Tour to the National Treasure Hikone Castle from Kyoto
Joined 2014
Hikone City is only an hour away from Kyoto by train and faces the largest lake in Japan.
Hikone Castle, a national treasure, and its castle town are located there.
There are also some old temples and shrines nearby.
You feel like you have slipped back into the Edo Period ( about 200~400 years ago).
This is a half-day tour where you can learn about Japan's medieval period.
Itinerary
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
JR Hikone Station or Kyoto city or Osaka city
Hikone Castle tower (A National Treasure), Genkyu-en Garden
Hikone Castle was built in the Edo period (1603-1867) as an important base for the Tokugawa Shogunate along with Nijo Castle and Himeji Castle in Kyoto. The castle is surrounded by turrets, stone walls, and moats, including the castle tower, which is a national treasure. From the top floor of the castle tower, we can see Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. There is also a beautiful garden inside the castle complex called "Genkyu-en" Garden, from which the castle tower can be seen, making it an excellent photo spot.
Castle Town
The castle town of Hikone Castle was fortunately spared from war damage, and the old townscape remains. In this area, a watchhouse to watch against enemy invasion and old temples still remain, giving visitors a glimpse of the medieval townscape in Japan.
Lunch
The area called "Hikone Castle Road" is a recreation of Hikone Castle Town with souvenir shops and restaurants. One of the most famous meals in this area is a meat dish using Omi beef, which is as famous as Kobe beef. Omi beef is a specialty that was presented to the Tokugawa shoguns during the Edo period (1603-1867)
Ending Point
JR Hikone Station or Kyoto city or Osaka city
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
Tour guide fee
・Transportation fee (Kyoto→Hikone : 1,170 yen)
・Entrance fee （Hikone Castle : 800 yen, Hikone Castle ＋Genkyu-en Garden : 1,200 yen)
・Lunch fee
Tour Important Information
＊There are many beautiful temples and shrine near Hikone castle.
You can also visit there.
＊You will find following items.
・Architecture Style of Japanese Castle
・Japanese garden style
・Samurai's life
I will suit it to a guide starting time that is convenient for you.
Important message from the supplier
Please feel free to contact me!!
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 2014
About Tour Guide Kazuhiko G.
Hello, I’m Kazuhiko. Please call me “Kazu”. I'm a national-licensed tour guide. I have a wife and 4 children.
I was born in Osaka city near Kyoto, although I have lived in many places across Japan. I used to work for multinational electric company and I traveled to many countries (U.S., Thailand, Hong Kong etc.) on business.
I have enjoyed guiding many foreign tourists in Kyoto, Nara, Osaka, Hiroshima, Tokyo, Mt. Fuji etc. for many years.
During your tour, you can discover a rich Japanese history spanning about 2,000 years, learn about and experience profound Japanese arts (tea ceremony, flower arrangement etc.), feel the spiritual atmosphere of Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, see a breathtakingly beautiful scenery of Mt. Fuji, bamboo forest, Japanese gardens etc..
Moreover, you can taste Japanese cuisine that each season has to offer (Sushi, Tempura, Soba or ramen noodle etc.).
You can get close to nature and feed wild deer or monkeys or even a build snowman in winter.
I’m sure that I can provide a splendid tour of Japan that will be a lasting memory for you to treasure.
Experience the mysteries of Japan with 5 senses !!
Your memorable tour awaits you.
Please feel free to contact me!!
Reviews
“Fantastic time exploring Osaka with Kazuhiko G”
Just finished an amazing tour of Osaka with Kazuhiko G. Kazuhiko picked me up from my hotel, very punctual, arriving early. Kazuhiko was very polite and genuine with all the information he shared whilst on our tour. Our eight hours together gave me a very good insight and history associated with each site we visited and he also agreed to flexibility during the tour to visit some places and do some shopping as well. Can’t recommend Kazuhiko G enough. Thank you for an amazing tour of Osaka.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry that I made you walk so much. I walked over 20000 steps too, but I was happy to have had a good time with you. Also, I'm sorry that I didn't have enough knowledge about knives to be able to give you enough support. How was the food tour? Did you enjoy the local food of Osaka? I hope this tour will be a memorable one for you in Japan. Thank you!!
“A wonderful day in Nara with Kazu”
We decided to take a guide to Nara rather than Kyoto and we were so glad we did. Kazuhico is a charming gentleman. He took us to the deer park and the most beautiful Todaiji temple and the Kasuga Taisha shrine. Both really beautiful, but without the crowds of Kyoto. After a delicious Economyaki lunch, Kazu took us to a great shop with really elegant local products, so different from the usual souvenirs. I bought lacquerware and my husband bought a crazy Japanese puzzle. We then went to the local shopping arcade- very interesting with some great bargains and no crowds. It ws so interesting to be able to speak to a Japanese person, and Kazu took all the stress out of finding our own way from place to place. I would recommend Kazu and Nara: I'm so pleased we went.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry that I made you walk so much. I'm glad that you and your husband enjoyed it. I was also happy to spend a pleasant time in the clear autumn weather. Please continue to enjoy tours of various parts of Japan. I hope this tour will be a memorable one. Thank you !!
“Two day trip across the Kansai”
Kazuhiko guided us very ably across Osaka and Nara. We travelled very efficiently and saw the best each place had to offer. He was very prepared with handouts and a brand new Ipad to help explain the history and importance of each site we visited. We particularly enjoyed his explanations of Sumiyoshi Taisha. He is very attentive to detail and had our initial booking requests with him to ensure he covered what we were interested in. He also helped us with contacting a Kimono booking place to reschedule.
Kazuhiko G.
Thank you for the wonderful review. I'm sorry I made you walk so much early in the morning. Did you enjoy walking around Kyoto in your kimono? I'm also glad that I was able to spend two fun days. I hope this tour will be a memorable one in Japan. Thank you!!
$127/ per group
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