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One Day Tour of Engyoji Temple and Koko-en Garden in Himeji
This tour include Engyoji temple and Koko-en garden.
You can feel Buddhism temple atmosphere in Engyoji that is the filming location of the Hollywood movie of “Last Samurai”.
Koko-en in the west of Himeji castle consists of 9 gardens divided by mud wall with a roof.
This garden creates historical atmosphere with magnificent view of Himeji castle using the gardening techniques in the Edo period.
Meeting Point
At your hotel in Kobe
To take Ropeway from the foot of Shoshazan mountain to the entranc of Engyoji temple
Engyoji temple was founded in 966 of Heian era as esoteric Tendai sect. This temple which is called as the west side of Hieizan Enryakuji temple is located around 6km north-west from Himeji castle. The altitude of the temple is 371 meter on the top of Shoshazan mountain and the way to reach there is to take Ropeway from the foot to the entrance path and to take a special bus to move to Maniden temple.
To see Maniden:
This building was established in 970 by Saint Seiku. He made Kannon statue carved inside a Cherry tree and built polls surrounding the tree with a roof attached. That is why the temple was located on the mountainside with a large veranda jutting out over the hillside. This building was burned down several times and restored in 1933 as current figure.
To move to Nishitani and see MitsunoDo: (Daikodo, Jikido, Jyogyodo)
Daikodo is the main hall of Engyoji temple and established in 986. Current building is restored in Muromachi era of 15th century. Many monks had listened to the sutra lecture, executed Zazen and discussion at this building. The principle image is Gautama Buddha with flanking image as Fugen Bosatsu and Monju Bosatsu. Jikido was established in 1174 and it was used as the place where trainee monks had sleep and eat. The principle image is Monju Bosatsu. The year of establishment of Jyogyodo is unknown. The stage facing to Daikodo inside this building was prepared where dancing and Japanese court music had been held to dedicate Gautama Buddha. The principle image of this buiding is Amitaba.
To move to Koko-en by taking a bus and Ropeway and taking a lunch
Japanese garden “Koko-en” was constructed in 1992 at the exact site of Nishi-Oyashiki (Lord’s West Residence) with Himeji castle, one of the world cultural heritages, as a background.
To see Koko-en
The area of Koko-en garden is about 3.5ha and it is composed of nine different gardens divided by mud wall with a roof, built on the archaecologically excavated site of Samurai houses and roads. Using the gardening techniques in the Edo period (1600-1860) as a good model. Koko-en creates historical atmosphere with magnificent view of Himeji castle. There are many gorgeous carps found in the garden pond of Samurai residence
Ending Point
At your hotel in Kobe
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
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Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee,
Pick-up fee at your staying hotel in Kyoto or Osaka,
Transportation fee of guide,
Total of your transportaion fee during this tour (JR, bus and Ropeway): JPY3500 – JPY4000/person
Entrance fee: Engyoji temple for you: JPY500/person, Koko-en garden: JPY310/person,
Lunch fee,
Tour Important Information
1) For fairly long walking of sight-seeing, please put on the shoes to walk with ease.
2) Please prepare the cash to spend any train riding, lunch and souvenir.
3) I prepared the blog of Engyoji which shows detail historical background with detail photos and detail explanation shown as below.
Blog title of Tokyo: Calm and Mysterious Engyoji temple in Himeji city Famous for the filming location of "Last Samurai".
Important message from the guide
I am now focusing tour guide area for East Japan area such as Tokyo, Yokohama, Hakone, Kamakura, Mt.Fuji, Nikko, Gunma, Saitama and Kanazawa.
However, I can support you for one day trip of Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara and Himeji from Tokyo.
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
Ee lin K.
One day Mt.Fuji tour for your greatexperience
Customized
“Well informed tour”
Kashima is knowledgeable and have good sense humour. I appreciate very the useful Japanese phrases and vocabulary & information sheet. I find it concise ad very functional.
Kashima H.
(68 reviews)Ee lin san, Thank you very much for your upmost review for me. We enjoyed Mt.Fuji viewing and surrounding beautiful nature spots such as Arakurayama Sengen Park, Ohishi park and Oshino Hakkai. Thanks to your young group happy and energic atmosphere with continuous funny talking, I could join to exchange lots of conversation with your group including various topics for your country and Japan. I hope that you visit Japan again in near future so that I can introduce other nice tour spots in Japan for you. Thanks, Kashima
“Fantastic launch pad for further exploring. ”
Kashima’s tour gave us a wonderful overview of the highlights we wanted to see. He got us into a superb Yakatori restaurant that we would never dare enter on our own. Not only is he a master at navigating the labyrinth of Toyo’s subways and trains but his knowledge of Japanese Cuisine and photography skills are unreal. Throughly enjoyed ourselves.
Kashima H.
(68 reviews)Chris san, Thank you very much for your upmost review for me. We enjoyed the combination of Japanese traditional atmosphere as Meiji shrine and the most bustling & entertainment area as Harajuku, Omotesando, Shibuya and Shinjuku. I am pleased that you could satisfy the highlights you wanted to see. Also, it is my pleasure that you could start well for your Japan continuous tour by your experience of my guiding of the day. I hope that you continue to enjoy Japan tour. Thanks, Kashima
Joe K.
One day Gunma butchery school & Saitama Kato farm tour
Customized
“Perfect in every way”
Kashima made everything perfect. He handles our every unusual request. It was the best tour we have ever done.
Kashima H.
(68 reviews)Joe san, Thank you very much for your upmost review to me. It was very much pleasure for me that you requested me to arrange to learn the actual butchering process and watching the process of making beef to sell for general market at the school of butchery in Gunma prefecture. We could hear and watch the information in detail by the school top person. I am impressed that You and your family are so much professional to ask any questions and learned a lot. I am very much pleased that you could get important information from the school. Also, we visited Kato farm in Saitama prefecture who grows his own feed for the cattle and has won over 100 awards for their beef. We could see free range cows and goats and enjoyed tasting various foods by cow milking. I hope that you and your family continue to enjoy your nice business. Thanks, Kashima
