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Himeji Castle & Engyoji Temple Full-Day Private Tour
We'll visit three places, rich in Japan's history and culture. Firstly, Himeji Castle designated as Japan's first World Heritage Site in 1993, and ranked 7th as a place to visit in 2019 by NY Times. And Kokoen Japanese Style Garden nearby. Finally, Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, ranked 20th by TripAdviser in 2019 as Japan's representative spiritual heartland. Himeji is one hour away by the Shinkansen from Kyoto.
Meeting Point
At JR Himeji Station, or at your hotel in Himeji
Meet at JR Himeji Station, Shinkansen ticket gate on on the 2nd floor
Himeji Castle
Let's walk up to the top floor of its castle tower.
Kokoen Japanese Style Garden near the castle, 5-minute walk away
Lunch
You could explore Himeji local dishes like udon white noodle or ramen!? You name it.
Main Hall of Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
Okunoin, most sacred place in Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
See off at JR Himeji Station, Shinkansen ticket gate on on the 2nd floor
Ending Point
At JR Himeji Station, or at your hotel in Himeji
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Inclusions & Exclusions
guide fee
transportation fees of bus and ropeway (1,400 JPY each, you and guide), entrance fee for Himeji Castle + Kokoen Japanese Style Garden (1,040 JPY each, you only), and Shoshazan Engyoji Temple (1,000 JPY each, you only), lunch (you only)
Tour Important Information
1 Since this tour includes Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, the very spiritual pilgrimage site, I recommend this tour to those who are interested deep in Japanese culture like austere beauty and refinement, not just tourist sites.
2 Himeji Castle has rather steep stairs up to the castle tower. No elevators. And on Mt Shosha, we will walk 30 minutes (over 1 hour if we don't use a mini-bus) in the temple complex. So if you have lovely infants on your tour, please ask him or her to wait for the next chance.
3 After visiting Himeji Castle and Kokoen Landscape Garden, we'll head for Shoshazan Engyoji Temple by local bus and ropeway.
4 Shoshazan Engyoji Temple is located on the hilltop about 1,000 feet high. Temperature will be a little lower than the Castle area.
5 After visiting the temple, we will again take a ropeway and local bus back to JR Himeji Station.
6 This is a one-day tour starting/ending at JR Himeji Station.
7 We are asked to take off our shoes when entering Himeji Castle tower and the main building of Shoshazan Engyoji Temple.
Please check my availability before you ask me in oder to save your precious time. Also please note insurance is excluded.
Important message from the guide
I can also guide you in Hiroshima (Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima), 1-day tour. My transportation fees to/from Hiroshima cost about 20,000 JPY, return.
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
Himeji Tour Reviews
“Perfect introduction to Kyoto ”
Ahogo met us at our hotel promptly. Since our tour was utilizing public transportation he had travel cards ready for us to use, the cost to be settled at the end of the tour. He had the stops well planned by area in order to avoid too much crisis crossing around the city. Ahogo gave us very in-depth explanations of the correlation between Shinto and Buddhism, and showed deep knowledge of historical events. He is a soft spoken man with great passion for sharing information about his country. His command of English is perfect and was always eager to share his knowledge with us. We definitely recommend you book with Shogo.
Shogo K.
(30 reviews)Dear Gigi, Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm so grateful to know that you enjoyed exploring inner reaches of Kyoto's historical sites. Because of your thoughtful cooperation and early blooming cherry blossoms coming out, I felt as if I were strolling in a beautiful paradise with good and old friends of mine.:) Many thanks to you, Gigi, your generous husband, and lovely friends.:) From "Henpecked"
Simona I.
Bustling Osaka & Ancient Nara Full Day Private Tour
“Very knowledgeable guide”
Shogo was an excellent guide. We enjoyed very much the itinerary prepared for us and the fact that he provided short documents for us to refer to for the trip. Very good! Thank you Shogo
Shogo K.
(30 reviews)Dear Simona, Thank you for the lovely review. I'm so grateful. Indeed it was a fun two-day tour in Osaka and Nara. It's always my great pleasure to do tours with such a cheerful and beautiful sisters, especially guiding with hand in hand among a herd of dear. Looked a bit envious of me? Again thank you for everything. Warmest regards, Shogo
Angus M.
Bustling Osaka & Ancient Nara Full Day Private Tour
“Very Hot Day”
The weather was very hot in Osaka and we had a good visit to Osaka-Jo. We then took the train to Nara, all well planned but there everything declined. The guide lost his way around the town and appeared ill prepared for this section of the tour. After wandering for some km we eventually found the restaurant but with the heat and exhaustion from the additional walking we abandoned the remaining part of the tour which was very disappointing.
Shogo K.
(30 reviews)Dear Angus, Thank you for writing a review full of useful suggestions. Indeed with heat wave into a third straight day across the country, Nara was sweating as well. We were having to take caution to not get dehydrated. We went rather slowly than usually and taking a water break/shade frequently, for which I think we might have lost enough time in Nara. Meanwhile, I understood early on that my guests' priority is Japanese cuisine. I booked a good restaurant for lunch with their consent. The lunch basically lasts as long as at least 1.5 plus hours. After arriving in Nara, I was focused on how best to get to the restaurant to save time for sight seeing. I tried taking a shortcut through historic Naramachi district, in vain. We accordingly ended up losing time for visiting a temple/shrine, and making them get exhausted. I'm very sorry for that. I felt like I learned a lesson ....."If you run after two hares, you'll catch neither." Hopefully my guests caught one of the best ever "hares" at the restaurant.:) Thank you so much for your huge patience and understanding. Best regards, Shogo
