The plot was averted. The castle was established in 1346 by the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi (1536-1598), who ruled over most of Japan and went on to build a full-scale castle wall, which became the base for present-day Himeji Castle.At the start of the Edo period (1603-1867), the castle underwent considerable renovation over a nine-year period, creating the magnificent appearance you see today. It is fair to say, then, that the case of Okiku’s Well does indeed fulfill all the characteristics of a potential haunted site, regardless of the lore attached to it. However, the haunting we are going to talk about here has nothing to do with the poor souls who met their demise at the point of their own sword at the Suicide Gates. New DNA evidence solves medical and murder mysteries of the Royal family. Okiku's Well (Banshu Sarayashiki) at Himeji Castle - Himeji, Japan In the center of Himeji, Japan on a hill top above the city, the tower of Himeji Castle rises into the skyline. Himeji Castle is said to be incredibly lucky. Though the castle was originally planned to be built in said wooding. Himeji Castle got its start actually much earlier in 1346 during the Northern and Southern Courts period when warlord Sadanori Akamatsu had a fortification built in an area of Himeji called Himeyama. Himeji Castle (Himejijo, in Japanese) is a stark white castle building sitting on top of a forested hill in Hyogo Prefecture. So, where's the one place you can experience all of this? Okiku Ido (Okiku Well), in the grounds of Himeji Castle, is said to be the well that features in the ghost story known as Banshō Sarayashiki. Traditionally, this is where the hapless maid's body was … There are amazing legends and stories, cultural traditions that defined Japanese ideologies for centuries, and some pretty cool art. Created with sketchtool. However, the chief in question somehow learned about the fact that Okiku had revealed his plans to the lord, and therefore turned his murderous intentions towards her, instead. 00:43:55 ITUNES RSS LINK. One of the tourist attractions on Himeji Castle is Okiku's well. The Ningyo Joruri version is set in Himeji Castle, a popular tourist attraction at the castle is Okiku-Ido, or Okiku's Well. She is supposed to rise from the well at night and count to nine before shrieking and returning to the well … Somewhere like… a well? Due to Okiku's refusal to accept Tetsuzan, he tortured her to death in the well located in the grounds of Himeji Castle, which is portrayed in this photo. Himeji Castle, in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. Ultimately, it would appear that the lord eventually learned about what had actually happened, and understood that a great injustice had been committed upon an innocent and honest servant girl. Himeji Castle Half Day Walking Tour (From US$75,85) Himeji Castle Walk in Kimono Selected by a Professional Kimono Fabrics Dealer (From US$53,68) Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide (From US$103,83) World Heritage of Himeji Castle and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge walking tour from Osaka (From US$176,79) Period/location of origin: Subject is located on the grounds of Himeji Castle, which stands in the Hyogo Prefecture city of Himeji in Japan’s Kansai region. Every night she would rise and scream the numbers, and every night she would wake up the lord from his sleep, inside the castle. Because its grounds and infrastructure are so well preserved, it is often referred to as Japan’s most spectacular castle. Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himeji-jō) is a hilltop Japanese castle complex situated in the city of Himeji which is located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan.The castle is regarded as the finest surviving example of prototypical Japanese castle architecture, comprising a network of 83 rooms with advanced defensive systems from the feudal period. Type: PI (Prison for the Incorporeal). Okiku’s well in the grounds of Himeji castle. The haunting of Okiku’s Well at Himeji Castle is one of Japans most famous ghost stories and known as Nanshu Sara-Yashiki. This knowledge, combined with the persistent haunting at the well, ended up driving him insane. 73 Views. But at Himeji Castle, there are still those who say they have heard Okiku’s howls in the still quiet hours of the early morning. Okiku’s Well at Himeji Castle is often said to be haunted by the ghost of Okiku. Okiku’s Well, Himeji Castle. The Legend Of Okiku’s Well. Danshirō gathered Okiku’s body into his arms, and with a last, wistful look at her beauty, a lament to that which he would never own, he threw her into the castle’s well. Loading... Unsubscribe from Kahani Tv? Himeji Castle Half Day Walking Tour (From $75.85) Himeji Castle Walk in Kimono Selected by a Professional Kimono Fabrics Dealer (From $53.68) Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide (From $103.83) World Heritage of Himeji Castle and … Okiku’s Well Himeji Castle is the largest castle in Japan and is allegedly the location for one of Japan’s most famous ghost stories. Nevertheless, Okiku