Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour — Guide Norio

What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Koko-en Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

For today's tour, the guests were arriving in Himeji on a Shinkansen scheduled to arrive at 9:14. They had confirmed everything was fine in a message the day before. Feeling reassured, I waited at the designated meeting point in front of the central ticket gate. However, even after the tour start time of 9:30 had passed, the guests did not appear. They did not respond to my messages on the messaging app, so I called them. They told me, "We cannot get through the ticket gate with the QR code." When I asked a nearby railway staff member, they said, "If it's the Shinkansen ticket gate, there is staff there, so they will come right away." Still, the guests did not appear, so I called again. This time there was an explanation in Japanese, but it was difficult to understand. Here, I called [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/), purchased an entry ticket, and headed to the Shinkansen ticket gate.

What I discovered was that the guests had "used a QR ticket to receive an EX usage slip, then mistook the EX usage slip for the ticket itself and lost the QR ticket. However, the EX usage slip cannot be used to pass through the ticket gate." In such a case, the procedure is: "Report to the station staff that the QR ticket has been lost, and purchase again a ticket with the same usage conditions as the lost QR ticket reservation. Have the station staff at the ticket gate certify the repurchased ticket, and keep the ticket. If the appropriate procedures are completed within one year, a refund can be obtained for the repurchased ticket." (Quite a hassle, isn't it.)

As a result, the start time of the tour was delayed by one hour. Originally we had planned to visit "Himeji Castle, Koko-en, and Engyo-ji Temple on Mount Shosha," but after consulting with the guests, we decided to visit only "Himeji Castle and Koko-en."

Today's guests were a group visiting Japan from North America. They seemed to have come to Japan several times, but Tokyo and Kyoto had been their main sightseeing spots, and they did not seem to remember much of what they had toured.

They had already been to Osaka Castle, but they were impressed that Himeji Castle was a completely different, authentic, and beautiful castle. They also seemed to enjoy the beauty of Koko-en. After having lunch at Koko-en, the guests wanted to buy "Gozasoro," so we bought some in the basement floor of the Sanyo department store, returned to Himeji Station, and ended the tour. The guests enjoyed the tour.

Click here for more details: Himeji Castle & Koko-en in 1 Day Tour with Licensed Guide

Tour Report by Norio

Hello, my name is Norio Oki, a Government-Certified Tour Guide in Japan.
I specialize in guiding visitors through the beautiful and historic regions of Himeji and Kobe.

My expertise includes Japanese history, traditional culture, castles, and sake. I enjoy sharing not only facts, but also the stories and spirit behind each place.

In Himeji, I offer guided tours of Himeji Castle, Kokoen Garden, Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, and Nadagiku Sake Brewery.
In Kobe, I guide guests through the Nada Sake Breweries area, Mt. Rokko, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden, Harborland, Meriken Park, the Kitano District, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and the lively Motomachi Shopping Street.

Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or local experiences, I will create a personalized tour tailored to your interests.

If you’re planning to visit Himeji or Kobe, I would be delighted to be your guide.
I look forward to meeting you soon!