I'll meet you at your hotel in Kyoto. And then we'll transfer to Himeji by the Shinkansen.
We'll visit firstly Himeji Castle designated as Japan's first World Heritage Site in 1993, and ranked #7 as a place to visit among others in 2019 by NY Times, and also ranked #1 by the National Geographic Traveler.
After Himeji Castle we'll head for beautiful Kokoen Japanese style garden nearby.
Finally we'll go back to your hotel in Kyoto by the Shinkansen.
At your hotel in Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, or your convenient place
At your hotel in Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe, or your convenient place
Getting off at JR Himeji Station, you will be astonished by the breathtaking view of Himeji Castle. It is often called "white heron." Let's walk through the main street to the Castle about 1 km north of JR Himeji Station.
Now you are at the main castle gate. Behind you is the beautiful castle tower. You can walk up to the top. You will enjoy its beautiful scenery like feudal lords and princesses did in the 16th century. Now you are a feudal lord or an elegant princess. After the castle you will visit traditional Kokoen Japanese Garden nearby. You will know what a Japanese style garden and samurai residences are like. Now you may be starving. You can try Japanese dishes such as sushi, tempura, Chinese style noodles in or near Kokoen Japanese Garden.
guide fee
Transportation fee to/from JR Himeji Station (you and guide), entrance fee (1, 040 JPY per person, you only), lunch (you only).
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.
1 Himeji Castle has steep stairs up to the castle tower. No elevators. If you have infants with you this time,
please ask them to wait for the next chance.:)
2 After Himeji Castle you will visit Kokoen Japanese Style Garden nearby.
3 This is a private tour.
4 Hotel pick-up is also available in Osaka, Kobe and Himeji areas.
5 We are asked to take off our shoes when entering Himeji Castle tower.
Shogo went out of his way to meet us at the port and provided an in depth action packed day that exceeded all our expectations. He was a very kind and generous guide and we were happy in his company. We were able to see almost everything on our list including the Gion festival parade. Shogo was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable about his country and customs and went out of his way to share them with us.
Dear Michael, First of all thank you so much for booking me at the far back of the guide list. I'd like to express my great respect for your bravery?:) In addition thank you so much for your wonderful review. Indeed the highlight of the tour was the Gion Festival parade. Great to know that you enjoyed Kyoto to the fullest, though it was a scorching/humid day. Again thank you very very much, Warmest regards, Shogo
We had a wonderful day with Shogo in Kyoto! The fact Shogo met us from the ship really took the stress out of the adventure and the tour around Kyoto was informative and fun. Shogo was a patient and kind guide with my family a d even showed us pictures of his family so we felt very welcome. Thank you Shogo !!
Dear Kristina, I feel grateful for your wonderful review of my Kyoto tour. Indeed I had a great day with you and your lovely family. I still remember your wonderful daughter and gentle son. One thing I regret is that Kyoto Imperial Palace, your priority, was unfortunately closed on the day. Good news is that now I'm a fan of Colorado Rockies. "Go Dinger!!" Best regards, Shogo
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.
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"
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
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