still failed to accept his advances and so Danshirā slew her and threw her body down a well. We do not have any more facts about this story, or about what may have occurred in its aftermath. It centers around a castle, known as Himeji Castle, which stands above the city of Himeji on top of a hill and dates back to the 14th century, later having been widely amplified and expanded upon. The place that inspired Japanese horror film, "The Ring," and its American remake, the Himeji Castle is Japan's largest surviving castle. … Thanks to the fact that no major battles were fought here, the castle survived centuri… This was put in place as a defense measure. The telling makes an attempt (albeit a weak one) to fit in with recorded history. Licensed under Creative Commons. Naturally, she became fearful for the life of her beloved superior, so she decided to tell him about the plans she had just overheard. Unable to bear Okiku’s rejection, Danshirā hid one of the ten plates that were treasured posessions of the Aoyama family, and framed Okiku for the theft. Leave them to rot in the sombre, damp underground. If you have any thoughts or opinions on the subject we have covered here today, please feel free to leave them in the comment section below. Himeji Castle Half Day Walking Tour (From US$75.85) Himeji Castle Walk in Kimono Selected by a Professional Kimono Fabrics Dealer (From US$53.68) Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide (From US$103.83) World Heritage of Himeji Castle and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge walking tour from Osaka (From US$176.79) No need to register, buy now! It is both a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site. Himeji Castle is unlike many other Japanese castles – it was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form. Let alone to witness. She is supposed to rise from the well at night and count to nine before shrieking and returning to the well (by… In the Himeji version, Okiku was a servant of Aoyama, a retainer who planned a plot against his lord. Himeji Castle Half Day Walking Tour (From US$75.85) Himeji Castle Walk in Kimono Selected by a Professional Kimono Fabrics Dealer (From US$53.68) Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide (From US$103.83) World Heritage of Himeji Castle and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge walking tour from Osaka (From US$176.79) Previously: The Wind Telephone. Consequently, she was tried and found guilty, not only of the theft, but also of fabricating a plot against the person of the chief (the actual thief and mastermind). At the time, it was more like a small fort than a castle, and it was later during the Age of Warring States that it was expanded and made into a citadel by the warlord Shigetaka Kuroda. She is supposed to rise from the well at night and count to nine before shrieking and returning to the well (by… Okiku counted the … It is spotless, surviving a takeover … It is said that Tetsuzan went insane from the haunting. The castle's focus is architecture and defense with some brief English descriptions. The Okiku well lies in the grounds of Himeji Castle in Japan the castle dates back to 1333 and stands in the city of Himeji. So the chief, who had managed to escape the dominions of Himoji, began to plot against Okiku. Although the Castle and its grounds are very beautiful the Well its self-holds a very dark secret. It is said, that on dark nights at Himeji castle, people will hear Okiku counting the plates. This is the story of O-KiKu-Ido or the Lengend of Okikus well. Himeji Castle is a World Heritage Site and is considered to be the best preserved surviving castle in Japan. September 28, 2020 The castle was built somewhere between 1333 and 1346 (originally named Himeyama Castle) as a home for the lord of Himeji. realune11 Huge collection, amazing choice, 100+ million high quality, affordable RF and RM images. 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Many locals and visitors come in early spring to admire the cherry blossoms in the surrounding grounds and to picnic and spend the There are various versions of the legend of Okiku, one of which is portrayed in the well-known kabuki play. On one occasion, Okiku accidentally overhead a conversation between a couple of the lord’s chiefs, where they appeared to be making plans and conspiring to take his life. A young, beautiful lady named Okiku was blamed for the loss of a plate - one from a set of ten, a valuable family treasure. Hear the story here: ADVERTISEMENTS. Even though, over time, the story itself has suffered many changes, and there seems to be even some legitimate doubt as to the actual site of the well, it is a very well established ghost story and haunting that resonates to this day. As one version goes, around the year 1500, Aoyama Tetsuzan, the regent to the lord of Himeji Castle, Kodera Norimoto, plotted with Chānotsubo Danshirā to kill Norimoto and take over the castle. It has been designated both an official National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is undeniable how powerful of an archetype this is, how poignant, touching and at