If you are interested in Japanese castles, this is the perfect one day tour for you! Starting from Himeji where world cultural heritage Himeji Castle is located, you can learn and enjoy different type of Japanese castle, mountaintop castle. Takeda Castle Ruin is a national important cultural property (historic site) of Japan and located on a mountain 354m above sea level. You can enjoy a magnificent stone wall, most of which are original and preserved for more than 400 years on the mountain top.
At JR Himeji Station or Hotel near JR Himeji Station
[ ] JR Himeji Station [ ] Hotel near JR Himeji Station
JR Express to Takeda Station (2,490JPY)
Bus to Yamashiro-no-sato (200JPY)
Lunch (not included), Souvenir shopping
Bus to Takeda-jyoseki(160JPY), Walk to Takeda Castle Ruins (30 minutes, Admission fee/500JPY)
Walk around Takeda Castle Ruins on the mountain top and enjoy the art of stone wall.
The castle was built on a mountaintop of 354m above sea level during civil war period to watch over the enemy’s movements and to protect nearby Ikuno Silver Mine which was one of the largest silver mines in Japan. You can see magnificent stone walls there, extending 400m from north to south and 100m from east to west. Most of the stone walls are original and preserved for more than 400 years on the mountain top.
In autumn sunny early mornings, fog may occur and the castle wall appears like floating in the sea of clouds. That’s why the castle ruin is often called as "Castle in the Sky".
This is a tour to visit Takeda Castle Ruins. If you would like to visit Ritsuun-Kyo Observatory to see the full view of the castle ruins from a distance, tour can be arranged to include both of Takeda Castle Ruins and Ritsuun-Kyo Observatory (Additional taxi fee needed).
JR Express to Himeji Station
[ ] JR Himeji Station [ ] Hotel near JR Himeji Station
At JR Himeji Station or Hotel near JR Himeji Station
• Guide fee
• Pick-up at your hotel near JR Himeji station
• Meals and drinks (guide)
• Transportation fee (guests and guide) : JR roundtrip (Himeji-Takeda 2,490JPY x 2) Bus (JR Takeda - Yamashiro-no-sato -Takeda Jyoseki – JR Takeda 620JPY), Taxi (in case bus is not available about 2000JPY/one way), Taxi (in case Ritsuun-Kyo is additionally included, about 4,000JPY)
• Admission fee (guests and guide) : 500JPY per person 300JPY per person
• Any meals and drinks (guests): About 1500 JPY per person
I guide you in Wakayama, Kumano, Koya-san and Shiga if you pay my transportation fee from Himeji.
This tour is not available in January and February.
• Tour is not available in January and February.
• This tour involves mountain road walking. So make sure to wear comfortable clothes and shoes.
• Itinerary might be changed due to Covid situation, please contact me in advance for details.
• If the weather forecast predicts heavy rain on the day of the tour, you can have the tour with a different itinerary.
• If you have food allergies, please inform me in advance.
• Please prepare the cash to spend for any transportation, lunch and so on.
• Please note insurance is excluded.
• It is my pleasure to help you plan your itinerary.
Noboru-san was a fantastic guide! He arranged our tour of my grandmother’s town of Aboshi, took us around the major sites, and also fit in a tour of Tatsuno castle, samurai residence, and soy sauce museum. I would love to arrange a tour with him again when we return to Himeji one day!
Thank you very much for your nice review. I’m so happy to know that you enjoyed my tour very much. I also had a very wonderful time with you and your son! Looking forward to seeing you and your family next time you come back to Japan! Noboru
We just had 4 hours in Himeji. Noboru was very informativ and very kind. We highly recommend this Tour with him. Thank you so much for the wonderful morning!
Thank you very much for your nice review. I am so happy to hear all of you had a pleasant time in Himeji. I also had a wonderful morning with you! Hope to see you again next time you come back to Japan! Noboru
Noburo, A great time in Himeji with Noburu, supplied a lot of information during our tour, well prepared and very factual without being burdensome. Highly recommend Noburu San to anyone travelling to Himeji
Thank you very much for your wonderful review of our tour in Himeji. I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed the tour. It was also my great pleasure to show Himeji Castle and its beautiful gardens to you. Did you find a nice bathrobe? I hope to see you again next time you visit Japan!
Noboru was a very kind man who met all of our needs....he was allowing us to be flexible due to some people with mobility issues....I would recommend him to anyone Brenda
Thank you very much for your warmhearted review. I also enjoyed the day very much together. It was so wonderful to see their smiles. Hope to see you and work with you again next time you come back to Japan!