Best of Kobe
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Port
Kobe, Japan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
Information Not Currently Available
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$560
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 8½ Hours
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Meals Included
Meals included
Brilliant, fascinating, age-old Kobe, with its glorious Edo-period castle, pretty gardens and sake museum, offers equal thrills for experienced travelers and those new to Japan.
Head straight to the renowned Himeji Castle Park, known for its history and beauty. While you won't enter the castle, you'll have the chance to admire its majestic exterior. The UNESCO World Heritage Site Edo-period Himeji Castle is known for its vivid white plaster walls. Himeji Castle has been compared to a white heron in flight. What do you think? Built in the Renritsu style of architecture, the Main Keep (or Dai-tenshu) appears to have only five stories but actually features six floors above the ground and one lower level. It is attached by roofed passageways to three smaller keeps. This graceful edifice is a popular tourist attraction and affords views of the surrounding area.
Move to Kokoen Garden -- a Japanese garden looking towards the castle.
Next, you'll enjoy a Kobe beef lunch -- your chance to savor delicious local cuisine.
At the Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum, delve into Japan's sake (rice wine, pronounced sah-kay) culture and learn about the traditional sake-making process. The museum shares the origins of sake brewing, the process and tools used, techniques, ingredients and the natural environment. There is also a nod to the cultural aspect of sake and those who embrace it.
Please note:
This tour is available only to guests whose cruise does not begin or end in Kobe. You will not enter Himeji Castle; you will view it from the outside. Tour requires walking approximately 15-20 minutes each way from the parking lot to Himeji Castle Park. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Not advisable for guests using a wheelchair or for those with mobility limitations. Bring local currency, as some vendors do not accept credit cards or US dollars.