LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle review

LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle is the latest example of what LEGO for Adults is really all about.

When taking in some of the world’s most stunning and breath-taking landmarks, you don’t necessarily need to know the entire history behind them, how they were built, the materials used, or the size that they are to truly appreciate their mastery. As much as these man-made structures represent moments in time, advancements in design and technology, or signify entire eras of history, they also stand as monuments of artistry – breath-taking to behold and a joy to gaze upon.

This can be said of any number of famous buildings and iconic structures from across the globe and just as equally can be expressed in review of any of the LEGO Architecture line’s releases of recent years, including the latest, 21060 Himeji Castle.

Knowing the important context to such landmarks as Himeji Castle – Japan’s largest and finest surviving example of 17th-century castle architecture and a designated National Treasure – can of course deepen not only the understanding but also the enjoyment and experience of such one-of-a-kind monuments, as well as any number of clever and intuitive details that the LEGO team build into their model versions. But such are these buildings’ expressive, unique designs that they also stand as works of art that can just as simply be enjoyed for their beauty, both in the real world and, most certainly in the case of LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle, as a LEGO set too.

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle set details —

Theme: LEGO Architecture Set name: 21060 Himeji Castle Release: August 1, 2023

Price: £139.99 / $159.99 / €159.99 Pieces: 2,125 Minifigures: 0

LEGO: Order now

— Where to buy LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle —

LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle releases on August 1 at LEGO.com and in LEGO Stores and will likely be available from that date at third party retailers too.

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle build —

LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle follows in the footsteps of last year’s 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza and the year before’s 21056 Taj Mahal, placing one of the world’s most iconic man-made landmarks into LEGO form via the upper-mid-range of the LEGO Architecture line. Doing so at this slightly higher budget unlocks 2,125 pieces, allowing for the upper level of the castle’s substantial grounds to be built, as well as emerging details of the surrounding gardens.

The LEGO set serves as a central snapshot, recreating the main core building from a real-world complex of structures that covers an area with a circumference of 2.6 miles (4.2km). This approach allows for a credible microscale brick rendition of the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s centrepiece, expertly capturing the details and shaping that are particularly unique to the castle – in particular its bright white colour and sloping grey roofs that lend it the name ‘White Heron Castle’, for its apparent resemblance to a bird taking flight.

The piece count and decision to focus on the main structure of the castle is by no means a compromise, either. Just as with 21056 Taj Mahal and 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza, 21060 Himeji Castle benefits in finding that sweetest spot within the LEGO Architecture line, offering up a large enough LEGO model that captures the essence and details of the subject material, without asking of you too high of an investment, nor an epic and somewhat over-the-top commitment to put it all together (think 10276 Colosseum and 10307 Eiffel Tower).

As a build then, 21060 Himeji Castle is as engaging and intelligent as the best of the Architecture sets, demonstrating an intimate and almost mathematical knowledge of the LEGO medium to expertly capture the essence of the castle. As mentioned in the instruction booklet, the model’s scale has been played with a little bit so as to best translate into LEGO form, but it has been done so without compromise to various details, particularly for how they have been recreated through a number of interesting and clever techniques.

This is one of the most thorough and engaging builds of 2023 so far, offering up an experience that will demand as much concentration from you as it will time, allowing for a real depth of exploration of both source material and LEGO building.

Once complete, the model pulls you in to that microscale effortlessly, as your eyes relax in appreciation of a unique and beautiful final LEGO set. From any angle this is one to appreciate on display, particularly for various aspects, details and parts usage that you will again and again notice without remembering quite how it all came together in such solid LEGO form.

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle price —

LEGO Architecture sets such as 21060 Himeji Castle come in at a price that, traditionally in comparison to other more typical LEGO sets, doesn’t suggest the best value for money. There are no minifigures here, no play features, and nothing to do with the set once it has been built, other than place it on the shelf.

Yet, LEGO Architecture stands as the precursor to the 18+ creative direction that the LEGO Group has taken in the last couple of months, and is one of its finest and certainly most consistent exponents. Set after set – at whatever scale – it’s a theme that delivers the most intriguing, engaging and fascinating LEGO experiences possible, particularly so for older builders. It’s LEGO artistry at play, done so in a way that not only takes beauty from the real world as inspiration, but as reason to further explore beauty in the LEGO medium.

Such LEGO sets – of which 21060 Himeji Castle is the latest – aren’t comparable with others that you can find on LEGO shelves. At a price of £139.99 / $159.99 / €159.99, expect this set to deliver something different and you won’t be short-changed on value.

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle pictures —

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle pros and cons —

21060 Himeji Castle is why LEGO Architecture continues to stand apart in the LEGO catalogue. This is mastery of the LEGO medium at a level no other theme comes close to, viewing the inspiration that such real world, historic landmarks as Himeji Castle can provide as the perfect excuse to explore, reimagine and even redefine what it is to build with LEGO bricks.

LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle is just a box of bricks, it’s just a display piece for an already crowded LEGO shelf or office desk, but it’s also everything that LEGO can be for older builders – engaging, fascinating, beautiful, unique.

21060 Himeji Castle pros	21060 Himeji Castle cons
Super interesting to build	How many times have you felt a LEGO set is smarter than you?
Beautiful to look at too	Delivers on value, but still requires a bit of saving up to buy
Based on one of Japan’s most important examples of 17th-century architecture

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO Architecture sets through one of our affiliate links – thank you.

— Alternatives to LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle —

LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle is best compared to 21056 Taj Mahal and 21058 Great Pyramid of Giza, which are both priced similarly and offer builds of comparable size, detail and intrigue. This trio alone makes for quite a collection.

— LEGO Architecture 21060 Himeji Castle FAQs —