Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour — Guide Hiro

What Is a Private Half-Day Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

13:00 Meet at the central ticket gate of JR Himeji Station 13:45 Himeji Castle tour 15:50 Smoking break at the smoking area in the Sannomaru Plaza of Himeji Castle 16:20 Kokoen Garden tour 16:50 Head to JR Himeji Station 17:10 Disband at JR Himeji Station

The Shinkansen arrived on schedule, and we met almost as planned at the central ticket gate of JR Himeji Station, then walked along Miyuki-dori toward Himeji Castle. The guests seemed genuinely interested in both the defensive features and the structure of Himeji Castle. They were impressed by the joinery of the West Great Pillar, remarking that it was remarkable craftsmanship. They also seemed to enjoy Kokoen Garden.

What surprised me was that most of the guests were smokers, so after finishing at Himeji Castle we took a smoking break at the smoking area in the Sannomaru Plaza. The buffer zone from JR Himeji Station to the area around Himeji Castle is designated as a no-smoking district under a Himeji City ordinance. If caught by a patrol officer, one is subject to an immediate fine. The only place where smoking is permitted is the single smoking area in the Sannomaru Plaza. Everywhere else—the rest of the Sannomaru Plaza, the former Shirotopia Park, and the area around Himeyama Park—smoking is entirely prohibited, and even electronic cigarettes are hard to distinguish, so they are banned as well. Incidentally, there is also a smoking room next to the basement restroom of Piole Building No. 1, adjacent to the north side of the station building, but it appears to be quite small. As far as I know, these are about the only options.

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Tour Report by Hiro

I am Hiromi Mizoi, call me Hiro. I mainly have Himeji tours because I live in Himeji. I got my National Guide Certificate in 2017. I started to guide tourists as a volunteer guide in 2004. I had been a volunteer guide for a long time. However, I could not have any tours from April in 2020 to November in 2022 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Now, many tourists have come back to Japan. So, I am very excited. I would like to share not only the beauty of Himeji Castle’s Main Tower Complex but also the tricky defense systems of the entire Castle Grounds, which many visitors do not realize, with you. I was born and grew up very close to the west side of the moats of the Castle. So, I love Himeji Castle. I like other tourists’ favorite sightseeing spots such as Kokoen Garden and Engyoji Temple in Mt. Shosya. As one of Himeji locals, I am greatly happy to share the local people’s favorite spots with you. I look forward to your tours.