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
- 08:30 Itsukaichi Port, tour starts
- 09:15 JR Itsukaichi Station
- 09:27 JR Miyajimaguchi Station
- 09:40 Miyajima JR Ferry
- 10:00 Itsukushima Shrine
- 11:00 Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station
- 11:20 Mt. Misen Shishiiwa Observatory
- 12:05 Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station
- 12:30 Aqua Net Miyajima Pier
- 13:25 Aqua Net Peace Park Pier
- 13:35 Lunch Okonomiyaki
- 14:30 Peace Park guide
- 15:30 Peace Memorial Museum guide
- 16:30 Hiroden Atomic Bomb Dome Mae Station
- 17:10 Hiroden Itsukaichi Station, tour ends
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Itsukaichi Port, tour starts at 08:30, JR Itsukaichi Station at 09:15, JR Miyajimaguchi Station at 09:27, Miyajima JR Ferry at 09:40, Itsukushima Shrine at 10:00, Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station at 11:00, Mt. Misen Shishiiwa Observatory at 11:20, Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station at 12:05, Aqua Net Miyajima Pier at 12:30, Aqua Net Peace Park Pier at 13:25, Peace Park guide at 14:30, Peace Memorial Museum guide at 15:30 and Hiroden Atomic Bomb Dome Mae Station at 16:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: JR Itsukaichi to JR Miyajimaguchi by train (200JPY); Aqua Net Miyajima Pier to Aqua Net Peace Park Pier by ferry (1,100JPY); Hiroden Atomic Bomb Dome Mae to Hiroden Itsukaichi by train (240JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 1,540JPY per person.
What's a Private Day Tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests came from Europe, and since we had been in touch about the itinerary for about a month beforehand, we were able to build a friendly rapport from the moment we met. For lunch, the guests had requested okonomiyaki in advance, so I searched for a restaurant near the Peace Park. Many places are closed on Thursdays and many also close at 14:00, so making a reservation was difficult, but I managed to find one restaurant. The guests were delighted to try this dish for the first time and enjoyed eating it with a spatula. Unfortunately the weather was not very good, and the view from Mount Misen was a little disappointing in particular. However, in the end we were fortunate to have almost no rain, and the guests both enjoyed themselves. Before we parted, I introduced some recommended places to visit at various ports of call around Japan where they were scheduled to stop on their cruise, which they were very pleased about.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | JR Itsukaichi～JR Miyajimaguchi | 200JPY |
| Section 2 | Ferry | Aqua Net Miyajima Pier～Aqua Net Peace Park Pier | 1,100JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Hiroden Atomic Bomb Dome Mae～Hiroden Itsukaichi | 240JPY |
| Total | 1,540JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Itsukaichi Port, tour starts, JR Itsukaichi Station, JR Miyajimaguchi Station, Miyajima JR Ferry, Itsukushima Shrine, Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station, Mt. Misen Shishiiwa Observatory, Mt. Misen Ropeway Momijidani Station, Aqua Net Miyajima Pier, Aqua Net Peace Park Pier, Peace Park guide, Peace Memorial Museum guide and Hiroden Atomic Bomb Dome Mae Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,540JPY 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?
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….