KYOTO: We headed for Himeji-jo, the most famous and best-preserved castle in Japan. Swans and carp were swimming in the outer castle moat. What remains of Himeji is a fragment of a much larger fortress town. The remaining castle was built by Toytomi Hideyoshi in 1580 and enlarged by his successor Ikeda Terumasa 30 years later. The castle was occupied by 48 successive feudal lords. May 25, 1998