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
- 12:00 Meet at the Shinkansen platform
- 12:15-12:30 Move to Shukkeien Garden
- 12:30-13:00 Shukkeien Garden
- 13:00-13:20 Move to Hiroshima Castle
- 13:20-13:30 Stroll around Hiroshima Castle
- 13:45-13:55 Move to Atomic Bomb Dome by bus
- 14:00-14:40 Peace Memorial Park
- 14:40-15:45 Peace Memorial Museum
- 16:00 Disband
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at Shinkansen platform at 12:00, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 16:00. The day ran to 4 hours from start to finish.
The itinerary covered Shukkeien Garden at 12:15, Hiroshima Castle at 13:00, Stroll around Hiroshima Castle at 13:20, Atomic Bomb Dome by bus at 13:45, Peace Memorial Park at 14:00 and Peace Memorial Museum at 14:40.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hiroshima to Shukkeien-mae by bus (240JPY); Hiroshima Castle (Gokoku Shrine-mae) by bus (240JPY). Across 2 sections the fare came to 480JPY per person.
What Is a Private Walking Tour of Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were a group visiting Japan from Europe, and Hiroshima was the final stop of their trip. They had been walking more than 10 km every day in the intense heat, and appeared quite tired, so I made a point of explaining each sightseeing spot in places that were as shaded from direct sunlight as possible. We had originally planned to go inside Hiroshima Castle, but the guests said they did not need to go inside, so I first took them to Shukkeien Garden and we viewed Hiroshima Castle only from the outside. After they visited the Peace Memorial Museum with great interest, I had them board a bus bound for Hiroshima Station from the Peace Memorial Park bus stop, and we parted ways there.
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～Shukkeien-mae | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Bus | Hiroshima Castle (Gokoku Shrine-mae) / JR Bus Chugoku～Atomic Bomb Dome-mae | 240JPY |
| Total | 480JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this Hiroshima tour start and finish?
The guide met the guests at Shinkansen platform at 12:00, and the tour finished at at 16:00.
How long does the tour last?
About 4 hours in total, from 12:00 to 16:00.
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima Castle, Stroll around Hiroshima Castle, Atomic Bomb Dome by bus, Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 480JPY per person across 2 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?
To 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! My name is Kazuhisa To. After completing graduate school, I moved to Hiroshima—and have now lived here for over 42 years. I earned a Ph.D. through a national university’s professional program while working at Mazda Motor Corporation. Five years before retiring from the company, I was seconded to Hiroshima University, a national university, where I served as a specially appointed professor. In addition to my domestic career, I spent a total of about five and a half years living and working abroad. These international experiences have given me valuable cross-cultural understanding and the ability to connect comfortably with guests from around the world. Currently, as a Hiroshima Prefectural Government Licensed Guide Interpreter, I introduce visitors not only to famous attractions such as Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima, but also to the local lifestyle, culture, and culinary delights, tailored to your interests. I hope to provide each guest with a memorable experience that stays in your heart.
I look forward to meeting you here in Hiroshima!
Jul 21, 2026
anza
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Excellent Walking Tour with Kazuhisa To
We had a…
Jul 21, 2026
anza
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima & Miyajima in 1 Day: Private Tour, Licensed Guide
Excellent Walking Tour with Kazuhisa To
We had a wonderful day with our guide Kazuhisa To. He was extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and kept us on track with our busy itinerary. He was the best tour guide we had on our entire trip to Japan. We highly recommend him.
Jun 25, 2026
52leannei
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing day trip and tour to Hiroshima
My family…
Jun 25, 2026
52leannei
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Amazing day trip and tour to Hiroshima
My family and I were staying in Kyoto, but were interested in doing a day trip to Hiroshima. We purchased a day trip tour via Viator and within a few days were contacted by our tour guide “To.” Once To knew our logistics around us arriving from Kyoto via shinkansen in the morning and leaving by 6pm in the evening he was able to build a full itinerary broken down by hour/activity and how much JPY we would need to have on hand for each site/bus/train which he shared ahead of time.
Our day started with To meeting us on the shinkansen platform when our train arrived which made it easy to find him and then he spent 10 minutes walking us through the detailed itinerary and how the day’s events would go. We immediately took a train to the pier for a ferry to Miyajima and once we arrived on Miyajima he walked us through all the key areas (shrine, gate, navigating the hungry deer, temple, and shopping areas) and provided a lot of historical background and fun facts to our family.
We also appreciated the fact that he pre-ordered our delicious okonomiyaki lunch ahead of time (took our order a few days prior) so when we arrived at the busy restaurant we didn’t have to wait long for our food to arrive.
Our tour also included a trip to the beautiful Shukkeien Garden (where he had pre-bought some fish food for the kids to feed the fish) and the Peace Memorial Museum (where he also had prepared a few folded cranes for our family as well.). To was able to guide us through both with a lot of interesting facts along the way.
We also appreciated To’s patience with us (especially our kids and all of our questions and frequent stops at 7-11.) He was very kind, funny, organized, and we truly enjoyed our time with him. We would highly recommend his services again!
Jun 14, 2026
Shannon_M
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide was amazing. He…
Our guide was amazing. He…
Jun 14, 2026
Shannon_M
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Our guide was amazing. He…
Our guide was amazing. He shared so much history of the area. I would have like to spend more time in the museum.
Jun 14, 2026
Thomas L
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Hiroshima Tour with a Great Guide
Our guide Kazuhisa…
Jun 14, 2026
Thomas L
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
Hiroshima Tour with a Great Guide
Our guide Kazuhisa To was knowledgeable and made the tour interesting for all of us, including the kids. Hiroshima is a beautiful city with a meaningful history that is best explored with a guide.