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
- 10:30 a.m. – Meet at the Shinkansen Gate of Hiroshima Station
- 10:50 a.m. – Visit the beautiful Shukkeien Garden
- 12:00 p.m. – Get ferry tickets to Miyajima Island at the ferry terminal in Peace Park
- 12:30 p.m. – Lunch at Okonomiyaki restaurant
- 1:15 p.m. – Visit Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum
- 2:30 p.m. – End of the tour at the ferry terminal in Peace Park
Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Shukkeien, Okonomiyaki, and the Ferry to Miyajima
The guests were university students visiting from Europe. The booking was made two days before the tour, and after one email there was no message about the Shinkansen arrival time, so I was a little worried, but the guests contacted me on the morning of the tour to say they would arrive at the reserved time, and we were able to start the tour as planned. Since it was very hot, we tried to use the bus as much as possible while getting around. The guests said they had traveled from Europe to the Middle East, then to Asia before coming to Japan, so they had gotten used to the heat. At Shukkeien Garden they took many photos, and they were delighted that the weather was clear and that the contrast between the color of the sky and the garden was beautiful. Right after we met at Hiroshima Station, the guests said they also wanted to go to Miyajima after the tour, so after Shukkeien we went to buy ferry tickets and then had lunch. The guests were very impressed with the okonomiyaki I recommended for lunch, and they said it was the most delicious meal they had eaten on this trip. They asked the restaurant staff and filmed a video of the okonomiyaki being made. They said they wanted to be able to make it themselves so they could eat it again after returning home. The museum was very crowded, but there was not much of a line, so the guests saw the highlights, and I guided them to the ferry terminal for Miyajima, ending the tour.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Hiroshima Station／JR Bus Chugoku～Shukkeien-mae | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Shukkeien-mae～Kamiyacho／JR Bus Chugoku | 240JPY |
| Total | 480JPY | ||
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!