Magnificent Samurai Castles Himeji and Osaka

What to expect

Ancient walls of Himeji Castle
In 1993, Himeji Castle became the first Japanese UNESCO World Heritage site. The largest and most visited castle in Japan.

We will visit a castle that has preserved its appearance for over 400 years. As it was owned by several clans, you will see the difference in architectural styles in one place. Bridges, gates, towers, embrasures, mazes, moats with water, and, of course, the main tower - the largest of those preserved in the country. From its height, we will overlook Himeji city.

Tranquility and beauty of the Japanese garden
Kokoen Garden opened in 1992 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Himeji city on the site of samurai residences.

Kokoen is a small park opposite Himeji Castle, divided into nine themed gardens. It is designed in the traditional Edo style. We will stroll through quiet gardens amidst bamboo, small waterfalls, and ponds with carp. And then you will have a tea tasting in a tea house to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Japan.

Osaka Castle - a symbol of people's care for their culture and history
The 32-meter wall of Osaka Castle is considered the highest stone wall in Japan

After lunch, we return to Osaka and visit another samurai castle, known for its 16th-century wall. The castle was destroyed several times and rebuilt. We will look at the stone masonry: it will impress you with its precision, and the stones - with their sizes and perfect shapes, some of them even taller than a human.

I will tell you:

• About the peculiarities of castle construction, defense, and siege
• About the difference in stone laying in different eras
• Local legends. One of them is about the servant Okiku - the basis of the most famous theatrical plays in Japan.
• About which movies were filmed on the territory of Himeji Castle and how it suffered from cinema