The Ink Is Black, The Page Is White
![A black and white tiered castle stands against a gray sky.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/castle-front.jpg)
![From an angle, the castle's architecture is revealed.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/castle-angle.jpg)
![The different stories are set back from one another, so that each successive roof overhang retreats from the last.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/eaves.jpg)
![Hand-made cylindrical cermaic tiles cover a roof.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/roof-tiles.jpg)
The symbols on the endcaps of the roof tiles indicate which dynasty held the castle when the tile was laid.
![A close-up on the tiles shows circular caps at the end of the roof.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/tile-seals.jpg)
The castle commands a view of the valley, today filled with a modern city.
![The roof, grounds, and castle wall give way to a modern city and mountains in the distance.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/overlook.jpg)
![A groteque fish statue attempts to swallow the apex of the roof.](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/fish.jpg)
![](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/gardens.jpg)
![](/images/2015-07-16-himeji-castle/monument.jpg)
Himeji Castle, Himeji, Japan.