Himeji Castle now

So! Now they are repairing the plaster and the tiled roof on the castle. In Japan new. being built, and buildings ungergoing major renovation are surrounded by scaffolding.

However, in this case the Japanese really outdid themselves, they built a whole building around and over the castle! The "scaffolding" includes 14 inch 'I' beams and is really a 5+ story building surrounding the castle, including elevators so visitors can go up and watch the work through large picture windows looking in!

So! In a year or so, when they finish the refurbishing of the castle exterior, they'll carefully remove this building they've built around it.