A day trip from Osaka to Himeji Castle and the Tom Cruise Movie Temple.
Joined 2023
Among the many castles in Japan, Himeji Castle is truly special. You will feel happy just to be there when you see its beautiful figure over the surrounding cherry blossom or maple trees.
It has a long and touching history. It is a must-see in Japan.
Engyoji is a huge old temple famous for being the location of the movie The Last Samurai.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Osaka
Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle is the most beautiful castle in Japan.
It's an original castle, amazingly survived for hundreds of years.
We use a very reasonable conventional train if you don't have a JR Pass. It will take only one hour and a little from Osaka Station.
Kokoen Garden
A beautiful Japanese garden next to the castle
lunch
There is a nice restaurant in the Kokoen Garden. If we are very lucky, we can have lunch there.
Engyoji Temple
Huge temple, famous as the location for the movie The Last Samurai.
Himeji Station
We will take a conventional train from the Himeji Station
Ending
You can choose the ending point, your hotel or the station.
Ending Point
In Osaka
Want to personalize this tour?
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
hotel or station pickup
insurances
transportation fee for you and guide: metro and conventional train 3,520 yen (round) /per person
bus and cable cars for Engyoji Temple 2200 yen /per person
lunch for you and guide
admission fees for Himeji Castle (1,050 yen /per person)
admission fees for Engyouji (500 yen /per person)
Tour Important Information
Please wear warm socks in the cold weather.
We can eat lunch at Kokoen Garden if we are lucky.
I also take you to Engyoji Temple.
Cancellation Policy
- Free cancellation - 8 days prior to meeting time
- 50% Refund - 3 to 7 days prior to meeting time
- No Refund - Within 2 day(s) prior to meeting time
Joined 2023
About Tour Guide Shuji O.
Hi, I am Shuji, a licensed tour guide living near Kansai International Airport.
I taught world history in high schools for four decades. So, I can explain Japanese culture or history in an easier way tailored to you who have different cultural and historical backgrounds.
I also practiced Kendo, Japanese fencing, for more than four decades, and now I enjoy growing vegetables and going fishing. Therefore, I can also share some Japanese culture and its nature.
I have traveled to more than 25 countries and all over Japan. I’m also passionate about photography and know many photogenic places in Japan.
If you prefer to go off the beaten track, I can take you to hidden gems, including some cozy restaurants. Of course, I also know how to enjoy the crowded, most popular tourist sites. I am here to make your trip stress-free. See you soon!
Reviews
Beate H.
“„Wonderful Day“ in Kyoto”
My wife Beate and I had a wonderful day with Shuji. He is a perfect guide and very knowledgeable in respect of tradition and history. He took us to many wonderful places and hidden gems around Kyoto. The Tofu lunch was wonderful. We had such an enjoyable day. Thank you.
Shuji O.
Thank you for your great review. I also enjoyed this "hidden gem" that was the best time to visit there. Yes, we rarely experience such a beautiful tour. If it was not so crowded, we could have enjoyed more. I hope this would be a dream like memory for both of you.
Katherine L.
“Fantastic ”
Shuji is a wonderful tour guide spoke English very well. I would recommend him to anyone. He is very knowledgeable and excellent historian explaining the history of temples and shrines as we visited. Lunch was lovely. Thank you
Shuji O.
Thank you for your kind words. We enjoyed eastern Kyoto with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. Every place was so beautiful and you were so curious about the history. I also enjoyed the tour very much. It really was the best season to visit Kyoto!
Michael M.
“Wonderful day tour of Kyoto with Shuji”
Shuji was a fantastic, caring guide who listened to our wishes and took us on a mix of the top spots along with some hidden gems including. Lunch which was incredible.
Shuji O.
Thank you very much for your kind words. Your preparation for the tour was perfect. We enjoyed the cherry blossoms everywhere we went, making it a very happy day for us all. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it very much. We rarely see the full-bloomed cherry blossoms in such beautiful places on such a beautiful day. Please enjoy the rest of your tour in Japan.
$351/ per group
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Other Popular Day Trip Tours in Himeji
Day trip to Himeji from Osaka
Among the many castles in Japan, Himeji Castle is truly special. You will feel happy just to be there when you see its beautiful figure over the surrounding cherry blossom or maple trees. It has a long and touching history. It is definitely a must-see in Japan.
Himeji Full-Day Trip from Kyoto
I'll meet you at your hotel in Kyoto. And then we'll transfer to Himeji by the Shinkansen. We'll visit firstly Himeji Castle designated as Japan's first World Heritage Site in 1993, and ranked #7 as a place to visit among others in 2019 by NY Times, and also ranked #1 by the National Geographic Traveler. After Himeji Castle we'll head for beautiful Kokoen Japanese style garden nearby. Finally we'll go back to your hotel in Kyoto by the Shinkansen.
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Himeji Castle is one of the 12 Japanese castles well conserved with their wooden keeps. Nearby the castle, Engyo-ji temple, on Mount Shosha, has got a thousand years long history. Some scene from "The last Samurai" movie were taken there. When we go back to Kobe, we can visit the Great Bridge of Akashi Kaikyo then Gigantor, statue of a robot, symbols of the revival of Japan, its technological genius and its pop culture.
1 jour de circuit autour du château de Himeji
Le château de Himeji est l’un des 12 châteaux japonais encore très bien conservés avec leurs donjons de bois encore existants. Aux alentours du château, le temple Engyo-ji, à l'histoire millénaire trône sur le mont Shosha. Lieu de tournage fréquent, ce temple a notamment été rendu célèbre par le film "Le dernier samouraï". Nous pouvons aussi aller visiter le grand pont du détroit d'Akashi puis Gigantor, symbole du renouveau du Japon, de son génie technologique et de sa culture-pop.