Course No. 0001

Dream Experiences beyond Himeji Castle

Discover the “marriage” between ancient and modern in this exclusive tour of Himeji. On the first day, you will stay at the Kobe Kitano Hotel, renowned for serving the best breakfast in the world. Visit Engyoji, a temple located in northern Himeji with a history of 1000 years and also known as the filming location for “The Last Samurai”. Here, you will have the opportunity to experience the innovative Shojin Cuisine prepared by Mr. Yamaguchi, a famous chef from the Kobe Kitano Hotel, that combines traditional Buddhist recipes with French culinary techniques. At Engyoji Temple, you will also have access to buildings that are not usually open to the public and can participate in the traditional craft of gold leafing, a traditional Himeji craft used in the creation of Buddhist altars. For the second night, you will stay at Yumenoi, specifically in the “Yumesaki-an Yuyake-Koyake” surrounded by picturesque mountains in northern Himeji. Enjoy picking strawberries cultivated using advanced technologies, visiting a local sake brewery with a rich history, and learning the art of making Japanese sweets at a tea house offering a splendid view of Himeji Castle. Prepare yourself to discover the hidden gems of Himeji, beyond its famous Castle.

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Recommended Points

A relaxing retreat in Kitano district with an Ijinkan（Former Foreign Residences）atmosphere

An urban auberge (a restaurant with accommodations) in Kitano, Kobe, filled with a traditional atmosphere.
Kobe Kitano Hotel is an auberge where guests stay for the purpose of eating, based on the concept of “enjoying gourmet food and having a hearty time”.
The building was designed in the motif of an English manor house in 1992, and features a stately lobby, a courtyard with a European taste, and 30 different types of guestrooms with English antique furnitures. Please enjoy a relaxing time away from everyday life, surrounded by gentle moments, as if you were in your second home.

Kobe Kitano Hotel Terrace. Dinner(9th December; 13th January) and breakfast (12th December)

We have created a place for a new culinary stage in a location in the lush green mountains, overlooking the sea that stretches beyond the cityscape, and where you can also feel the dynamism of Kobe. It is only a 3-minute drive from the Kobe Kitano Hotel. As a “villa” in Kobe, we will offer an experience that mixes the traditional culinary culture and art with the new history of dining. The cuisine is prepared using mainly local ingredients and advanced culinary theories cultivated over many years. We offer a unique dining experience that can only be experienced here. As part of our efforts to pass on Japan’s unique food culture and ingredients to the next generation, we also actively offer a sustainable seafood menu using not-commonly cooked fish that are rarely available in the market, as well as a vegan menu, responding to the diverse needs of our customers with delicious cuisine.

Kobe Kitano Hotel. Dinner (11th December) and Breakfast (14th January)

Here is the ultimate taste that transcends the boundaries of French cuisine. A challenge to the ultimate taste. We offer the dishes that appeal to the five senses, with color, flavor, taste, texture, and changes in temperature, while preserving the spirit inherited from Bernard Loiseau, and taking full advantage of gastronomic techniques, while keeping the classic ones. The cuisine is prepared with ingredients from the five areas in Hyogo prefecture called “Mitsukenokuni (lands of royal food) of Awaji, Settsu, Tanba, Harima, and Tajima, as well as the 72 seasons of the 24 solar terms, using scientific techniques that can only be enjoyed here.

Reproducing the spirit of food culture encountered in France: the first breakfast in the world

The breakfast at Kobe Kitano Hotel has been the one to be reprodudes officially approved by Mr. Bernard Loiseau whose breakfast has been named “the best breakfast in the world” by the worldwide non-profit Small Luxury Hotel Association. The master of General Manager／Executive Chef, Hiroshi Yamaguchi, is a student of Mr. Loiseau and and is serving the breakf only at the Kobe Kitano Hotel.

Engyoji Temple

Engyoji Temple, located on top of Mt. Shosha, is a Buddhist temple of Tendai school with a history of over 1,000 years. The temple was founded in 966 by Shoku, a holy Buddhist priest who came to this mountain and received an inspiration by Kannon Buddha . In 986, Kazan, a retired Emperor, visited this temple and gave here a name of “Engyo (perfect teaching)” which drew even more visitors to the temple.
It is said that famous retired-Emperor Godaigo and Emperor Goshirakawa also visited this place.
As the name of the temple spread, many priests began to gather at Engyoji Temple for ascetic practice, and Engyoji Temple achieved fame as the most important training center for priests to practice in the western part of the Kansai region.
Nowadays visitors can enjoy the quiet and mysterious atmosphere of the temple grounds, which are dotted with majestic buildings in the midst of deep forests. The experience of learning about the thousand-year history of Engyoji Temple in the nature will be an unforgettable memory of your trip.

Shojin Cuisine

Using French cooking techniques, Japanese ingredients are prepared in the category of “Shojin Cuisine（Buddhist cuisine）”.
This makes it possible to create dishes using scientific techniques without the use of endemic seasonings. In other words, the birth of “Nouvelle Shojin Cuisine,” a new world of food that can be enjoyed by all with an eye on the world.

Pasting paper-thin gold at Juryoin

Juryoin is the highest ranking sub-temple in Engyoji where retired Emperor Goshirakawa was said to spend seven days in meditation.
At this historic site, under the guidance of Hamaya, one of the largest Buddhist altar shops in the Kansai region, visitors will experience gold leafing, an essential process in the making of a Buddhist altar. The gold leaf application on a Japanese zodiac figurine corresponding to the customer’s year of birth is a unique and precious experience.

Yumenoi

Yumenoi ‘Yuyake Koyake’ is a heart-warming ryokan where you can enjoy exquisite cuisine using seasonal and local ingredients. Please enjoy a relaxing time in the rich nature surrounded by mountains in a carefully designed space.

Tsubosaka Sake Brewery

The Tsubosaka Shuzo is a long-established brewery with a history of almost 400 years. Visitors will tour the 219-year-old brewery and learn about Japanese sake making. VYou will enjoy a close-up look at the actual ‘moromi’ ( fermentation mash) of the sake being brewed and the fermentation process. The tour will be followed by a tasting event, where you will also hear valuable stories from local farmers who grow sake rice.

Kineya

You will have a chance to make Japanese traditional sweets by your hands led by a sweet-making professional and then enjoy them with Matcha (green powdered tea) at Boukeitei, a registered cultural property in Himeji. This is a premium experience available only on this day!

Yumekoubo (strawberry picking )

All-you-can-eat 16,000 strawberries of 10 varieties in greenhouses equipped with the latest technology (ICT environmental control)! To combat pests and diseases, we use natural enemies and fluorescent UV lights to reduce the use of pesticides. Different kinds of strawberries have different shapes, colors, flavor, and sweetness…! Find your favorite one!
*Available kinds of strawberris may change depending on the season.

The multilingual tour guide provided on this tour

When you visit a specific spot or location on the map during this tour, the audio- explanation will be played with a QR code. While listening to the audio, you can discover the charm and learning of the experience. You can also take commemorative photos with the AR camera function.

Click here to apply for a trip

Click here to apply for a trip