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GoWithGuideFind your perfect tour guide at GoWithGuide. Relax and cherish unforgettable tours with loved ones. Create personalized tours for a truly memorable trip!
Kobe Private Tour - Newly restored Himeji Castle
Newly restored Himeji Castle
Kobe Private Tour - Newly restored Himeji Castle
Newly restored Himeji Castle
Kobe Private Tour - Jyogyodo seen from Jikido in Engyoji Temple
Jyogyodo seen from Jikido in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Daikodo in Engyoji Temple
Daikodo in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Jyogyodo in Engyoji Temple
Jyogyodo in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Daikodo seen from Jikido in Engyoji Temple
Daikodo seen from Jikido in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Daikodo or A Big Lecture Hall in Engyoji Temple
Daikodo or A Big Lecture Hall in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Jyogyodo in Engyoji Temple
Jyogyodo in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Jikido or the set of Last Samurai
Jikido or the set of Last Samurai
Kobe Private Tour - Maniden in Engyoji Temple
Maniden in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Tall pillars of Maniden in Engyoji Temple
Tall pillars of Maniden in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - A Large Maniden or main hall in Engyoji Temple
A Large Maniden or main hall in Engyoji Temple
Kobe Private Tour - Newly restored Himeji Castle
Newly restored Himeji Castle
Kobe Private Tour - Himeji Castle
Himeji Castle
Kobe Private Tour - Hyakken-corridor is a three hundred meter long building in Nishinomaru bailey.
Hyakken-corridor is a three hundred meter long building in Nishinomaru bailey.
Kobe Private Tour - Inside the Hyakken-corridor
Inside the Hyakken-corridor
Kobe Private Tour - Inside the Hyakken-corridor
Inside the Hyakken-corridor
Kobe Private Tour - Hyakken-corridor is a three hundred meter long building in Nishinomaru bailey.
Hyakken-corridor is a three hundred meter long building in Nishinomaru bailey.
Kobe Private Tour - I'm In front of the moat of the Castle.
I'm In front of the moat of the Castle.
Kobe Private Tour - Almost repaired roof of the Castle
 We could get a close-up view of the top tier's plaster wall from the facility .
Almost repaired roof of the Castle We could get a close-up view of the top tier's plaster wall from the facility .
Kobe Private Tour - Water Chesnut Gate
Water Chesnut Gate
Kobe Private Tour - Walls of the Castle viewed from the top floor of the facility for the restoration
Walls of the Castle viewed from the top floor of the facility for the restoration
Kobe Private Tour - Egret's Eye View at Himeji Castle
  ( special visitor facilities for the restoration )
Egret's Eye View at Himeji Castle ( special visitor facilities for the restoration )
Kobe Private Tour - samurai war helmets
samurai war helmets

Himeji Castle, The Set of The Last Samurai or Engyoji Temple

Highlights
Kobe Tour Guide - Hideo Y.

Joined 2014

Hideo Y.
4.63 / 5
(198 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks
Kobe
English, Japanese (Native)
9 hrs 30 mins
Private tour (only you and Hideo Y.)
Up to 15 people

In 1993, Himeji Castle was designated as the first World Cultural Heritage site in Japan. Because of its striking beauty and elegance, it is popularly known as the "White Egret castle", but in fact it was an impregnable fortress.

Next, I would like to introduce you Engyoji Temple, where the movie "Last Samurai" starring Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe was shot. The temple is located about 6 kilometers northwest from the Castle. We can take a bus and a ropeway from Himeji station to the Temple.

Itinerary

This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!

09:00 AM

Meeting Point

at your hotel in Kobe or Osaka

10:30 AM

Engyoji Temple

It was placed in the set of "Last Samurai."

01:30 PM

Himeji Castle

Because of its striking beauty and elegance, it is popularly known as the "White Egret castle"

03:30 PM

Kokoen Garden

Feudal Lord Garden of Himeji Castle

Ending Point

at your hotel in Kobe or 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

What‘s included

guide fee

What‘s not included

・Our transportation fee (2,000JPY) from Sannomiya to Himeji.

・Our trasportation fee (you and your guide) in Himeji is about 600JPY/person.

・ lunch

・ Your entrance fee about 2,000JPY/person

Tour Important Information

Important message from the supplier

I guide you Sapporo, Furano, Otaru, Hakodate in Hokkaido / Aomori in Hokuriku / Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Kobe, Himeji in Kansai / Miyazaki, Nagasaki, Kagoshima in Kyushu / Kochi, Matsuyama, Ehime in Shikoku / Matsumoto in Nagano/ Tottori, Shimane, Kanazawa, Sakaiminato, Fukui in Japan Sea side / Please get in touch with me!!

Thank you.

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
Kobe Tour Guide - Hideo Y.

Joined 2014

Hideo Y.
4.63 / 5
(198 reviews)
Identity Verified
Interview-Based Quality Checks

About Tour Guide Hideo Y.

Hello, I'm HIDEo YOSHIda. Please call me HIDEYOSHI, the same name as the famous shogun who built the Osaka Castle in 1585.

