Himeji Castle Tour: Historic Sweets and Scenic Cycling

Discover Himeji Castle Town by bike, savor traditional sweets, explore historic sites, and enjoy a Japanese lunch. Capture stunning photos and relax in Kokoen Garden.

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 84 Nishinikaimachi - Japanese Sweets
    Visit a Japanese sweets shop with a rich history of over 300 years and enjoy tasting “Tamatsubaki.”
    “Tamatsubaki” is a refined Japanese sweet that was once presented to the castle lords.
  • Himeji Castle - Explore the Castle and discover its history and the stories of its past inhabitants.
    Explore the…
What's Included
  • 5.5 hours with a local guide
  • Entrance fee for Himeji Castle & Kokoen garden
  • Photos
  • Rental Bike
  • Lunch at a Japanese local restaurant
  • A cup of tea at a garden
What's Not Included
  • Extra drinks and food
Additional Information

After meeting at Himeji Station, we will collect our bicycles and proceed to the shopping street in the castle town. There, we will visit a Japanese sweets shop with a history spanning over 300 years and sample “Tamatsubaki,” a refined Japanese confection that was once presented to feudal lords within the castle. We will then explore the magnificent…

Location
7-Eleven Heart-In
In front of Seven Eleven at North Exit of JR Himeji station In front of Seven Eleven at North Exit of JR Himeji Station. (There is another Seven Eleven, so please be careful.) A guide will be holding an orange sign saying "MagicalTrip tour"
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(70 Ratings)
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Pacifista_01
Aug 14, 2025
One of the Best Value, Would Recommend 100% - This would be one of the best day trips for the entirety of my vacation in Japan. First of all, Chie and MagicalTours were kind enough to proceed even though it was only me (ended up as a private tour). Chie was amazing, a go-getter, full of life and loves to share her knowledge of the area and the history of Japan. We vibed well, surprised she's an anime otaku just like me and we talked on countless animes during the trip. On top of the itinerary, she also taught me Japan cultural tidbits, like how to use the gacha gacha machine and how to pray in a shrine. On the food stops, the Kaeseki lunch was beyond delicious. The freshness and flavour was unparalleled, one of the best I've had in Japan. Chie explained the clever design and misdirections done on Himeji Castle to distract invaders - in this case, we were the invaders but good thing she knew her way around. She was also kind enough to take photos, and these were great photos. Thank you Chie and the MagicalTours team, I am very satisfied with the experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C6785qyjuliew
Aug 5, 2025
Nice tour - Yusuke and Kent were very friendly and helpful. Their explanations were very interesting. We had a great time. We highly recommend our guides.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Arielbr5353zr
Jun 22, 2025
11/10 would reccomend - Take was an incredible guide! We really enjoyed biking around and his deep knowledge of the history of the castle. All the food was amazing too. Despite the heat in June we had a fabulous day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tavbur
Jun 15, 2025
Fantastic Himeji Castle experience with the best tour guide! - This tour is amazing! My husband and I nearly cancelled our reservation because we worried about the weather but we are so glad we didn't. It ended up being a beautiful day and this tour is the highlight of our entire Japan trip so far! Meri was our tour guide and she is phenomenal! She is so knowledgeable and friendly, and I don't think we would have experienced Himeji and the castle grounds the same way without her presence and insight. We had great conversations and plenty of laughs in between all the historical and cultural information she provided. I highly recommend going on this tour, and just know that you are very lucky if you have Meri as your guide!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Lilycw7885rk
May 16, 2025
Romantic Bike Ride and AMAZING Tour Guide - It was honestly perfect, such a fun day trip from Osaka on our honeymoon! Our tour guide Meri was AMAZING, so kind and with such a wealth of knowledge on the castle’s history. And we also lucked out in that no one else signed up so it ended up being a private tour with her! She mentioned at most they will allow for 8 people per tour. There were so many details to the castle that we would have missed without her and she never felt rushed to finish any part of the tour. The biking sections were beautiful, flat and super safe. We were nervous to ride without helmets, but once we got on the bikes we were never concerned, as cars were super polite in traffic. The lunch portion was a traditional Japanese meal - I am a little picky so there were some parts I couldn’t eat, but Meri created a judgment free zone. The day ended with a traditional matcha tea service and a gorgeous garden tour! Meri was happy to take photos whenever we asked, which was so helpful for getting some couple shots on our honeymoon! Truly a highlight day of our two weeks there. It exceeded all expectations! If you are on the fence, I recommend you go for it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
484dilettas
May 9, 2025
Great tour in Himeji - We had a wonderful time in Himeji with our guide Chie, who taught us a lot about Japanese history and gave us many tips on the best places to go to in Kyoto and around the Kansai region. We really appreciated the day spent with her. In addition, we had a Japanese lunch which was very nice. We really recommend this tour, especially by bike which seems to be a great way to discover Himeji!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
617-212
May 6, 2025
Ten Star: Leisurely & Historical - A MUST see castle, and a MUST see tour with a local castle historian. John’s tour was the absolute highlight of our trip to Japan. Not only did he navigate us through the busy golden week tourist season but also through his home town. We began our tour after getting our bikes by having tea and a sweet princess cake at a local shop. We then continued on our way to the castle. John saved us hours of waiting time while we enjoyed castle insights and history. We did not know that the construction quality of this castle was some of the best in Japan! No invaders even tried to attack with the reputation of this archaeological marvel. Our easy carefree bike ride was pure enjoyment and no work at all. I recommend it for all people who can ride a bike. Biking through the town while learning how the area was built to ward off invaders and seeing children playing baseball was a delight. We toured samurai gardens and had a short tea ceremony in a tea house. We learned how to enjoy the art of tea. John took us off the beaten path to take the most spectacular photos of the castle without the crowds. This did require walking up steps but not as many as getting up to through the castle itself! Lunch was a four course preset meal with choice if you are vegetarian, once again top notch. I cannot stress enough that this tour is a winner! Thank you John for an enjoyable educational experience of a lifetime.
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Facostamex
Apr 20, 2025
Excellent choice for Himeji - Excellent interaction, knowledge and time control by the Meri Guide. Very friendly and excellent food option with friendly and friendly treatment
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Robertvo4763qb
Apr 12, 2025
10/10 would recommend - We had an amazing tour with Take, great views of the castle, he explained everything in detail and took many photos of us, and the best Japanese lunch!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rjb10009
Apr 11, 2025
Terrific guide - Chie was a fantastic guide. We had a wonderful time. She is so knowledgeable and entertaining. Wonderful experience. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $95
up to 7 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).