Half-day Himeji Castle Town Bike Tour with Lunch
5.0
11 Ratings
Himeji
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.
  • 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
(11 Ratings)
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C9382nvemmah
Apr 26, 2024
Fascinating, informative, scenic and interesting. - John was an exceptional tour guide. Extremely informative and passionate about castles which made this tour interesting and fun. I would recommend going on this tour especially if John is leading because his knowledge of the castle and gardens are second to none! Many thanks.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
K8297cypauls
Apr 26, 2024
A nice time cycling around a castle with great lunch. - Great tour, it was a small group so it was easy to move around and we could ask more questions. Himeji was really beautiful and we got to see the castle with the Sakura blooming. A cycling tour was a nice change of pace after walking around for a few days. The lunch that was included with the tour was amazing, way beyond my expectations.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Emma_h
Apr 26, 2024
Fascinating, colourful, memorable - John was an exceptional guide who knew so much about the history of the castle and gardens. He made the tour fun and interesting. Thank you John, you’re excellent at your job!
Review provided by Viator
Trip04489414450
Apr 22, 2024
Great experience - Had a great experience with Take and Akiko with them explaining the area and culture of himeji castle and the surrounding area. Alongside making comparison to the Europeans castles.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gareth
Apr 7, 2024
Wonderful tour of Himeji castle and gardens with lunch. - Our guide was excellent, very friendly and informative. The meal she took us to was incredible, very delicious. It was like being shown around by a friend. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicolem253
Apr 4, 2024
Amazing experience. Highly recommend! - I loved this tour! Definitely worth the money and half day spent biking around Himeji and visiting Himeji castle. Ayu was our tour guide and she was both very pleasant and knowledgeable. She took us onto the Himeji castle grounds, out to a traditional Japanese restaurant for lunch, The Japanese Gardens and matcha ice cream for dessert. I had my second thoughts about biking around Japan because I'm a very cautious person. But it was both very safe and beautiful scenery. There is much less car traffic in Himeji than Osaka and Tokyo. It was a tour of a lifetime!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Pierreanthonym
Apr 4, 2024
Fun informative. would do again. - Considering this was her first castle bike tour, Ayu was amazing! She was prompt, spoke English very well, and showed us some cool little things in and around the castle. She was helpful in explaining our lunch, was funny, and very well versed in the area. The highlight of our Japan trip so far. The restaurant we went to for lunch was delicious. it was in a hidden spot and we never would have found on our own.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Suzannu2020
Aug 15, 2020
Himeji Castle with a Local Expert - Ted was the best guide ever! He made the experience with his knowledge of the area. He took me to great photo spots I would never find on my own. He was so much fun and a great guide.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Freda5555
Feb 23, 2020
Half Day Himeji Castle Trip - Had an absolute blast with Ted and Risa. They were both phenomenal tour guides with extensive knowledge of not only the castle itself, but the surrounding city and Japan as a whole. They gave us a number of recommendations for food, and we shared a wonderful bowl of Udon with them at a local spot after our tour. Ted was extremely well-versed in the intricacies of Himeji Castle, and really boosted the experience. Could not recommend them more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 7 guests
1 Adult
June 2024
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