Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour — Guide Mari
September, 2025
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
- 9:00 a.m.
- Meet at Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae
- 10:20a.m.
- Arrive in Miyajima Island
- 10:40a.m.
- Visit Itsukushima Shrine (¥300, cash only)
- 11:20 a.m.
- Visit Daishoin Temple
- 12:20 p.m.
- Ferry to Peace Park
- 1:15p.m.
- Lunch at a Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki restaurant
- 2:30 p.m.
- Visit Peace Memorial Park & Peace Memorial Museum
- 5:00 p.m.
- End of tour: City center
Title: What's a Private Day Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guest was one visitor from Europe. They were very friendly, and we chatted a lot the whole time from the moment we met.
The train from Hiroshima to Miyajima made an emergency stop, which caused a bit of worry, but service resumed after about ten minutes, which was a relief. Even during that time, the guest kept sharing stories about their travels in Japan.
On Miyajima, the guest was delighted by the beauty of both Itsukushima Shrine and Daishoin Temple, pausing to leisurely take in the scenery and enjoy the views. Since they mentioned they liked quiet places with plenty of nature, we returned to the ferry pier via a route through Momijidani (Maple Valley), and they enjoyed that as well.
The guest was also moved by the views of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea from the World Heritage Sea Route.
At the Peace Memorial Park, they listened intently to the explanations. When we folded paper cranes together at the piano café in the park and I suggested they take one back home, they said it was a wonderful experience they would never forget for the rest of their life. They were also interested in the A-bombed piano at the café and watched a video of a performance very attentively.
The guest was traveling through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Hiroshima, but said they wished they could stay in Japan longer and that there were still many places they wanted to visit, so they were already planning their next trip to Japan.
They told me that although they had come to Hiroshima on the recommendation of others, they were able to see a history of great significance to the world and its aftermath, and that it was also a wonderful place with beautiful nature. They said they would recommend visiting Hiroshima to their friends as well, which made me very happy.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Hiroshima～Miyajimaguchi | 420JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Miyajima～Peace Park | 1,100JPY |
| Total | 1,520JPY | ||
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!