Hiroshima in One Day: on Miyajima & Daisho-in Temple — Guide Mari

Title: What Is a Private Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Park Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from Europe. They were very warm and cheerful, smiling and sharing many stories from the moment we met. They also told me a great deal about their hometowns.

On this day, the tide at Miyajima was high in the early morning, so we set out early, and thanks to that there were fewer people and the guests were delighted to view everything at a relaxed pace.

They had previously explored Tokyo and Kyoto without a guide, and told me again and again as we went along, "With a guide, we get to encounter stories, places, and scenery we never would have known on our own! Thank you so much!" They were a very close group, and since one of them especially enjoyed photography, I asked and took many photos of them. The guests also enjoyed shopping, and had a wonderful time at the shopping street in Omotesando. They had their names engraved in Japanese on a pair of chopsticks they purchased, which made them very happy.

It was their first time trying okonomiyaki for lunch. They were delighted that each could choose toppings to suit their own preferences, so that both could enjoy it. They liked it very much, and thanked me many times here as well.

At the Peace Memorial Park, crowds were expected after 2 p.m., so after visiting the cenotaph and a few other spots, we headed straight to the museum, where it was relatively uncrowded. However, one of the guests found the exhibits too tragic and sad and did not feel ready to view the main building's displays, so they waited on a sofa in front of the main building while I went through it with the other. Both of the guests viewed the historical exhibits afterward with great interest. Since one of them had been quite shaken, after the museum I kept descriptions of the tragedy of the bombing more restrained, and focused instead on stories that connect to the future, such as reconstruction and peace education for children.

Finally, they wanted to go to a ramen shop, so I guided them to a popular nearby restaurant and concluded the tour.

They were very considerate and warm until the very end, thanking me many times, and it was a great honor for me to be able to guide them.

Click here for more details: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide

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.