Things to do in Himeji Castle

this is the very first time that we booked this kind of service. this is aint cheap but worth the money. the driver is professional and on time. he picked us up from our hotel and drop us again in the same location in the evening. the vehicle is clean and comfortable. we communicated to the driver via viber. we really enjoyed this day in Kyoto and Nara. i will booked this again the next time I have guests who wanted to visit Kansai.

I planned my own day trip from Osaka to Awaji Island with a private car, and since Awaji Island is part of Hyogo Prefecture and quite a distance away, the car rental company was very considerate and upgraded our vehicle, making the whole trip very comfortable! The driver's skills were excellent, and at each attraction, they thoughtfully got out of the car to help open doors and load/unload luggage. They also helped estimate travel times. 10 hours felt like just the right amount of time, and we visited Awaji Hanasaki Garden, Izanagi Shrine, the Great Naruto Bridge Memorial Hall, and took a whirlpool sightseeing boat tour at Naruto Strait. We also got to try the Happy Pancakes and Awaji Wagyu beef burger~ I was very satisfied~ Highly recommend it!

I booked this day trip for my family, and they were very satisfied with the itinerary. The tour guide was talkative and responsible. They kept praising the tour guide after returning to their accommodation😆

Rina was an incredible guide!! This was our first time having a guided tour in Japan and it was phenomenal. Himeji Castle has such a rich history and so many details that are easily overlooked/not covered in the standard guidebook provided by Himeji. She was a lot of fun to talk to and answered all questions we had. I think if you're also in a time crunch, a guided tour is the way to go because you'll really see the "meat" of Himeji Castle efficiently. I also appreciated that she showed us excellent, uncommon photo spots! The garden tour was fantastic and she told us much about the symbolism of many plants in the garden. Because of Rina, we will definitely be coming back to Himeji!!! I can't thank her enough for such a wonderful experience.

Had a great time on the Himeji Castle, Arima Onsen, and Mount Rokko Day Trip on October 18. Our guide, Nick-san, made the entire experience engaging and fun — mixing humor with insightful stories about each destination. The highlight was Himeji Castle, where we got to explore the original wooden interior and learn how its design reflected defensive strategy and craftsmanship. The trip was well-paced, and the bus ride was smooth and comfortable. Arima Onsen offered a calm, relaxing stop, with Nick-san providing interesting background about the area’s history. Mount Rokko was unfortunately covered in mist, but Nick-san showed a photo of what the night view looks like on a clear day, which led to a funny moment when some of us took pictures beside it instead. Despite the fog, the trip was well-organized and memorable. Highly recommended for first-timers, couples, and families wanting a cultural and scenic day out.

our guide HARRY was superb! He was with us all the way of the tour. He greatly explained the history of Himeji Castle and was very clear on the tour’s schedule. We truly enjoyed the tour. Way to go Harry! You earned 5 stars from both my partner and me. Highly recommended! From T & A.

A great experience! A jovial & polite tour guide, Harry who was very well versed in English & Mandarin. He gave proper & clear instructions & always ensured that the headcount was correct. Highly recommended!

Harry was an outstanding tour guide—incredibly knowledgeable and full of fascinating stories about Japanese history! Even with the October heat and humidity, it was a fantastic day. Himeji Castle is quite big! Be ready for a serious climb; you’ll have to put your shoes in a bag and tackle many steep stairs to preserve the floors. We fueled up with a few hours of city exploration, finding some Kobe beef that was unbelievably tender and flavorful. In the nearby onsen village, we tried the (free) communal foot bath and then chose to explore the area, enjoying a relaxing cold beer by the river. The day concluded perfectly at the Mount Rokko overlook. When the sun finally came out, it gave us an even better, sweeping view of Osaka! We picked up some local honey and tea before leaving. What a great day! I highly recommend this tour.