English Guide Tour of Himeji Castle
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When you visit Himeji Castle, just looking is not enough! Himeji Castle is packed with content to help you understand the traditional culture of Japan. Let us guide you around the castle and teach you about Japanese culture. All of us guides are experts, certified as National Licensed Guide Interpreters. Not only are we proficient with languages, we also have broad knowledge and deep understanding of history, geography, culture, and other disciplines—assets that we will use to guide you around Himeji Castle. The World Cultural Heritage Site Himeji Castle is a symbol of Japan. We will show you the castle from a variety of perspectives and satisfy your intellectual curiosity. As an additional option, we can also take you through the adjacent Koko-en Garden, which was constructed on the former site of the Nishi-Oyashiki (the castle lord's western residence). Visitors to Koko-en can take a stroll through a Japanese garden, have their fill of the seasonal manifestations of trees, plants, and flowers, and experience a tea ceremony (advance reservations required).
Photos
Let's enter Himeji Castle with a guide!
Explaining the architectural style of Himeji Castle
Taking photos at the photo spot Bizenmaru, with the beautiful layers of the castle keep as a backdrop.
Beautiful stone walls adorn this spot. Their slopes are curved like a fan (ogi no kobai).
A view from the Himeji Castle Main Tower. On clear days, you can see the island of Shikoku.
Information
- Minimum Number of Passengers
- 1 people per guide
- Maximum Capacity
- 8 people per guide
- Participation Restrictions
- People who are physically fit enough to climb up Himeji Castle. Wheelchairs cannot be used.
- Meeting and Exchange Areas
-
Upon request, within the area between Himeji Station and Himeji Castle (Example) The Himejijomae parking lot
188-1 Ekimaechō, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture (JR Himeji Station) - Open Period
- Year-round
- Closed Period
- By request (on break from December 28 to January 3)
- Meeting Times and Business Hours
- By request *Note, no entry to Himeji Castle after 3:00 p.m.
- Tour Schedule
- Himeji Station > Otemaedori > San-no-Maru Square > Himeji Castle > Shopping arcade > Himeji Station
- Required Time
- Two-and-a-half hours if departing from Himeji Station and two hours if departing from Himeji Castle Otemon Gate
- Provision of Meals
- Meals are not provided
- Universal accessibility
- It is also possible to tour around Himeji Castle by taxi *separate charge
- Parking
- There is parking available for buses and private vehicles at Otemon Gate parking lot
- Notes
- We can show you to restaurants if you get hungry. However, please also pay for the guide's food.
- Related websites
- https://hcs.or.jp/englishguide/
This basic information is current at the time of publication and is subject to change.
Please check the official website for the latest information.
Map
Nearby Spots
Himeji City Museum of Art
240 m
Himeji Castle
260 m
Hyogo Prefectural Museum of History
320 m
