Hiroshima: Museum & Shukkeien Garden — Guide To
November, 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. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.
Tour Itinerary
- 13:00 Meet at the Peace Memorial Museum
- 13:15-14:00 Museum
- 14:10-15:30 Peace Memorial Park (Cenotaph, Children's Peace Monument, and Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum)
- 15:50-16: 10 Hiroshima Castle
- 16:30-17:00 Shukkeien Garden
- 17:00-17:20 Travel by bus to the bus stop near the hotel
- 17:20 Disband
Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Restaurant Support and Miyajima Tips
The guests visited Japan from Europe. On the morning before the tour, the group requested a restaurant recommendation, as they wished to enjoy teppanyaki in Hiroshima on the evening after the tour. I immediately suggested a restaurant near their accommodation and replied that I would be happy to make a reservation for them if they liked. Shortly afterward, they responded that there was no problem, as a reservation had already been made a couple of days earlier. However, on the evening before the tour, the guests contacted me saying that, despite having received a reservation confirmation, the restaurant had told them the booking could not be honored, and they asked for help. I checked with the restaurant several times, but they said no confirmation had been issued to the guests, which led to some trouble. I explained to the guests that there had been a miscommunication within the restaurant (though I suspect there may have been a misunderstanding on the guests' side), and they accepted the explanation. In the end, I recommended a different restaurant to the guests, and by the morning of the tour their frustration had subsided, and they joined the tour in good spirits. As they mentioned they would be sightseeing on Miyajima on their own the following day without a guide, I provided them with various information. I remain a little concerned about whether they enjoyed the restaurant I recommended, but since there have been no complaints so far, I believe everything went well.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | In front of Shukkeien Garden～In front of Health Center / Hiroshima Bus | 240JPY |
| Total | 240JPY | ||
Hi! My name is Kazuhisa To. After completing graduate school, I moved to Hiroshima—and have now lived here for over 42 years. I earned a Ph.D. through a national university’s professional program while working at Mazda Motor Corporation. Five years before retiring from the company, I was seconded to Hiroshima University, a national university, where I served as a specially appointed professor. In addition to my domestic career, I spent a total of about five and a half years living and working abroad. These international experiences have given me valuable cross-cultural understanding and the ability to connect comfortably with guests from around the world. Currently, as a Hiroshima Prefectural Government Licensed Guide Interpreter, I introduce visitors not only to famous attractions such as Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima, but also to the local lifestyle, culture, and culinary delights, tailored to your interests. I hope to provide each guest with a memorable experience that stays in your heart.
I look forward to meeting you here in Hiroshima!
Jul 21, 2026
anza
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Excellent Walking Tour with Kazuhisa To
We had a…
Jul 21, 2026
anza
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Excellent Walking Tour with Kazuhisa To
We had a wonderful day with our guide Kazuhisa To. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and kept us on track with our busy itinerary. He was the best tour guide we had on our entire trip to Japan. We highly recommend him.
Jun 25, 2026
52leannei
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing day trip and tour to Hiroshima
My family…
Jun 25, 2026
52leannei
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing day trip and tour to Hiroshima
My family and I were staying in Kyoto, but were interested in doing a day trip to Hiroshima. We purchased a day trip tour via Viator and within a few days were contacted by our tour guide “To.” Once To knew our logistics around us arriving from Kyoto via shinkansen in the morning and leaving by 6pm in the evening he was able to build a full itinerary broken down by hour/activity and how much JPY we would need to have on hand for each site/bus/train which he shared ahead of time.
Our day started with To meeting us on the shinkansen platform when our train arrived which made it easy to find him and then he spent 10 minutes walking us through the detailed itinerary and how the day’s events would go. We immediately took a train to the pier for a ferry to Miyajima and once we arrived on Miyajima he walked us through all the key areas (shrine, gate, navigating the hungry deer, temple, and shopping areas) and provided a lot of historical background and fun facts to our family.
We also appreciated the fact that he pre-ordered our delicious okonomiyaki lunch ahead of time (took our order a few days prior) so when we arrived at the busy restaurant we didn’t have to wait long for our food to arrive.
Our tour also included a trip to the beautiful Shukkeien Garden (where he had pre-bought some fish food for the kids to feed the fish) and the Peace Memorial Museum (where he also had prepared a few folded cranes for our family as well.). To was able to guide us through both with a lot of interesting facts along the way.
We also appreciated To’s patience with us (especially our kids and all of our questions and frequent stops at 7-11.) He was very kind, funny, organized, and we truly enjoyed our time with him. We would highly recommend his services again!
Jun 14, 2026
Shannon_M
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide was amazing. He…
Our guide was amazing. He…
Jun 14, 2026
Shannon_M
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide was amazing. He…
Our guide was amazing. He shared so much history of the area. I would have like to spend more time in the museum.
Jun 14, 2026
Thomas L
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Hiroshima Tour with a Great Guide
Our guide Kazuhisa…
Jun 14, 2026
Thomas L
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Hiroshima Tour with a Great Guide
Our guide Kazuhisa To was knowledgeable and made the tour interesting for all of us, including the kids. Hiroshima is a beautiful city with a meaningful history that is best explored with a guide.