Hiroshima: Hiroshima Castlee — Guide Mari
September, 2025
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
- 9:30 a.m. Meet at the lobby of Dormy Inn Hiroshima
- 9:45 a.m. Visit Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
- 12:00 a.m. Visit Hiroshima Castlee
- 1:00 p.m. Lunch at Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki restaurant
- 2:30p.m. End the tour at Memorial Cathedral for World Peace
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Meeting at lobby of Dormy Inn Hiroshima at 09:30, the group explored Hiroshima until the tour ended at 14:30. The day ran to 5 hours from start to finish. It included lunch at Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki restaurant at 13:00.
The itinerary covered Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum at 09:45 and Hiroshima Castlee at 00:00.
Title: What Is a Private Hiroshima Day Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, and Okonomiyaki
The guests were visitors from North America. It was everyone's first time in Hiroshima, and the day before they had visited Miyajima, where they hiked Mount Misen all the way from the base to the summit. Since it was a three-day holiday weekend and the museum was expected to be crowded, we visited the Peace Memorial Museum first. There were many people, but it was not extremely crowded, and everyone viewed each exhibit very seriously and carefully.
Afterward, we folded paper cranes together at the rest house and offered them at the Children's Peace Monument, and they told me it was a wonderful experience.
At Hiroshima Castle, a wedding was being held at the Gokoku Shrine, and they were delighted to be able to see a traditional wedding ceremony.
They also enjoyed okonomiyaki, and we had lively conversations about many topics, including popular foods and local dishes in North America, pets, and differences between homes in North America and Japan.
We had planned to part ways at the lunch venue, but I learned that after the tour they were planning to attend Mass at the World Peace Memorial Cathedral, so I saw them there, which they greatly appreciated.
Click here for more details: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
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!