Hikone City is only an hour away from Kyoto by train and faces the largest lake in Japan.
Hikone Castle, a national treasure, and its castle town are located there.
There are also some old temples and shrines nearby.
You feel like you have slipped back into the Edo Period ( about 200~400 years ago).
This is a half-day tour where you can learn about Japan's medieval period.
JR Hikone Station or Kyoto city or Osaka city
Hikone Castle was built in the Edo period (1603-1867) as an important base for the Tokugawa Shogunate along with Nijo Castle and Himeji Castle in Kyoto. The castle is surrounded by turrets, stone walls, and moats, including the castle tower, which is a national treasure. From the top floor of the castle tower, we can see Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. There is also a beautiful garden inside the castle complex called "Genkyu-en" Garden, from which the castle tower can be seen, making it an excellent photo spot.
The castle town of Hikone Castle was fortunately spared from war damage, and the old townscape remains. In this area, a watchhouse to watch against enemy invasion and old temples still remain, giving visitors a glimpse of the medieval townscape in Japan.
The area called "Hikone Castle Road" is a recreation of Hikone Castle Town with souvenir shops and restaurants. One of the most famous meals in this area is a meat dish using Omi beef, which is as famous as Kobe beef. Omi beef is a specialty that was presented to the Tokugawa shoguns during the Edo period (1603-1867)
JR Hikone Station or Kyoto city or Osaka city
Tour guide fee
・Transportation fee (Kyoto→Hikone : 1,170 yen)
・Entrance fee （Hikone Castle : 800 yen, Hikone Castle ＋Genkyu-en Garden : 1,200 yen)
・Lunch fee
Please feel free to contact me!!
I will suit it to a guide starting time that is convenient for you.
＊There are many beautiful temples and shrine near Hikone castle.
You can also visit there.
＊You will find following items.
・Architecture Style of Japanese Castle
・Japanese garden style
・Samurai's life
Yes. This area is close to Kyoto geographically and has been culturally influenced strongly by Kyoto and Nara since ancient times. Therefore, there are many famous temples and shrines around here. Moreover, this area was important military spot for feudal lords who tried to rule Japan in the Civil Wars in around the 16 century.
Therefore, there are many ruins of castles.
I don't just guide you. I will do my best to make your trip more memorable by responding to your various requests.
Yes, at any time. I will adapt to your requests.
Yes. I can also guide you to following spots, so please feel free to contact me.
Osaka, Nara, Kyoto, Hiroshima, Himeji (National Treasure Castle),
Takayama & Shirakawa-go
Hello , we did have a great time with Kazu , really nice and friendly tour guide. It was lovely to know the Japan history and understand the culture. Pleased to send our compliments and give a great score to Kazu!!!
Hello, Thanks for the nice review. I apologize for making you walk a lot in the heat. Have you recovered from your fatigue? I had a great time too. I hope this tour will be a memorable tour for you in Japan. Thank you!!
Kazuhiro was everything we hoped for. Professional, prepared, thoughtful, knowledgeable and accommodating. I would highly recommend him as your guide. I had no worries as he took good care of us. His handouts and binder of information was very informative. He took great care in sharing his knowledge with us. His English is very good and we had no communication challenges. Thanks for a wonderful 3 days!!
Thank you for the nice review. I apologize for making you walk a lot in the hot weather. I apologize for any inconvenience caused by train delays. I hope you will recover from your fatigue soon. I was also happy to have spent three enjoyable days with your family. I hope this tour will be a tour to remember. Thank you!!
Kazuhiko was a fabulous guide that managed to guide us to four sites in eight hours. Navigating public transit was a breeze with his leadership, and I felt like I was really a local. He is knowledgeable and very happy to take our photos. I would recommend him to anyone wanting a whirlwind tour of the most important sites in Kyoto.
Hello, Thank you for the nice review. I had a great time as well. Sorry for making you walk a lot in the very hot weather. I hope this tour will be one of the most memorable tours in Japan. Thank you !!
Dear Mr. Kazuhiko, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt thanks for the wonderful guided tour of Kyoto's historic landmarks. Your extensive knowledge and passion for the city's rich history truly enriched our experience. Your ability to convey the significance of each site, from the serene beauty of Kinkaku-ji to the profound spirituality of Fushimi Inari Shrine, left a lasting impression on us. Moreover, your anecdotes and insights provided invaluable context, making the tour both educational and engaging. I especially appreciated your patience and willingness to answer our questions, which further deepened our understanding of Kyoto's cultural heritage. Your professionalism and warmth made the tour not only informative but also enjoyable. Thank you once again for a memorable experience. I will certainly recommend your services to anyone visiting Kyoto in the future. Warm regards, Beata & Adam
Dear Beata & Adam, Thank you for the nice review. I am sorry for making you walk a lot in the hot weather. Have you recovered from the fatigue? I had a great time too. Thank you very much!! I hope this tour will be a memorable one in Japan, and I hope you will come back to Japan again. Best regards, Kazuhiko Goto