4 Best Kobe City Tours 2021 - Best Tours in Kobe

Wonderful Cruise Ship Excursion Alternative

We opted for our small group (8) excursion rather than the ship's offerings. Kaoru Tomoyoshi was our guide for our trip to visit the world heritage site of Himeji Castle from our cruise port of Kobe. She met us at the train station very close to the ship terminal. We took the Portliner line two stops to Sannomiya Station where we changed lines to Himeji. The castle was beautiful to photograph and very interesting to visit. Karou provided lots of interesting background on the history of the castle and the construction. There are a lot of steps to climb so you have to be in good shape to do it. She then took us to the very nice Koko-en garden nearby. Afterwards Karou had reserved a very special multi-course Japanese meal for us at a local restaurant where we had a private dining room. It was an excellent excursion! The only thing that could have made the day better is to have made it for the cherry blossoms but, they came early this year and we missed most of them.

Reviewed by Arthur • April 26, 2018

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

Thank you!

We had a lot of fun at our visit to the breweries with Kaoru. I personally learnt a lot about sake making, and Kaoru was very attentive as well~ She also very friendly and helpful, and gave us many recommendations on the places to visit or for meals~ I would love to come back to Kobe again soon! <3

Reviewed by Adrianne • November 01, 2019

Sake Brewery Visit & Kobe Walking Tour

Best Kobe Tour

Kaoru is the best! Tour guide turned friend. Our experience was amazing and we couldn’t have asked for more. Next time we go back to Japan, we won’t hestitate to call Kaoru! Thanks for an incredible time in Kobe!

Reviewed by Kari • January 19, 2019

Sake Brewery Visit & Kobe Walking Tour

awesome day

Reviewed by Andreas • May 11, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

D

Wonderful tour! Great guide!

Kaoru gave us a wonderful tour of Kobe. We all enjoyed the excursions very much. The Takenaka museum was fascinating. The Nunobiki Garden was beautiful, seeing it from the tram and walking down the path.

Kaoru selected a special restaurant - Eita. We have had Japanese food before, but we have never had anything as exquisite as today’s lunch .👍

Kaoru was so patient with us. She was understanding and so accommodating even when we changed our schedule several times. My husband uses a wheelchair so that was difficult at times. At Nunobiki Gardens, even though the wheelchair was “automatic” electric, it was still a challenge. We could not have handled it ourselves. We really appreciated Kaoru's assistance with that.

There were 4 of us traveling together, so every time we got a taxi, Kaoru would run to our next stop and meet us there. She was amazing.

At the end of the tour, my sister discovered that she had left her purse in the taxi. We panicked! but Kaoru handled the situation in such a professional manner. I don’t know what we would have done without her. The taxi driver found the purse and returned it - that says a lot about the people of Kobe.

It was a joy to have Kaoru as our guide. She has a winning personality and a kind heart, and she was sensitive to our needs.

Reviewed by Doris • November 13, 2018

Kobe Customised Walking Tour

N

What a great trip!

My wife and I went on a Sake Brewery tour with Kaoru in Kobe. We booked our tour with her about one month in advanced. We had great communication with her before our arrival and she even sent us directions on how to get from Osaka to Kobe. She also made us an itinerary of what to expect on the day of our tour.

After we met with her at the train station, she took us on a short little walk to the area where they had most of the breweries. If you are visiting in the summer, remember to have some water as it will be very hot! Kaoru is knowledgable on the sake brewing process and explained it to us in every stop we made. After drinking the samples, lot of samples, at the various breweries, we made our way into the Kobe harbor area of town. She tailored this part of the tour for us as we wanted to try some Kobe beef. She took us to a nice little restaurant and we all had a very nice lunch. Our day ended with her at the Kobe Harbor.

Kaoru is extremely friendly and my wife and I feel as though we made a new friend. If we are ever in the area again and need another trip planned, we won't hesitate to book with her.

Reviewed by Nam • September 25, 2017

Sake Brewery Visit & Kobe Walking Tour

R

Himeji Castle Tour with guide Kaoru

Our tour with Kaoru was excellent. She guided us step by step through the train ride to the castle. She told us the history of the castle which was very interesting and I'm sure we'll remember some of the many details she related to us. We all suffer from information overload when we visit so many castles, shrines, temples and churches etc. but some of it will stick so we can fondly recall our visits. We went to a beautiful garden nearby and then even though it was late, was able to find and reserve a local restaurant that was still open. We all enjoyed the Japanese style of eating (sitting on a raised floor) and tasting the local cuisine. She was very conscious of our time constraints and kept us on schedule. She even squeezed in a visit to the longest suspension bridge in the world ( 5 km) with a beautiful sunset before taking us back to the ship. Kaoru's English was excellent, even with a slight British accent, and we all appreciated her gracious style and that we could ask her anything and she would try her best to accommodate or requests. We couldn't have asked for more.

View gallery

Reviewed by Rick • November 12, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

V

Great tour!

Kaoru was a terrific tour guide. Her English was excellent, and she was very helpful navigating the train system and town in Himeji. The castle tour was excellent, as well as the gardens. She was accessible and very helpful with our 7 year old daughter. We ate at a local restaurant, and had great conversation. The final part of the tour was of the Akashi-Kaikyo suspension bridge, which is the longest of its kind in the world. The views from the observation deck were very impressive. Overall terrific tour, and would value have Kaoru for any excursion given her knowledge and helpfulness. She was a terrific tour guide and very helpful throughout the excursion!

