Introducing tours of Himeji, a castle town, recommended by Gold-Guide !

• Table of Contents
• 1-day Himeji Tour: World Heritage Castle and The Last Samurai Temple
• Guide's Recommended Points
• My Details
• Self-Introduction
• Detailed information about Yuko, Smiley

1-day Himeji Tour: World Heritage Castle and The Last Samurai Temple

Meet your guide at your hotel in Himeji City or at JR Himeji Station and head to Himeji Castle. Admire the white keep and its ingenious defensive mechanisms, and enjoy panoramic views of the town from the upper floors of the keep. Next, stroll through the nine gardens of the adjacent Kokoen Garden, which retain the atmosphere of the Edo period. Enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the pond gardens and tea houses. In the afternoon, take a taxi and ropeway up Mount Shosha and leisurely walk through the grounds of Engyo-ji Temple. It's a day where you can enjoy history, nature, and even locations featured in movies.

*Itinerary

9:00 AM Meet at a hotel in Himeji City or JR Himeji Station (by taxi or on foot)

09:30 Himeji Castle (*Closed: December 29th and 30th)

11:30 Kokoen Garden (*Closed: December 29th and 30th)

12:30 Lunch (additional charge / recommendations for nearby restaurants available) Travel to Engyo-ji Temple: Taxi + Ropeway *The ropeway may be closed for maintenance around February (please check in advance)

14:00 Shoshazan Engyo-ji Temple (stroll around the temple grounds and visit) Return to hotel/JR Himeji Station: Ropeway + Taxi

17:00 Disband at the hotel or JR Himeji Station. *If you wish to be dropped off at a different location within Himeji City, please consult with your guide.

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Guide's Recommended Points

Himeji Castle has many points of interest, so we will guide you through the key points in the following order: exterior → defensive features → keep. There are angles from which the "whiteness" of the castle looks beautiful in photographs, so we will stop at easy spots to take pictures and explain them. Kokoen Garden offers different views in each section, so we will plan the walking order to visit the most beautiful sections. For lunch, there are many options around the castle, and we will suggest recommended options according to your preferences (Japanese food, light meals, etc.). Engyo-ji Temple is located on a mountain and is quite large, so we will adjust the visiting route to suit your stamina and time. Also, since the background is key to the filming locations of "The Last Samurai," we will guide you to places where the composition looks beautiful.

My Details

Name: Yuko, Smiley

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Self-Introduction

I am an English-speaking tour guide based in Kansai area including Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe and Himeji. I was born in Kobe and raised in a small town near Kobe where I live now. I have worked for a TV station in Kyoto as a reporter. Therefore, I am familiar with lots of attractive spots loved by locals as well as well-known sightseeing spots in Kansai area. I especially love showing my guests around Japanese castles such as Nijo castle and Himeji castle, both of which are well-known UNESCO world heritage sites in Japan, Japanese Sake breweries, Japanese gardens, traditional temples, and shrines. Besides English, I am a fluent speaker of Indonesian since I used to study and work in Indonesia for three years. I love traveling around the world, too! I am flexible and love pleasing guests during the tour. Let's enjoy exploring cities in Japan like locals! I am looking forward to meeting you soon!

Detailed information about Yuko, Smiley

Guide Experience：5 years or more

Area: Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Himeji, Shiga

Languages: English

Qualifications: National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter : EN01045

Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency Grade 1 (CFER C1 equivalent)

Expertise: Castle, Food

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For more details, please check the Gold-Guide official platform.