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
- 8:30 a.m. Meet at Hotel
- 9:00 a.m. Ferry to Miyajima Island
- 9:45 a.m. Arrive at Miyajima Island
- 10:00 a.m. Visit Itsukushima Shrine
- 10:45 a.m. Visit Daishoin Temple
- 11:30 a.m. Explore the shopping street
- 12:20 p.m. Ferry back to Peace Memorial Park
- 1:15 p.m. Lunch at an Okonomiyaki restaurant
- 2:20 p.m. Visit Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
- 4:30 p.m. End of the tour at the hotel
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hotel at 08:30, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 16:30. The day ran to 8 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at an Okonomiyaki restaurant at 13:15.
The itinerary covered Ferry to Miyajima Island at 09:00, Miyajima Island at 09:45, Itsukushima Shrine at 10:00, Daishoin Temple at 10:45, shopping street at 11:30, Ferry back to Peace Memorial Park at 12:20 and Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum at 14:20.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Peace Memorial Park to Miyajima (2,400JPY). Across 1 sections the fare came to 2,400JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. After traveling in Tokyo and Kyoto, they came to Hiroshima together.
To match the high tide at Miyajima, they kindly agreed to move the meeting time 30 minutes earlier, and we started the tour at 8:30.
Although rain had been forecast, fortunately it hardly rained at all, and they were very pleased with the weather.
Miyajima was crowded with group tour visitors today, but thanks to starting our tour earlier, we were able to enter Itsukushima Shrine before the crowds. Since Kyoto had been very crowded and they had grown tired of the crowds, they said they were very happy about this.
At Daishoin Temple, they listened to the explanations with great interest and took many photographs.
After returning to the city by the World Heritage Sea Route, we went to my favorite okonomiyaki restaurant for lunch. There were few tourists, and since they like going to places where locals go, they said they liked it very much. They also found the okonomiyaki delicious and said they would try making it after returning home.
Both of the guests were interested in history, and since one had majored in history at university, we walked around the Peace Park while I answered many of their questions and shared various stories. They were very interested in the story of Mr. Nomura, who was exposed to the atomic bombing in the basement of the Rest House, and they viewed the underground exhibit intently.
One of the guests was deeply saddened by the harm done to children. After seeing the uniform of a victim of the student mobilization at the museum, they said it was difficult to see any more, and since they were interested in the paper cranes, I guided them only to the exhibit about Sadako at the end and then led them to the exit first.
After that, I went around the museum with the other guest.
I guided them through the G7 exhibition materials, then saw them off at their hotel and ended the tour.
At the end, they thanked me for the tour and told me they considered me not only a tour guide but a friend, which moved me deeply.
During the tour we talked a great deal about each other's families and shared photos, and it was a truly enjoyable time for me as well.
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 | Peace Memorial Park～Miyajima | 2,400JPY |
| Total | 2,400JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hotel at 08:30, and the tour finished at of the tour at the hotel at 16:30.
How long does the tour last?
About 8 hours in total, from 08:30 to 16:30.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Ferry to Miyajima Island, Miyajima Island, Itsukushima Shrine, Daishoin Temple, shopping street, Ferry back to Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 2,400JPY per person across 1 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?
Mari 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.
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!