Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour — Guide Mari

What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe. They were very friendly from our first correspondence, and greeted me with warm smiles the moment we met, making it a heartfelt tour from start to finish.

They had traveled in from Kyoto that morning and started the tour right after checking into their hotel. Thinking they might be tired, I asked about their preferences for transportation, but they said they had been sitting on the bullet train the whole way and wanted to walk plenty during their trip, so we went on foot.

They really enjoyed the okonomiyaki lunch we had first. When I mentioned that different menu items were available at night, they made a dinner reservation at the same restaurant for the following evening, as they would be staying two nights. They were also delighted to be able to watch the okonomiyaki being cooked.

At the Peace Memorial Park, they became teary-eyed, deeply moved by the suffering of children, and shared their thoughts about the uncertain state of the world today. There also happened to be high school students holding a concert by the river within the park, and they were very pleased to see it.

After I told them about Sadako Sasaki, we folded paper cranes together. It turned out to be more difficult than expected to make, and they said they were newly moved by the thought of someone making a thousand of them.

Their trip through Japan was planned to last a total of about two and a half weeks, with Hiroshima being their final sightseeing destination. When they said the remaining items on their to-do list were matcha and ramen, I asked about their wishes and, though it had not originally been in the itinerary, stopped by Hiroshima Castle and guided them to a matcha cafe. Since there was not much time before the final entry to Shukkeien Garden, I just showed them where it was, went around Hiroshima Castle, and then headed to Shukkeien. At Hiroshima Castle they were amazed at the number and size of the carp in the moat, which led to talk about the Carp baseball team, and from a soccer stadium visible in the distance, our conversation blossomed into sports as well.

At Shukkeien Garden they took many photos, saying it was very beautiful, and were happy that although they could not come during the cherry blossom season, the azaleas were wonderfully lovely.

The tour was scheduled to end at Shukkeien Garden, but since they had joined the tour right after arriving and seemed unfamiliar with the area for their dinner that evening and the way back to the hotel, we walked back together through the shopping arcade while I pointed out recommended shops along the way.

At the end, they told me they felt we had become friends, and that this had been their best day in Japan, which made me truly happy.

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Tour Report by Mari

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.