faux holidays, which are the clever results of 'dajare' or word plays. Today's date, April 6, makes up the Japanese word for castle, 'shiro' from 'shi' (4) and 'ro' (6). Hence, the celebration of castles. What better opportunity than Castle Day, to learn about the country's largest and most-visited castle, Himeji Castle? Dating back to 1333, this UNESCO World Heritage Site boasts an advanced defensive design and five National Treasure structures. The castle has also withstood time and nature's fury, surviving the bombings of World War II and the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995. Nearly 700 years of glory, local legends, and ghost stories reverberate through the 83 rooms of this hilltop fortress. Would you care to explore?