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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 09:30 Meet up @ lobby of Hotel
- 09:45 JR Hiroshima Station
- 10:11 JR Miyajimaguchi Station
- 10:25 Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal
- 10:35 Miyajima Ferry Terminal
- 10:55 Itsukushima Shrine entrance
- 11:45 Itsukushima Shrine exit
- 11:55 In front of Daisho-in Nio-mon Gate
- 12:00 Guided tour of various spots within Daisho-in grounds
- Five Hundred Rakan → Bell Tower → Chokugan-do → Henjokutsu Cave → Ichigan Daishi → Maniden → Kannon-do
- 13:30 Dismissal @ Kannon-do
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at @ lobby of Hotel at 09:30, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 13:30. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered JR Hiroshima Station at 09:45, JR Miyajimaguchi Station at 10:11, Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal at 10:25, Miyajima Ferry Terminal at 10:35, Itsukushima Shrine entrance at 10:55, Itsukushima Shrine exit at 11:45, In front of Daisho-in Nio-mon Gate at 11:55 and Guided tour of various spots within Daisho-in grounds at 12:00.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi by train (420JPY); Miyajimaguchi Port to Miyajima Port (100JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 520JPY per person.
What Is a Private Miyajima Walking Tour from Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
After arriving at the hotel lobby, I contacted the guests via a messaging app and was able to meet them easily. On the train heading to Miyajimaguchi, we managed to sit at a four-seat section, so I gave a detailed explanation of the history of how Shinto and Buddhism developed within Japanese society and how the relationship between the two religions has changed over time, as background knowledge for visiting the shrine and temple on Miyajima. The guests listened with great interest. The group was very fond of photography and wanted to capture as many scenes as they liked, so we toured Miyajima at a relaxed pace. In the end, by the time we finished the Kannon Hall at Daisho-in, the scheduled four hours had passed. The guests said they wanted to see the Five Hundred Rakan statues once more, and afterward wished to stroll along Omotesando at their own pace, have a meal, and return to Hiroshima on their own, so we decided to end the tour there. I explained precautions for their return journey, such as the location of the platform at Miyajimaguchi Station, and we said goodbye. As we parted, the guests told me they were glad to have had a guide, as they were able to visit places they could not have reached on their own and learned about many things they would not have noticed by themselves.
Click here for more details: Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Hiroshima～Miyajimaguchi | 420JPY |
| Section 2 | Other | Miyajimaguchi Port～Miyajima Port | 100JPY |
| Total | 520JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at @ lobby of Hotel at 09:30, and the tour finished at @ Kannon-do at 13:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 09:30 to 13:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited JR Hiroshima Station, JR Miyajimaguchi Station, Miyajimaguchi Ferry Terminal, Miyajima Ferry Terminal, Itsukushima Shrine entrance, Itsukushima Shrine exit, In front of Daisho-in Nio-mon Gate and Guided tour of various spots within Daisho-in grounds.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 520JPY per person across 2 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?
Sada 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.
(1) Since 2008, I have been guiding a group including two American student ambassadors accepted under the Sister City Affiliation Program on a one-day tour of Miyajima, Peace Memorial Museum, and Peace Memorial Park as an annual event.
(2) Since 2016 I have been a member of Hiroshima Interpreters for Peace “HIP”, a volunteer guiding group, guiding groups and individuals from abroad at Peace Memorial Park.
(3) As a shipbuilding engineer, I have ship-related experience and knowledge gained from 30 years of working in new shipbuilding and ship repair. 13 of those years were spent living in Singapore and working for a local subsidiary.
(4) I enjoy sailing in the Seto Inland Sea. I am interested in sailing in the Seto Inland Sea as well as repairing the boat.
Oct 29, 2025
S7876PFsuep
Amazing tour with Sada
Tripadvisor review: Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We loved our private tour with Sada.…
Oct 29, 2025
S7876PFsuep
Amazing tour with Sada
Tripadvisor review: Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We loved our private tour with Sada. His knowledge of culture & history in Japan was so
appreciated. He worked very hard to organize a perfect day of sightseeing for us.
Sep 11, 2025
lignacio
Great Tour with an Excellent Guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
The tour was…
Sep 11, 2025
lignacio
Great Tour with an Excellent Guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
The tour was very well planned and organized. Each activity was scheduled efficiently but we did not feel rushed. We learned so much from our guide, Mr. Sadahiro Yamasaki. He even helped us with a problem with our JR tickets from the previous day. He truly went above and beyond. We highly recommend him.
Mar 27, 2025
DroitwichBear
Sadahiro’s meticulous planning made this a day to remember. Fantastic!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed…
Mar 27, 2025
DroitwichBear
Sadahiro’s meticulous planning made this a day to remember. Fantastic!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had one day in Hiroshima as part of a cruise and booked Sadahiro to help us make the most of the day. Wow! He exceeded all our expectations!
We initially had several email exchanges when we sent him our wishlist and he planned a personalised itinerary for us ensuring we visited Miyajima at high tide and including a lunch stop at a restaurant specialising in okonomiyaki. The itinerary was meticulously planned and included trains, trams, a ferry, a speedboat and a cable car!!
Not only did we see everything that we wanted to see in Hiroshima and Miyajima, but we also benefitted from Sadahiro’s excellent company. His moving stories about the tragic history of Hiroshima, his explanations about the shrine at Itsukushima, his knowledge of the best way to travel around (including where to stand on the ferry for the best view of the tori gate) made this truly a day to remember. Thank you Sadahiro!
Sep 25, 2024
Andrew_C
🥰 Hiroshima
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had a truly superb day with…
Sep 25, 2024
Andrew_C
🥰 Hiroshima
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
We had a truly superb day with a very interesting and kind guide Sada. This was a very
sobering tour made enjoyable by his kindness. Highly reccomend….