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 Ujina Port
- 9:30 Shukkeien Garden
- 10:30 Peace Park & Museum
- 11:30 Okonomiyaki Lunch
- 12:10 Souvenir Shop
- 12:30 Hiroshima Castle
- 13:15 Ujina Port
Tour Itinerary in Detail
From there the group visited Ujina Port at 9:00, Shukkeien Garden at 9:30, Peace Park & Museum at 10:30, Okonomiyaki Lunch at 11:30, Souvenir Shop at 12:10, Hiroshima Castle at 12:30 and Ujina Port at 13:15.
Title: What's a Private Hiroshima Cruise Port Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America who arrived by cruise ship and wished to travel by taxi. They had inquired in advance about a chauffeured car and I provided the pricing, but they decided against it and preferred to call a taxi from each sightseeing spot, so I made taxi reservations as we went. Although I had sent the itinerary in advance, on the day the guests wanted to see only things unique to Hiroshima and to avoid crowded places, so we changed the itinerary considerably, and I was greatly helped by the taxi company with time changes as we carried out the tour. At Shukkeien Garden, one of the guests was very delighted and took many photos. At the Peace Memorial Park, one of the guests had a strong interest in history and asked many questions. The museum was crowded and also hot and humid, so at the guests' request we did not enter the main building and viewed only the east wing. Lunch had not originally been included, but the guests wanted to try okonomiyaki, so I took them to a place with a wide variety of okonomiyaki and few tourists, which both of the guests very much enjoyed. After lunch, they wanted to go somewhere they could buy items unique to Hiroshima, so I guided them to the souvenir shop at the Orizuru Tower, where they were very taken with sake in beautiful bottles and purchased a great deal. The guests wanted to take photos at Hiroshima Castle before heading back, so we stopped there by taxi, took photos, and then returned to Ujina Port. I guided them to the places they wished to see according to the situation and mood at each moment, and arranging taxis in a timely manner was challenging, but at the end the guests told me they would definitely come back to Hiroshima and that we must absolutely meet again, and that they had a wonderful time. This gave me both relief and great joy.
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!