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 Meet at hotel lobby
- →To Miyajima by JR & JR Ferry
- 10:30 Arrive at Miyajima
- 10:45 Itsukushima Shrine
- 11:00 Daisho-in Temple
- 12:30 Conger eel rice bowl lunch
- 13:30 Omotesando Shopping Street (Momiji manju and tea break)
- 14:30 Hiroshima Station
Tour Itinerary in Detail
Over the course of the day the route took in Miyajima at 10:30, Itsukushima Shrine at 10:45, Daisho-in Temple at 11:00, Conger eel rice bowl lunch at 12:30, Omotesando Shopping Street (Momiji manju and tea break) at 13:30 and Hiroshima Station at 14:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi by train (420JPY); Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima by ferry (200JPY); Miyajimaguchi to Miyajima by ferry (200JPY); Miyajimaguchi to Hiroshima by train (420JPY). Across 4 sections the fare came to 1,240JPY per person.
Title: What Is a Private Guided Tour of Miyajima Island Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from Europe. The weather was excellent, and they relaxed and enjoyed the scenery. We were able to visit Itsukushima Shrine right at high tide, and they were delighted by the sight of the shrine and torii gate appearing to float on the sea. Daisho-in Temple had few tourists, so it was quiet and atmospheric, and they liked it very much, taking many photographs. They also enjoyed the Kaidan-meguri walk through the darkness. For lunch, they had anago-don (conger eel rice bowl) at a restaurant with a beautiful view overlooking the torii gate, and they said it was a luxurious and wonderful experience. Since they seemed to want to enjoy the scenery in a calm setting, I chose routes with as few tourists as possible. Along the way we talked about our families and showed each other photos, and it was a very enjoyable time. They mentioned that a member of their family would be coming to Japan next year, and that they would recommend this tour again.
Click here for more details: Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Train | Hiroshima～Miyajimaguchi | 420JPY |
| Section 2 | Ferry | Miyajimaguchi～Miyajima | 200JPY |
| Section 3 | Ferry | Miyajimaguchi～Miyajima | 200JPY |
| Section 4 | Train | Miyajimaguchi～Hiroshima | 420JPY |
| Total | 1,240JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Miyajima, Itsukushima Shrine, Daisho-in Temple, Conger eel rice bowl lunch, Omotesando Shopping Street (Momiji manju and tea break) and Hiroshima Station.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,240JPY per person across 4 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?
Mari 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.
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!