Defending the Castle
Loopholes
There are 997 loopholes built into the walls of Himeji Castle. The tall, rectangular slits were for archers, while the more compact openings—the squares, circles, and triangles—were for gunners. The holes are placed at three different heights for firing while standing, kneeling, or lying down. The loopholes’ different shapes and positions served both practical and decorative purposes.