I was born in Kobe and worked in Osaka for nearly 40 years. I would like to introduce the Kansai region to you ,including Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, and Wakayama.

Kobe is one of the two largest ports in Japan, along with Yokohama. After the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, foreigners built their residences on the hillside of the Kitano-cho area, overlooking the ocean. Many of the foreign residences are now open to the public as museums, including the Weathercock House, with it's symbol weathercock on the triangle-shaped roof.

In Meriken Park, the red Port Tower (the city's landmark), creates a beautiful contrast against the white Kobe Marine Museum. The museum's design was inspired by the waves and sailing ships.

When you have a chance to visit Osaka, please join my tour. I'm sure you'll enjoy the interesting and historical, scenic spots. For example, Shin-Sekai is a downtown area with a strange mix of nostalgic atmosphere and contemporary energy. You can try local foods (kushikatsu, sushi, tempura) at a reasonable price. Billiken (a famous statue of the spirit of luck) will be waiting for you!!. Dotombori is a popular street with a lot of flashy signboards. Osaka is widely known as a "Kuidaore-no-machi", or literally "drinking and eating luxuriously to death." Osaka Castle was built by Toyotomi HIDEYOSHI in 1585. Oh, it's my residence, isn't it !

These days "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter" area in USJ, or Universal Studios Japan, is also attracting more and more people.

I'll be looking forward to seeing you !!

Reviews

Unexpected Highlight of Our Recent Japan Cruise

Our recent Japan cruise had a lot of big notable port stops like Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. It is an unexpected pleasure to say that Kochi (which is a smaller, more peaceful port stop) was one of our favorite stops, in no small part due to our terrific tour guide Hideo. Even though we had already stopped at previous ports at so many shrines and temples, it was Hideo who taught us the most about Buddhism and how Japanese people today often combine elements of the Shinto and Buddhist religions. On our trip with Hideo, we visited Kochi Castle, Katsurahama Beach and Chikurinji Temple. This last stop was one of my top 2 stops in all of Japan - it was the most serene and beautiful temples I’ve ever seen and there were only a handful of other tourists, making our time more meditative and memorable. Hideo also actioned one of my last minute requests to have a sake tasting by arranging a visit to the Takagi Sake Brewery. What a great day!

A Journey I’ll Never Forget – Thanks to Hideo

During my first week in Japan, I was lucky enough to explore the country with Hideo as my guide—and honestly, it turned out to be one of the most beautiful and meaningful parts of my entire trip. From the beginning, he was kind, open, and full of surprising ideas. Anytime I had a question—whether about history, culture, or even the subway system—he answered with patience and clarity. And when I had a spontaneous request like, “Hey, can we check this out?” he always responded with a smile and a simple, “Yeah, sure. Why not?” What stood out most to me was his deep connection to his country. You could feel it in the way he spoke, the stories he told, and the places he chose to share. I didn’t want a guide who would just list facts—I wanted someone who would help me feel Japan. How people live, what brings them joy, how tradition and modern life blend together. That’s exactly what I got. The atmosphere between us was super relaxed—we laughed a lot, shared different perspectives, and even switched between English and Japanese (he gently helped me improve mine). His English is perfect, by the way, so no worries if you don’t speak Japanese. Looking back, I think I was a bit of a different customer. I didn’t want a standard tour; I wanted an experience. And Hideo gave me exactly that. I truly hope I can book him again in the future—maybe next year, maybe the one after, who knows. But when I return with my mother, I already know I’d love to explore the plum blossoms, cherry blossoms, or autumn leaves with Hideo by our side. If you’ve read this far: thank you. I hope you’ll take this little sign as encouragement to start your own journey with Hideo. You won’t regret it. ありがとう ございます, Hideo-san。 あなたの案内は、道を示すだけでなく、心に灯りをともしてくれました。

Christopher F.

Hideo Y.

I'm so much happy to receive your excellent review. I'm also very glad to hear I could introduce you Japaese culture and life-style. I enjoyed guiding you, too. You are a Japan expert. I was surprised that you already knew the names of Japanese gods and Musahibo Benkei. furthermore you can write Kanji or Chinese character. We had Japanese food such as omu rice or rice omelet, Okonimiyaki or Japanese-style pancake grilled on a iron plate, curry rice, fried pork cutlet, Kobe beef and shaved ice at heat wave. We visit Engyoji Temple, a set of the movie "Last Samurai", and Himeji Castle which is completely different from European-style Castle. We entered hot onsen called "Arima" in Kobe. In Hiroshima, unforunately it was low tide so we couldn't see the Great Vermilion gate look like floating on the sea. Next time I promise I take you to Hiroshima at high tide. I wish you and all your family good health and happiness. I look forward to seeing you next year!

Second time with hideosan :)

As you see, this is second time I used to go wakayama with Hideosan. He is still excellent. He is more aktive , more younger than us:) I am glad to see him again. And hope to see him next time

Elif C.

Hideo Y.

I was very happy to see you again. We vsited Kumano Sanzan again. On the tour day it was so clear that we could see the Nachi Waterfall flowing vigorously. I wish you all the best in the future. I hope to see you again next time.

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$329/ per group

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