the same time bone-chilling this scene is, even to imagine. Norimoto escaped death by fleeing to the island of Ieshima, but Tetsuzan seized control of the castle. A long time ago (the story has sometimes been dated to somewhere around the 18th century, but this is disputable) there was a servant girl living in the Himeji Castle, named Okiku. Norimoto’s loyal retainer, Kinshasa Motonobu, arranged for a young girl named Okiku to serve as a maid in Tetsuzan’s house in order to ascertain his plans. However, over time the story has changed somewhat and even the location of the Well itself has been questioned. Because of the confidence the lord had placed upon her to guard his most valued treasure, once it became clear that one of the plates had been stolen, the lord was convinced that Okiku stole it. Monotobu and his companions eventually destroyed Tetsuzan and his conspirators, and Okiku was enshrined in Jānisho Shrine as Okiku Daimyājin. Yes, the well! Himeji Castle Half Day Walking Tour (From US$75.85) Himeji Castle Walk in Kimono Selected by a Professional Kimono Fabrics Dealer (From US$53.68) Himeji Half-Day Private Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide (From US$103.83) World Heritage of Himeji Castle and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge walking tour from Osaka (From US$176.79) Photo Credit: Gragma's Yokai Tourbus. Okiku’s Well at Himeji Castle is often said to be haunted by the ghost of Okiku. Forever in a state of desperate unrest, unable to forgive or forget the terrible wrongdoings of her murderer, and the unrequited love she was forced to hold to herself, even in death. The interesting part, however, is that it seems that this ghostly behavior started almost immediately after the events of her death took place. Okiku Ido (Okiku Well), in the grounds of Himeji Castle, is said to be the well that features in the ghost story known as Banshō Sarayashiki. Having learned of the would-be assassin’s plot to kill Norimoto, Okiku passed word to Motobonu. There are various versions of the legend of Okiku, one of which is portrayed in the well-known kabuki play. Photo by Chris Gladis. If you don’t have the JR pass you might choose a slightly slower local train at a substantial cost savings. I’ve been toying with the idea of writing this article on the North Sentinel Island …, © Copyright realunexpectedstories.com 2020, Okiku’s Well – The Epic True Story Of The Haunted Himeji Castle, World of Mysteries – On the Trail of Bigfoot, Cosmic Energy Manipulation – Free Cosmic Energy Profile, Learning Numerology Online – Numerologist.com Review, The Plan – Paranormal Investigation Software, Mel 8704R Paranormal Ghost Hunting 3 in 1 Instrument, Olympus VN-7200 – Best Digital Voice Recorder For Ghost Hunting, Review – 1080p HD Ghost Hunting Night Vision Camera, The Dogon People of Africa – The Mystery of The Nommos. The well is located at the base of the castle, close to what has become known as the Suicide Gates (this is the place where those who had fallen from grace where compelled to take their lives to restore their lost honor), and is thought to have been used for cleaning up after various Hara-Kiri ceremonies that likely took place right next to it. She apparently rises from the well, but when she realizes that she is missing a 10th plate, she stops counting, shrieks, and descends back into the well. After learning of Okiku’s actions, Danshirā forced her into marriage in exchange for sparing her life but Okiku turned Danshirā down. Okiku’s Well, Himeji Castle Oct. 22, 2020. It is even said that the horrendous punishments were inflicted on Okiku by none other than the chief himself. To accomplish this, he decided to steal one the precious gilded plates that Okiku was entrusted with. Secrets. A long time ago (the story has sometimes been dated to somewhere around the 18th century, but this is disputable) there was a servant girl living in the Himeji Castle, named Okiku. But let’s get back to the story…. The two offer a combination ticket at a good discount. Okiku overheard the plot and reported it to her lover, a loyal warrior. Now, at this point, we should point out the well known fact (especially among paranormal researchers and aficionados) that it is quite common for hauntings, in particular those that are strictly attached to a specific location or item, to originate when a sequence of events takes place in close proximity to the location in question, and when the events have been of an extremely distasteful, painful and/or unjust nature. SHARE EPISODE; COMMUNITY ; EMBED EDIT SHARE ABOUT THIS EPISODE The place that inspired Japanese horror film, "The Ring," and its American remake, the Himeji Castle is Japan's largest surviving castle. There are a lot of reasons to be interested in the feudal era of Japanese history. SAVE. The castle's most unique feature is the maze that surrounds the castle in the dense wooding. The story of Okiku’s Well is a key story in Japanese culture, where it is now known as Banshu Sarayashiki and has been the subject of many variations in theater and literature. 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