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2.5 Hour Private History and Culture Tour in Himeji Castle
5.0
65 Ratings
Himeji
Explore the rich history and breathtaking beauty of Himeji Castle on a private 2-hour culture and walking tour. Marvel at the ingenious defensive features and admire the intricate wooden construction while enjoying panoramic views of Himeji City.
Duration:
2 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Himeji Castle - Our accredited guide will meet you at the ticket booth and follow you, explaining what is worth seeing at each site.
What's Included
- All fees and/or taxes
What's Not Included
- Admission fee 1,050JPY is not included.
Additional Information
Visitors start by gathering at the entrance, where knowledgeable guides provide an introduction to the castle’s history and significance. As they enter the castle grounds, visitors walk through beautifully landscaped gardens, appreciating the meticulous design and seasonal beauty.
Inside the main keep, guests climb steep and narrow staircases, exploring various floors that once served as, storage spaces, and defensive positions. They learn about the ingenious defensive features, like loopholes and hidden corridors, that helped protect the castle during its storied past. Visitors also marvel at the intricate wooden construction and ingenious architectural design.
The tour often includes visits to the top floor of the main keep, providing breathtaking panoramic views of Himeji City and the surrounding landscape. Throughout the tour, guides share anecdotes and historical insights, bringing the castle’s past to life.
Location
史跡 姫路城石碑
Pass the traffic light in front of the castle gate and pass the bridge and the gate. You will find the guide under the gate with a gray cap and name card.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(65 Ratings)
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Gerard
Aug 7, 2024
The reviews are not wrong - The reviews are not wrong. This is the way to do the castle. Rei was great. Knowledgeable and interesting. Turned up with an iPad of videos and photos.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Snasnu
Jul 27, 2024
Ryujin. The best! - I had been to Himeji castle before with a guide, and I wanted to share the experience with my mom and niece. When we went through the ticket gate, we met Ryuji. He was very helpful and considerate especially with the extreme heat. Ryuji made this trip through the hot castle grounds worth it. He was very informative and I don't think he was prepared for someone who would laugh at his jokes, but he had my family and I as an audience. He made it so fun and he answered all of our questions. We were definitely the loudest tourists and maybe made his guide more difficult, but he handled it well. It was the best possible experience we could have asked for in the summer. He also gave us great food recommendations. 10/10. I would recommend Ryuji to anyone who comes Himeji castle.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Heather_b
Jul 26, 2024
Great tour that enriched our visit! - Rie was a wonderful guide! Her knowledge of the castle and it's historical context enriched our visit dramatically. Rie took great care on a very very hot day to pace the tour. Rie brought a tablet on which she showed us some supplementary videos and pictures to illustrate elements of interest. I was a little worried about how the kids (11-16) would handle it, but Rie is also a teacher and was very accustomed to talking with kids and fielding their questions. Ask about the project her students did with the castle--fascinating! It was clear to us that she takes great pride in her students and her work. Would gladly take any tour with this guide. She was a joy.
Review provided by Viator
P3815lutimm
Jul 16, 2024
Ryoji is the best - Ryuji is an excellent tour guide. A native of Himeji, he went to high school in the shadow of the castle. He told us wonderful stories of the castle’s history, construction and renovation, and meaning. He helped us find our way to lunch and to the bus route to Mount Shosha. He was friendly, knowledgeable and kind. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
432dashm
Jul 15, 2024
Amazing trip - He was great, lots of energy,knows his way around the castle and the city and is great with children. AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING !!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kirsten_a
Jul 13, 2024
Informative, fun and engaging! - Ryuji was an excellent guide! As a native of Himeji with a personal passion for history, he made the tour informative, fun and engaging! Our two teen sons thoroughly enjoyed it! He also recommended some excellent lunch spots and followed up on some of our questions after the tour. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Viator
Kirsten
Jul 13, 2024
Informative, engaging and fun! - Ryuji is an excellent guide! He has a passion for Japanese history and, as a native of Himeji, brings personal touches to the tour. It was my 3rd time visiting but first time with a guide. We learned so much and my teen boys really enjoyed it. After the tour he gave us excellent lunch recommendations plus followed up on a couple of questions we had. Highly recommend Ryuji for a memorable visit to Himeji Castle!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stacey_a
Jul 9, 2024
Amazing tour with wonderful tour guide, Ryuji Matsuyama! - Our guide was Ryuji Matsuyama and he was amazing! He was friendly, fun and taught us so much interesting history about the castle. The pace of the tour was perfect and he took care to make sure we were comfortable on a very hot day, stopping for water or breaks as needed. Highly recommend - absolutely work the trip to Himeji!
Review provided by Viator
Christine
Jul 8, 2024
Wonderful guide - above and beyond - We booked this GuideDragon tour for our group - two families of four - each with two boys between the ages of 11, 12, and 15. Rie was our guide - and she was absolutely fantastic! Rie was enthusiastic and extremely knowledgeable about both the public AND hidden aspects of Himeji as well as the surrounding town. In addition, when our tour ended (about 30 min after the scheduled time), she was kind enough to help us check the seating situation of the very popular restaurant in the Koko-En Garden next to the castle as well as help us reserve seating. The restaurant was highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Rie recommended the locally known Conger Eel over rice as well as the cold Zaru Soba - both were simply delicious. We were very lucky to have had Rie as our guide on a wonderful (even though it was very hot) day in Himeji!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Q2291dqmelissat
Jun 27, 2024
Superrrrr! ⭐️ - Ryuji was really nice! He guided our family of 4 (mixed English and Spanish language) for an interesting journey in Himeji castle. He shared a lot of stories and jokes, really elevating our experience! He even made an effort to speak some Spanish words for our parents. He also patiently answered all our questions. 100% recommend him as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor