Castle Day in Japan Apr 6, 2024

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?

© Julian Elliott Photography/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Apr 6, 2018It’s National Walk to Work Day
Apr 6, 2019Make way for robots
Apr 6, 2020Castle on a hill
Apr 6, 2021On the rebirth of the Olympic Games
Apr 6, 2022Crested caracaras
Apr 6, 2023Aprils full moon
Apr 6, 2025National Library Week

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Apr 7, 2020Once in a pink moon
Aug 18, 2020Women s suffrage at 100
May 12, 2020Nursing the world to health
Jul 20, 2022National Moon Day
Sep 12, 2019Astrotourism at its finest
Apr 27, 2025Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Feb 5, 2018Iceberg off the coast of Antarctica
Dec 5, 2025Maya site of Copán
Jul 15, 2024Marine Day, Japan
Nov 6, 2020Life in the slow lane
Jan 19, 2021The ruins of a Maya superpower
Apr 12, 2018Sydney Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
Nov 16, 2025A traboule in Lyon, France
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest in Minnesota
Jun 28, 2021A medieval celebration in the Mediterranean
Mar 31, 2022Happy Birthday, Eiffel Tower
Oct 18, 2020Sitka shines on Alaska Day
Nov 14, 2025Manatee Awareness Month
Dec 8, 2019Mod gear
Apr 22, 2025Earth Day
Jan 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Oct 7, 2022Berlin Festival of Lights
Dec 12, 2019On the lookout for Sheep-Cote Clod
Mar 12, 2022The Girl Scouts celebrate 110 years
Oct 27, 2025Thick-billed raven, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Jul 5, 2019Peel Castle on St. Patrick’s Isle with the Isle of Man in the background
Sep 13, 2020Super sandy Sweet 16
Aug 10, 2023World Lion Day
Jul 10, 2023A field of English lavender
Nov 21, 2023Gray seal pup, Norfolk, England