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: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • 84 Nishinikaimachi - Japanese Sweets
  • Himeji Castle - Explore inside the Castle and learn the history of the castle and the people who used to live there.
  • 73 Ōnomachi - Lunch
  • Otokoyama Hachimangu Shrine - See the back of Himeji Castle from the hidden lookout.
  • Koko-en - Experience an authentic tea ceremony while exploring a Japanese garden.
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 Himeji Castle, also referred to as Shirasagi-jo, meaning “White Egret Castle.” After ascending to the summit of Himeji Castle, we will cycle through the historic castle town and savor a Japanese lunch at a restaurant located in the castle town. We’ll then proceed to a shrine that offers picturesque spot for capturing beautiful photographs of Himeji Castle. Relax and enjoy a cup of tea in Kokoen, a beautiful Daimyo garden. After exploring the shrine, we will cycle once more around Himeji Castle, heading to the picturesque Kokoen Garden. Following a leisurely cup of tea at a café within the garden, we will make our way back to the station.

  • The itinerary for this tour includes some locations that are not accessible by a wheelchair or stroller.
  • Summer in Japan is very hot and humid, so we recommend that you bring water and wear a hat to prevent heat stroke.
  • There are many stairs inside the castle, so please check if you have companions who are concerned about navigating stairs without an elevator beforehand.
  • You must remove your shoes upon entering. Please wear shoes that are easy to walk in and remove.
  • Individuals aged 12 and above can join this cycling tour.
  • If you’re a vegetarian, please note that the lunch options and quantities are limited. (However, we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.) Please contact us before the tour date.
  • If you have specific dietary restrictions, especially if you’re vegan, we may not be able to provide the lunch option for you.
  • Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate gluten-free requests for this tour.
  • You are not required to cover the cost of the guide’s food and drinks.
  • Please bring cash if you wish to purchase additional snacks and beverages.
  • Out of consideration for our other guests and to ensure the best experience for everyone, the tour must start on time.
  • Please be aware that if you arrive more than 15 minutes late for the meeting time (10 minutes before the tour start time), you will not be permitted to join the tour, receive a refund, or reschedule.
  • Please note that we are unable to guarantee allergy-free or cater to dietary restrictions as the food is prepared in kitchens that do not belong to MagicalTrip. Additionally, there may be instances where substitutions are not possible at certain stops; however, we will make every effort to compensate at different stops throughout the tour.
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
(17 Ratings)
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Bognak101
Sep 21, 2024
Himeji castle tour - The castle- sightseeing was very well organized. The scedule was great and there was a lot of attractions. In short we spent very nice day. I will recommend these both guides (Chie and John)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
89matyldac
Sep 21, 2024
Himeji Castel Trip - The trip was wonderfull and the guide had a lot of knowlege and was very friendly. IF you want to have japanesse expiriance i recomend that trip.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hanlieb2024
Sep 12, 2024
Fantastic Half day Himeji tour - John was a great guide! Very informative tour and saw great things!! Thanks for a delightful day. Lots of beautiful sights.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Navigate36542577778
Sep 7, 2024
Highly recommend! - We had an amazing experience! John was an outstanding tour guide—knowledgeable, engaging, and full of fascinating insights into Japanese history, culture, and traditions. We also enjoyed some delicious food along the way. Highly recommend this tour!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
443quentinf
Aug 24, 2024
Everything you need to see about himeji - Very nice tour with John. Very fun and interesting details about Himeji castle, town and Japan in general. Having a bike allowed us to see so much in a little time. If you are one day to spare in Himeji, don't miss that.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Asuka
Jul 29, 2024
An unforgettable experience in Himeji with our guide John! - We just returned from an incredible bike tour around Himeji, and we couldn't be more satisfied. Our guide, John, was simply exceptional. The tour started with a delightful tasting of mochi, which was a fantastic way to begin the day. We then visited the imposing Himeji Castle, where John provided us with a detailed and fascinating history. Following this, we enjoyed a traditional Japanese meal that was an absolute treat for our taste buds. After lunch, we biked up a hill, which offered spectacular views of the castle and the city. Our next stop was at some famous gardens in Himeji, where the tranquility of the surroundings left us in awe. In these gardens, we also participated in a brief but fascinating tea ceremony, allowing us to learn a lot about Japanese traditions. Finally, after exploring all the gardens, we headed back to the station. The tour lasted between 5.5 and 6 hours, and every minute was worth it. John was the perfect guide: always attentive, friendly, and with extensive knowledge that he shared enthusiastically. We learned a lot and had a great time. I highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Himeji. Thank you, John, for such a memorable experience! Patri & Chema
Review provided by Tripadvisor
975davidt
Jul 23, 2024
Unforgettable experience - John was just unbelievable. Great guy knowing everything about Himeji and its history. We’ve learnt so much new and interesting aspects of life in Japan. Lunch was a great experience too. Delicious. One of our best days on our Japanese 2 week tour! Thank you John.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Giselles271
Jul 20, 2024
TOP tour - Great experience with our guide John!!! We recommend this tour and guide to every one! He showed us so many nice things and we had a great meal
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Amelie_van_noten3
Jul 20, 2024
SUPER BIKE RIDE! - Really nice guide and we enjoyed the tour! Take gave us a lot of interesting information about Himeji!😃 My family and I recommend it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mohaimenm2020
Jul 19, 2024
Fun cycling tour. - Great tour and very knowledgeable guide. We had a lot of fun cycling around Himeji. Our guide was very passionate and we learned a lot. One of the best experiences we had in Japan.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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1 Adult
September 2024
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