Things to do in Himeji Castle

Had a wonderful day exploring Himeji, Kobe, and Katsuoji! Our first stop was Himeji Castle. It’s huge, and those steep staircases really made me wonder how anyone could have conquered this castle back then! So glad this beautiful piece of history has been preserved. Some areas are still under renovation, but the main keep is in great condition. I also got some cute souvenirs and sweets before leaving! Next was Kobe Harborland, Umie & Mosaic for lunch and a shopping. We could see Kobe Port Tower nearby, although the weather wasn’t great, so I couldn’t get very close. We ended the day at Katsuoji Temple. I wasn’t able to make it all the way up to the main temple, but the entrance and gardens were already beautiful and breathtaking. A big thank you to Ms. Wenling Huang of Lion Travel for taking such good care of us, keeping us well-informed throughout the tour. She always made sure I was okay. ❤️ And thanks to Kho-san, our amazing chauffeur, for getting us safely to every destination.

Great tour with Nancy Sue. The rain added to the atmosphere of the castle and kept tourists away, meaning wait times where quick. (note transfer not applicable as we met guide at the castle). Recommend.

The castle is magnificent, the prettiest and most complete I've ever seen. The guide was more than perfect as well, thank you very much. The sake brewery was nice, nothing special, but the guide's explanations were very clear. The sake, however, was very good.

We had a great time in Himeji and Kobe! The atmosphere was so peaceful… slow, calm, and serene. Mr. Cao is a great driver! He is very approachable, friendly, and organized, which made the whole trip even more enjoyable. Overall, it was a wonderful experience! ✨

This was truly an amazing experience! I highly recommend our dedicated tour guide, Nick. He was very friendly and came prepared with a book of picture cards, offering humorous and lively explanations that made the entire trip rich and diverse. Himeji Castle in August can only be described as scorching hot, but Nick thoughtfully provided salt candies to help us prevent heatstroke. He guided us through the entire castle, revealing its charming splendor and teaching us so much! At every attraction, he made sure to tell us about local characteristics and recommend local specialties. In just one day, I gained a deeper understanding and a more lasting impression of Osaka and Kobe! I hope to have the chance to join such a wonderful tour again. Everyone should definitely support Nick! :)

We are very grateful to our driver and guide, Mr. Miraitowa, for his thoughtful service and explanations during this trip. Although we encountered rain, his attentive service made our experience very enjoyable.

Our recent day trip to Himeji Castle turned out to be one of the highlights of our time in Japan. The “White Heron ” absolutely lives up to its reputation, with its bright white walls and layered roofs rising above the city like something out of a painting

Miyuki was a wonderful guide! She was extremely knowledgeable about the castle/keep as well as the bridge! We had a wonderful time with her and learned so much! she even tied it into Osaka Castle (which we visited the day before). I highly recommend this tour!

This tour was thorough and interesting. Our guide, Marielle, was delightful. She spoke English and Japanese fluently, and was very knowledgeable about the subject matter. Although the weather was foggy and rainy, that only added to the mystique of the castle and temple. Several scenes from the Tom Cruise movie The Last Samurai were filmed on the temple grounds. Be prepared to walk a LOT and climb a little. Highly recommended!