- Tours›
- Art, Culture, & Historical
Himeji Castle Day Trip by Shinkansen from Osaka
You can experience a time travel to the feudal period to encounter Samurai, Japanese warriors.
Himeji Castle (姫路城, Himejijō), also known as White Heron Castle (Shirasagijo) due to its elegant, white appearance, is widely recognized as Japan's most spectacular castle for its imposing size and beauty and its well preserved, complex castle grounds.The first fortifications built on the site were completed in the 1400s. The castle complex as it survives today was completed in 1609.
Meeting Point
At your hotel
Your hotel in Osaka or JR Shin Osaka/Osaka
Meeting place depends on where you stay.
JR Himeji
Arrival time depends on the train.
*From Kyoto by Shinkansen: Kyoto and Himeji are connected via the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. With the Hikari shinkansen, the journey takes 55 minutes (you can use your Japan Rail Pass if you have one).
**From Kyoto by a local train: Local trains take 90 minutes on JR Special Rapid Trains (Shin-kaisoku).
***From Shin Osaka by Shinkansen: From Shin-Osaka, the journey takes 30-40 minutes by Hikari, Sakura, or Kodama trains. This is the fastest way to Himeji and if you have a Japan Rail Pass it is valid for this trip.
****From Osaka by a local train: Average trip time is one hour. If you do not have a Japan Rail Pass, this is the best option.
Himeji Castle
You can enjoy my guided tour in the castle.
Please enjoy the wooden castle and beautiful white plaster walls.
You can find Samurai armor, traps and gun windows in the castle.
JR Himeji->JR Osaka/Shin Osaka
Ending Point
At your hotel/JR Shin Osaka/JR Osaka
Want to personalize this tour?
- Our tours can be customized according to your needs and preferences
- Click below to tell us what you are looking for:
Inclusions & Exclusions
Guide fee, Hotel pick-up
Shinkansen and Other Transportation (you and the guide), Admission of the Himeji Castle, Food
Tour Important Information
Transportation, admission, and food expenses are excluded from the tour fee.
Wearing sneakers and socks are recommended.
You can enjoy the huge wooden castle with a white plaster walls.
You can also enjoy the castle that is designed to prevent from the enemy's attack.
You can imagine Samurai's era in Japan.
This tour would be cancelled in case of harsh weather like heavy rain/snow/storm.
Important message from the guide
I can introduce you interesting spots including temples and yummy places including local foods though it is not fancy. Please note the following conditions;
-admission fees and meal fees must be self-pay
-let me know if you have any food allergies beforehand
and
-let me know if you have any food you cannot eat for your religious reasons and others beforehand.
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
Osaka Tour Reviews
“Excellent Kobe tour!”
I booked a tour with Kenji to explore Kobe's sake brewery district and learn more about my favourite drink, and what a fun time we had! There was a festival happening at various breweries so we got to sample the many options and eat street foods while watching performances and learning about all the work that goes into crafting one of the most strictly refined beverages in the world. Kenji was a delight to hang out with and very knowledgeable about both sake and the city that produces some of the best in Japan. I told him about a couple of sakes I had tried earlier in my trip and he even found a place down the road that carried it, so we went and scored some truly special bottles that I am excited to open and share with my friends. Another goal I had was to try Kobe's famous wagyu beef and he found us the perfect hole-in-a-wall restaurant that served it in a very authentic and affordable style and ensured I got the full experience I hoped for and more! I'm so glad I was able to book with Kenji and hope we can meet again in the future when I return to the source for more amazing sake and wagyu! Thanks Kenji!!
Kenji O.
(6 reviews)Jack, Thank you for your message. I am happy to know you are a big fan of Japanese Sake. I hope you will enjoy other Japanese Sake breweries next time. Kenji
“A terrific day in Kyoto”
Kenji was a magnificent guide and made our visit to Kyoto unforgettable. We would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone looking for a tour guide in Japan. We are a family of 5 from Australia travelling overseas for the first time. Kenji was very friendly and welcoming. He organised a terrific itinerary for our day trip that was just right for the children but still satisfied all our cultural and culinary interests. He was very punctual and pleasant, full of interesting information and explanations about Japanese culture and traditions. He spoke excellent English and was entertaining to talk to - both for the adults and all the children with their endless questions about anything and everything. Kenji even went above and beyond by arranging an impromptu stop at a supermarket for us to experience an everyday Japanese shopping centre which was so much fun. Kenji even overstayed the end of the arranged tour time just to make sure we saw all we could for the day and left feeling very satisfied. We were all sad we had to say goodbye. Thanks so much for a terrific day in Kyoto Kenji. We very much appreciated seeing it with you. ;)
Kenji O.
(6 reviews)David, I enjoyed myself very much with your family in the end of year 2023. All of your kids are very smart. I hope their experience of Japan would certainly contribute to their feeling of diversity of the global culture. I hope to see you again either in Japan or Australia. Kenji
Andrea C.
Kyoto, Nara , Osaka Excursion for 3 days
Customized
“Wonderful Tour Three Day with Ken”
For anyone worried about communication skills, they won't have to worry with Ken-san because he was educated at the University of Seattle and also University of British Columbia. He is semi-retired but continues to globally travel and work in the area of urban & regional planning. He resides in Osaka, but will provide tours for Kyoto and Nara. Ken-san is a licensed guide, so there's no worry about his capabilities. He is a mountaineer and ski instructor, so for individuals who love to walk, he can walk. In fact, on one day we covered a lot of ground and walked for over 30K steps. However, as outlined in another review, if walking is a limitation for you, he can help to provide some alternatives. Ken-san also introduced us to some fantastic restaurants that only locals would frequent, and the food was very very good. We have no hesitation to recommend Ken-san to other visitors to the beautiful country of Japan.
Kenji O.
(6 reviews)Andrea san, Thank you for your honest and sincere review. I will wait for your next visit of Japan. Yummy Japanese food and Sake will also wait for you here in Japan (Smile). Big Thanks, Kenji
