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
- 8:40 a.m. Meet at Hiroshima Station
- → Take a taxi to the Peace Memorial Park (approx. ¥2,000)
- 9:00 a.m. Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum
- → Take a taxi to Shukkeien Garden (approx. ¥1,500)
- 11:30 a.m. Visit Shukkeien Garden (¥350 per person)
- *Admission to Shukkeien Garden is free for visitors aged 65 and over and for students with valid ID.
- → Walk to Hiroshima Station (about 15 minutes)
- 12:15 p.m. Lunch at a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurant at Hiroshima Station
- (approx. ¥1,000–¥2,000 per person)
- 1:00 p.m. End of the tour at Hiroshima Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
This private tour of Hiroshima began at 08:40, when the guide met the guests at Hiroshima Station, and finished at 13:00. The day ran to 4 hours and 20 minutes from start to finish. It included lunch at a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki restaurant at Hiroshima Station at 12:15.
From there the group visited the Peace Memorial Park and Peace Memorial Museum at 09:00 and Shukkeien Garden (¥350 per person) at 11:30.
What Is a Private Hiroshima Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report on Peace Park, Shukkeien Garden, and Okonomiyaki
The guests were a group of three visiting from North America. We got along very well and the conversation flowed easily, making it a very relaxed and pleasant tour. Since the museum gets very crowded during the current school-trip season, we went there first and entered just before 9:00, which allowed the group to view the exhibits at a leisurely pace. When leaving the main building, they saw a very long line stretching across the connecting corridor all the way to the east building, and they were delighted that we had come early and been able to see everything properly.
At Peace Park, everyone listened intently, and we folded paper cranes together. The paper cranes turned out to be more difficult than expected, and the group was moved all over again thinking about how much effort it must have taken to fold the tiny paper cranes made by Sadako, which they had seen at the museum. The group was interested in Japanese anime and music, and we had a lively conversation about how Japanese anime is expressed in English in North America.
At Shukkeien Garden, the group was very pleased by the many carp swimming and by the bamboo grove, and they said it was very calming with so few people around. As a contrast, they told me how surprised they had been to see station staff pushing passengers onto crowded trains in Tokyo, which made for a lively conversation.
Finally, we went for okonomiyaki at Hiroshima Station, which they enjoyed very much. One of the group was very fond of cars and had made a reservation at the Mazda Museum for the afternoon, so I gave directions on how to get there and ended the tour.
They were a cheerful group and a pleasure to talk with, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself while chatting the whole time.
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.
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!
Jul 26, 2026
Celine B
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
A faire
Une belle visite, bcp d’émotions.
Mari a été…
Jul 26, 2026
Celine B
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima Peace Park Customized Tour with Licensed Guide
A faire
Une belle visite, bcp d’émotions.
Mari a été une super guide et nous a permis de mieux comprendre ce quil s’est passé ici. Merci à elle
やるべきこと
とても素晴らしい見学でした。たくさんの感動がありました。
Mariさんはとても素晴らしいガイドで、この場所で何が起こったのかをより深く理解できるように案内してくださいました。ありがとうございました。
Jun 25, 2026
Bill_C
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
My son and I really…
My son and I really…
Jun 25, 2026
Bill_C
Viator review: Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide
My son and I really…
My son and I really enjoyed our tour with our tour guide Mari. She was extremely
knowledgeable and engaging. We felt like she went above and beyond to ensure a good
experience.
Jun 22, 2026
Beth W
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Mari is a fantastic guide for your Visit…
Jun 22, 2026
Beth W
Tripadvisor review: Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide
Mari is a fantastic guide for your Visit to Hiroshima!!
Mari was a fantastic guide !!! I hope you get her when you book this tour!!! She is charming and quite knowledgeable . We had some poignant moments at the peace park and such interesting insights into the Japanese culture and history. She knows the ins and outs taking us a bit off the beaten track as requested. And we had a great lunch !!!! The traditional Japanese layered pancake whose name I cannot spell. I look forward some day to returning and meeting up again with dear Mari!