Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour — Guide Hiro

Title: What Is a Private Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

I sent several emails to the guests but received no reply. It seemed they were using a messaging app, so I sent a message there as well, but still received no response. I contacted the coordinator at [Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) to help encourage a reply, and the coordinator also tried to reach out via the messaging app, but I was informed that the messages had not even been marked as read by the evening before the tour. At that point, my own messages had not been read either. I intended to go to the meeting place on time regardless, and the coordinator also instructed me to go to the meeting place even if there was no contact. However, around 8 p.m. that night, a message finally came from the guests through the messaging app, and I was able to carry out the tour the following day. The guests seemed to greatly enjoy both Himeji Castle and Kokoen Garden. They were very interested in the castle's defensive systems and were impressed that it was easy to understand why the castle was considered impregnable, admiring it as a beautiful and sturdy fortress. After leaving Kokoen Garden, we tentatively concluded the tour, but they said they wanted a late lunch, preferably tonkatsu, so I guided them to "Musashi," a long-established and easy-to-enter restaurant in Himeji, and we parted ways. Right up until the night before the tour day, I was on edge, worried that the tour might be cancelled at the last minute.

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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.