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
- 8:45 Meet at Hiroshima Station
- 9:20 Peace Memorial Museum
- 10:30 Peace Memorial Park
- 12:20 Lunch at Hanako
- 13:20 Miyajima
- 14:10 Omote-sando street
- 16:10 End the tour at Hiroshima Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Hiroshima Station at 8:45, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 16:10. The day ran to 7 hours and 25 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at Hanako at 12:20.
The itinerary covered Peace Memorial Museum at 9:20, Peace Memorial Park at 10:30, Miyajima at 13:20 and Omote-sando street at 14:10.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hiroshima to Peace Park-mae by bus (220JPY); Atomic Bomb Dome-mae to Yokogawa by train (220JPY); Yokogawa to Miyajimaguchi by train (330JPY); Miyajimaguchi to Hiroshima by train (420JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 1,340JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour Like in Summer? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting from Asia. Although their home region is also hot, they usually stay indoors during the day, so they were surprised by the heat here. I had explained in advance about expenses during the tour, but they had assumed that transportation costs were included. I explained again which expenses would be necessary, and then we started the tour. On the bus to the museum, I explained about the atomic-bombed structures we passed.
At Miyajimaguchi, one of the guests lost a ticket, so I explained the situation and we were allowed through the gate.
For lunch, I recommended okonomiyaki, and they said they would like to make it at home too.
On Miyajima, one of the guests became worn out from the heat, so they rested along the main approach. In the meantime, I guided the rest of the group to the torii gate, and showed them Itsukushima Shrine and the five-story pagoda from the outside. When we met again, they had recovered. I suggested some free time along the main approach and we met again later at the ferry terminal.
As measures against the heat, I introduced frozen bottled drinks, body sheets, and similar items.
They were also looking for a self-heating station bento, so I introduced a shop in Osaka.
Changing the Shinkansen tickets could not be done on the official JR site, and since we could not figure out how to do it, I ended up seating them in the non-reserved cars and concluded the tour, as they wanted to return to the hotel and rest as soon as possible.
Starting July, the automatic ticket purchase machines at the Peace Memorial Museum will begin operating. At first they will accept cash only, and later they are expected to support various payment methods. As before, admission will be divided depending on whether visitors have purchased tickets online or not.
Since online ticket purchasing began, the crowding inside the museum has been severe, and measures to address this are urgently needed. When there was a line of about 20 to 30 minutes, I could use that time to talk about the actual scale of the atomic bombing, so guests actually gave better reactions in the past.
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 | Hiroshima～Peace Park-mae | 220JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Atomic Bomb Dome-mae～Yokogawa | 220JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Yokogawa～Miyajimaguchi | 330JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Miyajimaguchi～Hiroshima | 420JPY |
| Section 5 | Other | Hiroshima～Hiroshima | 150JPY |
| Total | 1,340JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Hiroshima Station at 8:45, and the tour finished at tour at Hiroshima Station at 16:10.
How long does the tour last?
About 7 hours and 25 minutes in total, from 8:45 to 16:10.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Peace Memorial Museum, Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima and Omote-sando street.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,340JPY per person across 5 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.