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
- 0930 Meet at Hiroshima Ujina Port
- 1025 Take the Setouchi Sea Line high-speed boat to Miyajima
- 1110-1300 Miyajima sightseeing, lunch
- 1340 Take the World Heritage Route to Peace Park
- 1430-1630 Tour Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum
- 1700-1730 Tour Hiroshima Castle
- 1730 Have the guests take a taxi to Ujina, end of work
Title: What Is a Private Family Tour of Hiroshima Castle Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan. Everyone seemed very interested in Japan and asked many questions. Among them, the most memorable was a question from one of the guests. While I was guiding the group through Hiroshima Castle, at the exhibit displaying swords and spears, I explained that on the battlefields of that era, the spear was a more effective weapon than the sword against armored samurai. In response, the question was, "Then why is there such an attachment to the sword?" I was momentarily at a loss for words, but once I explained that the sword was effective in close combat and that it was considered the soul of the samurai, they seemed satisfied. It was a nerve-wracking moment.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Other | Miyajima～Motoyasu River Pier | 1,100JPY |
| Total | 1,100JPY | ||
Hello everyone.
I’m excited to have an opportunity to introduce myself to you.
This is my third year as a tour guide.
I enjoy chatting with customers while guiding them.
I mainly guide tours in the western Hiroshima Prefecture area, including Miyajima, Peace Memorial Park, Shukkei-en Garden, Kure, Etajima, and Takehara.
I also love visiting temples and shrines.
And I love sake and fresh seafood such as oysters and sashimi.
As a motorcycle rider, I know some hidden gems in this area.
I look forward to providing enjoyable tours, so please feel free to join me.
Jun 20, 2026
Todd_C
Viator review: Hiroshima 6hr Private Guided Tour & Shopping with Concierge
Harry was very…
Harry was very informative. We did the…
Jun 20, 2026
Todd_C
Viator review: Hiroshima 6hr Private Guided Tour & Shopping with Concierge
Harry was very…
Harry was very informative. We did the peace museum and then went to lunch for local
cuisine. Then went shopping. The tour was very adjustable to our tastes. Would highly
recommend.
Apr 26, 2026
Glenn_L
Viator review: Hiroshima 6hr Private Guided Tour & Food Tasting with Concierge
Moving tour of Hiroshima
Our guide, Harry, met us…
Apr 26, 2026
Glenn_L
Viator review: Hiroshima 6hr Private Guided Tour & Food Tasting with Concierge
Moving tour of Hiroshima
Our guide, Harry, met us at our ship and accompanied us to our first stop, the Peace Park. The park and museum experience is a very emotional experience. It became too emotional for several of us and we had to cut this part of the tour short. However, I expressed the view that every international leader should be required to take this tour and someone else passing by added, “often”. Although I couldn’t finish this part of the tour I am not sorry for having taken the tour; perhaps I’ll try again in future. Afterwards we headed to SOGO., a giant department store. I didn’t notice/understand the shopping concierge component of the tour until we started. We decided that we wanted a nice sit-down lunch and the SOGO customer care agent found the precise restaurant to meet our collective tastes. We dined in one of the store’s restaurants in a private room that the concierge was able to get us without prior notice even though it was during the lunch rush. Our guide,Harry, coordinated with the agent throughout, making sure she understood what we were looking for. After lunch the concierge met us again for a shopping tour. There were a few items that we had forgotten to pack and she guided us to the correct floor, the correct department, and coordinated with the sales staff to get the items we needed. Afterwards we headed to the basement level for a tasting tour of their two stories for food court. We were still too full from the lunch we had, but we did a few tastings before we had to beg off. The concierge was disappointed that we didn’t want to try more tastings. Throughout our guide, Harry, was attentive and very adaptable he was very pleasant and easy to work with. I would recommend this tour to everyone visiting Hiroshima and I would recommend Harry as a guide.
Apr 2, 2026
Roldan_T
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Harry was an great and informative guide.
Harry was…
Apr 2, 2026
Roldan_T
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Harry was an great and informative guide.
Harry was a great guide . He scheduled us go first to the Hiroshima memorial peace museum before the crowds arrived. We went straight in and it wasn’t crowded. By the time we finished, the line to to get in stretched around the building. We ate close-by and shopped at a mall. Although we planned to to take a ferry to a shrine, we instead headed to Hiroshima Costco where I bought electronics and my wife bought skincare products. This was the advantage of a private tour, there was flexibility in our itinerary as we saw fit. The van took us four and 2 wheelchairs. Overall a great experience.
May 10, 2025
jonathan_R
Really great tour. …
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Really great tour. Hisashi or…
May 10, 2025
jonathan_R
Really great tour. …
Viator review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Really great tour. Hisashi or guide was extremely accommodating and did a great job. He
was very knowledgeable and took great care of us. Okonomiyaki lunch was great –
recommend.