Hi there! I'm currently undertaking a project on minecraft and I'm building Himeji Castle keep/tenshu. I've been researching it to make sure I'm historically accurately, but the problem is I cannot find any information on what the interior layout of the castle used to be, like what purpose did each room serve/what each room was.
I've been researching for about 5 days straight now trying scholarly articles, online tours, videos, information....heaps of information about the layout, quirks of the castle. But nothing about what rooms were actually inside it(like maybe there were bedrooms, halls, dining rooms etc.), if it had any residential purposes etc.
I would really appreciate any help if anyone knows what rooms were actually inside the Himeji Keep back in the Edo Period. Thanks :)
EDIT: To be more specific, around 1610 when the Ikeda's just finished building the as you see it now 7 story castle keep, I'm just wondered what kind of rooms/furniture were in it back then and if the daimyo would have lived in there.
I actually visited Himeji in 2012 and was lucky enough to have a personal guided tour (probably because the tour guide was bored, it was in late December). I wasnt able to see the interior itself (as it was under restoration/construction) but they had exhibits on the inside.
The daimyo did stay in the keep, at least occasionally; the daimyo typically has a large audience hall near the top of the castle.
Himeiji is unusual for Japanese castles as there were "toilets" in the basement, although these were really just squatters. But personalized squatters (as opposed to a trench).
Throughout the castle would be various rooms of retainers and servants. These were usually more modest and mostly consisted of just your tatami mat for sleeping.
The lady of the castle may not stay in he keep, though. Senhime, the daughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu, married the lord of Himeiji around 1620 and stayed in an annex separate from the main keep. She too had several rooms of servants, as well as her main room, which was mostly plain aside from some modest decorations, like dolls.
Furniture as a whole was rather scarce in a castle. The problem was fire; Japanese castles were notoriously inflammatory. In fact, all over Himeji castle are fish statues. These were thought to help keep fire away. You may also notice a butterfly symbol, that is the daimyos symbol, or mon.