How to visit Himieji Castle and Kobe

Hi,

Planning to travel this mid Dec by bullet train from Hakata to Hiroshima to Kyoto to Tokyo, also visiting Himeiji Castle and Mt Maya.

There are 5 of us travelling together, each with a big suitcase.

What is the best way to drop by Himeiji and Mt Maya - stopover along the train route from Hakata or via day trips from Kyoto? Is it possible to combine Himeiji and Mt Maya into 1 day trip? Purpose of visiting Mt Maya is for the million dollar night view. We have visited Kobe downtown before. What is the fastest way to get to the peak of Mt Maya from Shin-Kobe station and back?

Thank you.

1. get off shinkansen in Himeji Station and take the five minute bus ride to Himeji Castle. Very simple process.
2. YamaMaya; a little more complicated. Back on the shinkansen to Shin-Kobe. Subway to Sannomiya JR Station. Take Hanshin Line, not JR, out toward the direction of Rokkomichi Station. Before you get there, get off at the nearest station to the base station of the Maya ropeway. You will have ASKED in the Sannomiya Station before going on this adventure, ascertaining just which Hanshin station to get off at. PRAY that there is a bus to the base station...or plan a ten minute hike following that map you left Sannomiya with. When you get to the Yamamaya ropeway base station, your home free. Enjoy the view; when you get done be sure to share with all of us A. why an entry about Yamamaya aren't included among the Kobe attractions and B. why Maya was so much better than the more accessible Mt. Rokko that everyone else goes to and which has tons of fun stuff to do once you get there. Finally, backtrack to JR Sannomiya and back thru the subway to Shin-Kobe, marveling at the isolation from nearly everything in Kobe of the shinkensan station. Enjoy.

BIG OOPS by Johnnyman; it's the Hankyu line out to Maya and Rokko, NOT the Hanshin. Shitsurime.

Hi all

Thanks but we do not wish to have to lug our baggage along with us as we tour the Himeiji Castle and do not want to depend on luck to be able to secure baggage storage big enough for our 5 big suitcases.

Thanks.

http://www.japan-guide.com/forum/quereadisplay.html?0+151668

Winter visitor,

That query was unintentionally sent off before I finished typing my entire enquiry.

Any constructive responses you may have would be more appreciated.

Thank you.

Take a day's worth of clothes with you to Himeji and forward your suitcase from Fukuoka to Kyoto by courier.

Mt. Maya isn't that complicated.
I'm from KOBE and went to Mt.Maya many times.

There is a bus from Shin-KOBE station (coin locker and info centre available) to Maya cable car station, then onto ropeway.
Bus number is #18.
http://www.feel-kobe.jp/_en/guidemap/data/rokko_en1.pdf

Not many buses running via Shin-KOBE station though. Bottom one is Mt.Maya bound.
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/life/access/transport/bus/jikoku/basjikoku/...

But if walk 5mins to Nunobiki bus stop, a bit more frequent.
(Time with square and circle goes to Maya cable car station)
http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/life/access/transport/bus/jikoku/basjikoku/...

Green- weekdays
Blue- Saturday
Red-Sunday/ public holiday

Thank you all.

Nori Sushi, we will check out the buses you mentioned.
How would you recommend us to do the 2 tours, noting that we each have a big luggage bag with us on-route to Kyoto. How much would forwarding our baggages cost from Fukuoka to Kyoto if it is best that we do that.

Thank you and highly appreciate all your assistance.

JPY1944 per suitcase at most.
http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/en/send/ta_q_bin/list/