This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan.
Tour Itinerary
- 1:00 PM – Meet at the lobby of the Hotel
- 1:20 PM – Visit Japanese Garden "Shukkeien"
- 2:45 PM – Hiroshima Castle & Gokoku shrine
- 3:15 PM – Visit Peace Memorial Park
- 5:00 PM – End the tour at the entrance of the Peace Memorial Museum
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Hiroshima began at 13:00, when the guide met the guests at lobby of the Hotel, and finished at 17:00. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
From there the group visited Japanese Garden "Shukkeien" at 13:20, Hiroshima Castle & Gokoku shrine at 14:45 and Peace Memorial Park at 15:15.
Title: What's a Private Hiroshima Peace Park Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group of three visiting from North America. One of them was working in Tokyo and had studied Japanese at university, so they understood even complex explanations in Japanese.
It was unfortunately raining and rather cold today, but thanks to that there were fewer tourists, and I was able to let the guests take their time at each sightseeing spot.
The guests were very interested in the atomic bombing and said they had wanted to hear about it directly from a guide from Hiroshima. They asked many questions, including what kind of feelings people here hold toward Americans. I shared what I have experienced and learned, having been born and raised in Hiroshima.
The guests mentioned that they had folded a thousand paper cranes and even showed me photos.
Since I had explained in advance that the museum interior is a quiet place where I cannot guide much, and the guests planned to visit the museum on their own after the tour, we took our time exploring the memorial monuments and other sites within the Peace Memorial Park.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Hello. My name is Mari.
I am a certified local tour guide in Hiroshima.
I was born and grew up in Hiroshima until I entered in a university in Tokyo.
After 6 years in Tokyo, I came back to Hiroshima because I really love my hometown and wanted to spend the rest of my life here.
Hiroshima is very comfortable city to live in and rich in nature.
I am so happy that I have been able to raise my kids here.
Hiroshima is absolutely full of beautiful and historically important places and also the great food.
I am so excited to introduce the wonderful experiences here in Hiroshima and hope you will come to love this place, too.
Look forward to meeting you.
Sep 26, 2026
F1357GRpaulg
Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Mari was a delightful guide. We…
Sep 26, 2026
F1357GRpaulg
Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Mari was a delightful guide. We had such a lovely day with her. We would thoroughly recommend a day in Miyajima and Hiroshima with Mari.
Sep 29, 2026
Matthew_T
Do not miss this tour of Hiroshima
Viator review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
This was fantastic. Mari…
Sep 29, 2026
Matthew_T
Do not miss this tour of Hiroshima
Viator review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
This was fantastic. Mari was a phenomenal guide. She has a personal family connection to the atomic bombing and she’s lived in Hiroshima all her life. She was knowledgable; funny, and respectful of my goals (sites, time spent, photo taking). And lunch was great afterwards!
Sep 28, 2026
Passport734191
As good as it gets in Hiroshima!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Mari was a very…
Sep 28, 2026
Passport734191
As good as it gets in Hiroshima!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Mari was a very good tour guide with a personal family connection to Hiroshima (her grandfather was a survivor of the bombing). She was filled with local and historical knowledge, and was very respectful of the subject matter. She was great in giving me space for my own personal moments as well as flexible with taking photos. She’s got a great sense of humor and we had a wonderful few h
Jul 27, 2026
Jen_S21
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
The highlight of our trip!
Mari was an excellent…
Jul 27, 2026
Jen_S21
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
The highlight of our trip!
Mari was an excellent guide and really was the highlight of our 17 day Japan trip. She had great information about Hiroshima, the history and culture. I had selected a start time for the tour but she reached out to recommend a slightly earlier start so we could hit the tide schedule just right for Miyajima Island, which I really appreciated. She also had recommendations for stuff to see and foods to eat. As we took a short break from all the walking, she told us the story of Sadako and the paper cranes, then showed us how to fold our own paper crane and had a bag we could put it in to take it home. It made for a wonderful souvenir. I would HIGHLY recommend this tour, especially if you are lucky enough to get Mari as your guide!