Himeji Castle Half-Day Customized Tour — Guide Hiro

Title: What's a Private Himeji Castle Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

We were able to meet as scheduled at the central ticket gate of JR Himeji Station and headed toward Himeji Castle along Otemae Street. The guests showed great interest in my explanation of the layout of the outer moat surrounding the entire Himeji castle town. After entering the current main gate, we looked at illustrations of the former mansions and the palace of the honmaru that once stood there. Since the guests had visited Nijo Castle in Kyoto, I explained that the buildings had been like smaller versions of the Ninomaru Palace and Honmaru Palace of Nijo Castle, and the guests were delighted, saying that this helped them picture the central buildings of the castle. Looking at the plan of the inner moat area on the Sannomaru Plaza and the bird's-eye view of the inner moat area beside the Hishinomon Gate, they seemed amazed at what the buildings inside the inner moat had contained, remarking that even the surviving mountainside structures alone were overwhelming. At Koko-en Garden, the autumn leaves were late this year and were still enjoyable, and they were pleased with the beautiful koi in the pond, saying we had been lucky. They also enjoyed the 3D trick art painting on Miyuki Street, which became one of their favorites, and had fun taking photos of it. After finishing at Koko-en Garden, the tour concluded, and on the way back to the station the guests wished to stroll around on their own, so we parted ways.

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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.