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
- 9:00 Meet at Candeo Hiroshima
- 9:20 Fukuya Departamento Store
- 9:40 Peace Memorial Museum
- 13:10 Lunch @Miyajima Shokudo
- 14:10 Itsukushima Shrine
- 14:30 End the tour at Ropeway Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The tour started at 9:00 at Candeo Hiroshima and ended at 14:30. The day ran to 5 hours and 30 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch @Miyajima Shokudo at 13:10.
Over the course of the day the route took in Fukuya Departamento Store at 9:20, Peace Memorial Museum at 9:40 and Itsukushima Shrine at 14:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hatchobori to Peace Memorial Park by bus (220JPY); Atomic Bomb Dome-mae to Yokogawa by train (220JPY); Yokogawa to Miyajimaguchi by train (330JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 770JPY per person.
What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Oceania. We ended the tour on Miyajima because they said they wanted to climb Mount Misen.
After we met, the start was slightly delayed because one of the guests had forgotten their IC card and we went back to retrieve it.
On the way to the museum, I introduced some A-bomb remains. There were still relatively few tour groups at the museum, but the guests felt it was crowded.
For lunch, we had noodles on Miyajima. One of the guests kept saying they wanted okonomiyaki for dinner, and even when another guest pointed out that okonomiyaki was available, that did not change.
I recommended a well-known okonomiyaki restaurant in central Hiroshima, as well as a long-established, famous sukiyaki restaurant near the Hotel in Hiroshima.
Since a relative of one of the guests lives in Nagoya and had mentioned there was nothing to see there, I shared some of the highlights of Nagoya and recommended nearby sightseeing spots that can be reached from there.
They said they would not visit Itsukushima Shrine. They had told me from the moment we met that they intended to climb Mount Misen, so for safety I recommended moving early. I explained the key points of Mount Misen at the ropeway entrance and ended the tour there.
[Additional note] The reason the tour ended early was that the guests said they were going to climb Mount Misen. Ropeway Momijidani Station to Shishiiwa Station: 0.5 hours Summit walk: about 1 hour Descent on foot: 1–1.5 hours Sunset: 17:19 In line with the advisories from the Hiroshima Prefectural Police and Hatsukaichi City, I took into account descending before sunset. I also told the guests, "Please descend before sunset." In addition, depending on the travel agency, we are asked to provide safety notes in the case of a Mount Misen hike. For all these reasons, considering the guests' safety, I saw them off early. Thank you very much.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Hatchobori～Peace Memorial Park | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Atomic Bomb Dome-mae～Yokogawa | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Yokogawa～Miyajimaguchi | 330JPY |
| Total | 770JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Candeo Hiroshima at 9:00, and the tour finished at tour at Ropeway Station at 14:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 5 hours and 30 minutes in total, from 9:00 to 14:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Fukuya Departamento Store, Peace Memorial Museum and Itsukushima Shrine.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 770JPY per person across 3 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?
Michi 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.
Hi. I’m Michi. I’m a national licensed tour guide in English.
I want to introduce many faces and charms of Japan and make your stay in Japan more fascinating and satisfying.
I was born and raised in Hiroshima. My first tour in English was as a volunteer guide for the visitors to my school when I was a junior high school student. It gave me a great opportunity to study about the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima.
I spent my life in Hiroshima except for 6 years; 1 year in the UK as a student and 5 years working in Singapore and Malaysia. During this period I enjoyed meeting and talking with people from different cultural backgrounds.
These experiences encouraged me to be a licensed tour guide.
In Hiroshima, there are two famous World Heritage Sites, the Atomic Bomb Dome in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial & Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.
I have experienced many tours of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum & Park since I was a junior high school student. I would like to introduce you to the a-bomb legacies that are still existing in the city and the stories under the mushroom cloud.
I also would like to share time with you on a historic island, Miyajima. There is one of the most famous Shinto shrines, the Itsukushima Shrine. We can share an enjoyable time by exploring a sacred atmosphere, tradition, nature, food, etc.
I am also an official ‘A-bomb legacy successor’ designated by the City of Hiroshima. An A-bomb Legacy Successor is a memory keeper of the A-bomb survivors. To ensure that the A-bomb survivors’ experiences and desires for peace are faithfully inherited and shared with as many people as possible, the City has started a three-year training program for official ‘A-bomb Legacy Successors. ‘
Let me support your stay in Japan and I look forward to showing you the best of Japan!
Hope to see you soon!
Jan 2, 2025
georgeweller
Excellent tour by a very knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Michi-San was an…
Jan 2, 2025
georgeweller
Excellent tour by a very knowledgeable guide
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Michi-San was an excellent tour guide. She took us to Shukkei-en which is a beautiful shrine with gardens, water, turtles, koi, and much more. You will get some of the best photographs in Hiroshima. Michi-San provided a wealth of information about the shrine, tea houses, koi, and turtles. We loved it.
Next we went to Hiroshima Castle and Michu-San spent a lot of time going over the history of Japan and the castle. It was extremely informative.
Last we finished up with the Atomic Bomb memorial and museum. Michi-san’s information again was very thorough and informative. All in all we had a great time and would use Michi-San as a tour guide again.
Nov 8, 2024
Andrew M
Awesome experience! Michi was the best guide!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Awesome…
Nov 8, 2024
Andrew M
Awesome experience! Michi was the best guide!
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Awesome experience! Michi was an amazing guide and we had a great day! Thank you so
much and I definitely recommend this when visiting Hiroshima!
Nov 8, 2024
Andrew_M
Awesome day! Michi was an amazing guide!
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Awesome day!…
Nov 8, 2024
Andrew_M
Awesome day! Michi was an amazing guide!
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Awesome day! Michi our guide was excellent and fully enjoyed our experience in Hiroshima.
I definitely recommend this experience!! Very efficient with time and get to see a lot in one
day!
Sep 16, 2024
alexandermM7944BB
Day tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Michi, our guide, was amazing!…
Sep 16, 2024
alexandermM7944BB
Day tour with Michi
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Michi, our guide, was amazing! Very knowledgeable of both local and Japanese history. We took many pictures of the beautiful scenery along the way, and Michi shared her insider knowlege on the best photo and lunch spots. Thank you Michi for an excellent day and educational tour experience.