Reviewed by Vishwa • June 17, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

R

Himeji Castle

We are so glad we used likealocalguide! We have no regrets and must say it's worth to pay a bit more than the cruiseline for a private guide! Kaoru was fantastic! Excellent english, warm/personable, knowledgable and informative. She made our 30th anniversary very special and one we will cherish forever. The castle was stunning and we had excellent weather. Amazing local lunch, Kaoru ordered couple of side dishes a local would eat too. The whole experience of having a private guide was exceptional. We plan to use your services again whether in Japan or another country. We also thought the cancel policy was fair which also led us to your services.

Image by Ray who visited Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe.

Activity in Kobe: Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe. Photo by Ray who visited that tour.

View gallery

Reviewed by Ray • October 13, 2018

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

D

Great city tour with an awesome guide

We explored the beautiful Kobe city with Kaoru on a 2 days customised tour. It was great, did things on our own pace. Visited 2 breweries, Kitano area and Shin-Kobe ropeway which were most memorable for us. Kaoru is really friendly and genuine. Explained all she knew about the city to us. Kaoru brought us to a couple of excellent restaurants, one of Kobe beef (it is expensive for the good Kobe steak) and a superb Japanese restaurant which was rather inexpensive.

We enjoyed Kobe thoroughly thanks to Kaoru. If you ever want to have a personalised Kobe city tour, I would not hesitate to recommend Kaoru.

Tour in Kobe: Kobe Customised Walking Tour. Photo by Desmond.

Activity in Kobe: Kobe Customised Walking Tour. Photo by Desmond who visited that tour.

View gallery

Reviewed by Desmond • December 17, 2017

Kobe Customised Walking Tour

M

Kaoru is the best

Kaoru greeted us with her smile. Then she took us on a 3 day adventure from
Kobe to Ōsaka to Kyoto. She
Showed us the sights and told us about local culture And history. She was extremely flexible to our desires and catered to us all the time.
We lunched on local cuisine and tried all her recommendations which were delicious. Her constant smile and desire
For our comfort And education was joyful to us.
Kaoru could disappoint no one . We would recommend her Highly. We made a new
Friend.

Reviewed by Midge • May 18, 2019

Kobe Customised Walking Tour

E

A Wonderful Guide and a Great Experience. We would defiantly reccommend.

This trip is not to be missed. A superb tradtitional castle and gardens which we could visit and view at our leisure, along with experiencing other sights and experiences - including a traditional local lunch and sampling some locally produced sake.

Our personal guide, "K", was wonderful. She was very well informed and provided an excellent guided tour. She was extremely helpful, gave us a great insight into Japanese life and culture and she was a real pleasure to be with.

Reviewed by Elizabeth • November 26, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

D

Flexible introduction to Kōbe

Kaoru speaks excellent English if that’s important. She took us on a broad walking tour throughout Kōbe which gave us a nice taste of nature and history, as well as a lay of the land which helped us immensely on our days following in Kobe, on our own. She was flexible and adjusted pour route during our time. We have two teenagers, and Kaoru engaged them in conversation, which they appreciated. Thank you!

Reviewed by deb • June 18, 2019

Kobe Customised Walking Tour

G

Excellent guide and tour

Our local guide Kaoru met us at the ship terminal and took us to Himeji town and the castle, a truly beautiful sight. Kaoru spoke English well. After touring Himeji Castle she took us to a traditional Japanese restaurant where we enjoyed lunch. And then to a sake tasting room where we enjoyed several different styles. Later she took us back to the port.
Excellent guide.

Reviewed by Gary • May 30, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

E

Best part of our vacation!

Our visit to two sake breweries followed by a Kobe beef lunch was fabulous. Kay-san really opened doors for us, to the Japanese culture, sake making traditions, associated barrel making and some of the secrets of Kobe beef. We learned very much with her during our 5.5 hour tour which just flew by. I would definitely go back to Kobe and tour more with her!

Reviewed by Emily • October 23, 2019

Sake Brewery Visit & Kobe Walking Tour

S

A must do in Kobe

This was one of the best days we have had on our trip. Our guide Kaoru was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable about the brewing processes and her knowledge of the local area and it's history was great.

I would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone in the area for a great day of sake tasting and sight seeing.

Reviewed by Scott • November 04, 2018

Sake Brewery Visit & Kobe Walking Tour

C

A great 1/2 day in Kobe!

We cannot say enough good things about our guide, Kaoru! She was very warm and attentive and her English was very good! We visited 3 sake breweries and learned about sake making, the highlight of our day! Lunch was enjoyed at a local market where we shared several local food items, all delicious!

Reviewed by Carol • November 25, 2019

Kobe Customised Walking Tour

T

Fantastic tour

Our tour met all our expectations and more, mostly because of our fantastic tour guide, Kaoru. She is professional, kind, fun, and very attentive to our safety and happiness. Everything you could ask for in a tour guide.
We love Japan and can’t wait to return. Thank you!!

Reviewed by Tracey • May 23, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

S

Great personal tour!!!

We loved our guide Kaoru. She was so patient and knowledgeable, even though we went to Himeji castle on probably the busiest day of the year.

Reviewed by Sue • May 05, 2019

Himeji Castle Tour from Kobe

S

Great Kobe walking tour!

Kay was amazing. Very informative and attentive to our group. Lovely person to boot and a great way to see Kobe and spend the day.

Reviewed by Sandy • October 22, 2019

Kobe Customised Walking Tour