The Lords of Himeji Castle during the Edo Period

The present Himeji Castle was built by Ikeda Terumasa in 1609 at the beginning of the Edo period. Since then, six different families ruled Himeji one after another and there was 31 lords during about 270 years. Some of them was short tenure because of childhood.

A.D.	Japanese year	the Lord
1600	Keicho 5	Ikeda Terumasa
1613	Keicho 18	Ikeda Toshitaka
1616	Genna 2	Ikeda Mitsumasa
1617	Genna 3	Honda Tadamasa
1631	Kanei 8	Honda Masatomo
1638	Kanei 15	Honda Masakatsu
1639	Kanei 16	Matsudaira Tadaaki（Okudaira）
1644	Shoho 1	Matsudaira Tadahiro（Okudaira）
1648	Keian1	Matsudaira Naomoto
1648	Keian 1	Matsudaira Naonori
1649	Keian 2	Sakakibara Tadatsugu
1665	Kanbun 5	Sakakibara Masafusa
1667	Kanbun 7	Matsudaira Naonori
1682	Tenna 2	Honda Tadakuni
1704	Hoei 1	Honda Tadataka
1704	Hoei 1	Sakakibara Masakuni
1726	Kyoho 11	Sakakibara Masasuke
1732	Kyoho 11	Sakakibara Masamine
1741	Kanpo 1	Sakakibara Masanaga
1741	Kanpo 1	Matsudaira Akinori
1748	Kanen 1	Matsudaira Tomonori
1749	Kanen 2	Sakai Tadazumi
1772	Anei 1	Sakai Tadazane
1790	Kansei 2	Sakai Tadahiro
1814	Bunka 11	Sakai Tadamitsu
1835	Tenpo 6	Sakai Tadanori
1844	Koka 1	Sakai Tadatomi
1853	Kaei 6	Sakai Tadateru
1860	Manen 1	Sakai Tadashige
1867	Keio 3	Sakai Tadatoshi
1868	Meiji 1	Sakai Tadakuni

Family Crest Tiles

Roof tiles have the imprint of family crest of the different lords, because these were installed in building and repairing the castle over the years.

Family crest Tile

Tile roof

Crest tiles inset

Crest name	Family	Crest Tile
Ageha chou (Swallowtail butterfly)	Ikeda clan


Tachi aoi (Hollyhock trefoil)	Honda clan
Omodaka (Arrowhead plant)	Matsudaira clan (Okudaira)
Mitsudomoe (Three commas)	Matsudaira clan
Genji guruma (Wheel)	Sakakibara clan
Ken katabami (Blade and Oxalis)	Sakai clan
Go-san no kiri (Five three paulownia)	-
Go-shichi no kiri (Five seven paulownia)	-