Program & Excursions

Overview

Himeji is a city blessed with rich natural surroundings, facing the Seto Inland Sea. This tour includes a cruise around the Ieshima Islands, located off the coast of Himeji, where participants will have the opportunity to observe local fisheries in action.
Participants will learn directly from island fishermen who are working on the front lines to address various challenges facing the sea and to promote sustainable fisheries. For lunch, participants will enjoy a Japanese-style meal featuring fresh seafood.
*Please note that the tour itinerary may be subject to change due to severe weather or other circumstances.

Overview

This tour takes participants to Engyoji Temple, located on Mount Shosha in northern Himeji, where they can experience a glimpse of the world of monks through activities such as Buddhist vegetarian cuisine and sutra copying.
Founded approximately 1,000 years ago, Engyoji Temple has long welcomed visitors from across Japan. Many of its temple buildings are designated cultural properties, and participants will have the opportunity to experience Japanese history and culture in a solemn setting created by nature and historic architecture.
*Please note that the tour itinerary may be subject to change due to severe weather or other circumstances.

Overview

【Nijo-jo Castle】
Nijo-jo Castle has witnessed some of the most important events in Japanese history in the 400 years since it was built. The castle was completed in 1603 on the orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder and first Shogun of the Tokugawa Shogunate (1603-1867). Tokugawa Ieyasu unified Japan after a long period of civil war, and ushered in a period of over 260 years of peace and prosperity. The government that Ieyasu established lasted for fifteen generations, and was one of the longest periods of stability and prosperity in Japanese history. The 400-year-old buildings of the Ninomaru-goten Palace, the Kara-mon Gate and the Ninomaru Garden, are unique survivals from one of the golden ages of Japanese architecture and design, the early Edo period, known for its ornate architecture and magnificent interiors.

Overview

【Nara Park】
Adjacent to the World Heritage site Todaiji Temple, this vast, lush park stretches 4 km from east to west and 2 km from north to south. It is home to over 1,400 wild deer a national natural treasure that roam freely and are cherished as "divine messengers of the gods." This is a globally unique spot where visitors can interact with the deer and feed them "shika-senbei" (deer crackers).

【Heijo Palace Site】
This is the former site of the Imperial Palace of Heijo-kyo, which flourished as the capital of Japan 1,300 years ago. The vast grounds feature reconstructed structures such as the majestic Suzaku Gate and the Great Audience Hall, both rebuilt on an awe-inspiring scale. Here, you can experience the lifestyle of the ancient imperial family and nobility and feel the very beginnings of the Japanese nation. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

【Yakushiji Temple】
Yakushiji Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site with over 1,300 years of history. It is widely renowned for its vibrant vermilion-lacquered complex and the East Pagoda—a three-storied structure often called "frozen music" and praised as one of the most beautiful towers in Japan. The temple enshrines Yakushi Nyorai(a National Treasure), the Buddha of Healing, to whom visitors pray for health and recovery.