Hiroshima in One Day: Miyajima Island — Guide Mari
October, 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
- 9:30 a.m. Take the ferry to Miyajima Island
- 10:15 a.m. Arrive at Miyajima Island
- 10:30 a.m. Visit Daishoin Temple
- 11:45 a.m. Visit Senjokaku
- 12:00 p.m. Visit Itsukushima Shrine
- 12:40 p.m. Take the ferry back to Peace Memorial Park
- 1:30 p.m. Lunch at an Okonomiyaki restaurant
- 2:30 p.m. Visit Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
- 5:00 p.m. End of the tour
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hotel at 09:00, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 17:00. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at an Okonomiyaki restaurant at 13:30.
The itinerary covered Take the ferry to Miyajima Island at 09:30, Miyajima Island at 10:15, Daishoin Temple at 10:30, Senjokaku at 11:45, Itsukushima Shrine at 12:00, Take the ferry back to Peace Memorial Park at 12:40 and Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima (2,400JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 2,400JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Miyajima and Hiroshima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group from Europe, very friendly and easy to talk with. On Miyajima, as on the previous day, Itsukushima Shrine had restricted entry for about two hours due to high tide, so we were unable to enter upon arrival today. Since there had been an entry restriction the day before as well, we followed the alternate route I had prepared in advance for such restrictions. Just as we finished seeing all the other spots, the restriction was lifted, and because I had arranged the shrine tickets in advance, we were able to enter immediately, which delighted the guests very much. They said it was wonderful to see the beautiful shrine at high tide, and that they might have felt some regret if they had not been able to see it, so I was truly relieved that we made it just in time. We had to walk quickly to catch the ferry, but the guests were used to walking and did so with smiles. They also greatly enjoyed the okonomiyaki for lunch, and one of the guests said it was the most delicious thing they had eaten in Japan. At the museum, they found the graphic photographs difficult to look at and moved through quickly, but at the final section about Sadako Sasaki, we had visited the Children's Peace Monument beforehand and I had explained its story, and we had folded and offered paper cranes before coming, so the guests viewed it carefully with tears in their eyes. At the end, the guests kindly told me that being guided by someone born and raised locally allowed them to learn many things they would never have noticed on their own, 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 | Other | Peace Memorial Park～Miyajima | 2,400JPY |
| Total | 2,400JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel at 09:00, and the tour finished at of the tour at 17:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 09:00 to 17:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Take the ferry to Miyajima Island, Miyajima Island, Daishoin Temple, Senjokaku, Itsukushima Shrine, Take the ferry back to Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,400JPY per person across 1 sections. Transport fares are paid by the guests and are not included in the guiding fee.
Is the guide licensed, and what language is the tour in?
Mari is a government-licensed national guide-interpreter of Japan and guided this tour in English. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) works with more than 1,000 licensed guides across all 47 prefectures. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Can the itinerary be changed for my own trip?
Yes. This report describes one private tour as it actually ran. Every Hiroshima itinerary is built around the guests, so the places, the pace and the starting point can all be changed before the tour.
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!