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
- 10:00 Meet at hotel
- 10:10-11:35 Travel to Miyajima (bus, JR, ferry)
- 11:35-12:30 Great Torii Gate, Daisho-in Temple
- 12:30-12:50 Travel to ropeway station
- 12:50-14:30 Travel to Mount Misen by ropeway
- 14:30-14:50 Travel to Itsukushima Shrine
- 14:50-15: 10 Itsukushima Shrine
- 15:30 Disperse at Miyajima
Tour Itinerary in Detail
The itinerary covered Travel to Miyajima (bus, JR, ferry) at 10:10, Great Torii Gate, Daisho-in Temple at 11:35, Travel to ropeway station at 12:30, Travel to Mount Misen by ropeway at 12:50, Travel to Itsukushima Shrine at 14:30, 15: 10 Itsukushima Shrine at 14:50 and Disperse at Miyajima at 15:30.
Travel between the sites was by public transport: Shirakami Shrine-mae／Hiroshima Bus to Hiroshima Station by bus (240JPY); Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi by train (420JPY); Miyajimaguchi to Hiroshima by train (420JPY). Across 3 sections the fare came to 1,080JPY per person.
Title: What's a Half-Day Private Miyajima Tour from Hiroshima Like? A Licensed Guide's Report
The guests were visitors from North America. The day before, they had toured the city of Hiroshima, and on this day they enjoyed a half-day tour of Miyajima. The day before the tour, at the guests' request, the ending point was suddenly changed from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima. After the tour ended on Miyajima, the guests planned to take the 16:25 World Heritage Sea Route from Miyajima to the Peace Park, so their time on Miyajima was longer than usual. Because of this, I took them by the Mount Misen ropeway up to the observation deck near the station, which is not normally included in the standard 4-hour Miyajima tour. The view from there was wonderful, and the guests appeared to have thoroughly enjoyed Miyajima. After parting with the guests on Miyajima, I returned to Hiroshima Station by ferry and JR.
Click here for more details: Miyajima Half-Day Customized Tour with Licensed Local Guide
Transportation cost per person
| No. | Transportation | Route | Fare |
| Section 1 | Bus | Shirakami Shrine-mae／Hiroshima Bus～Hiroshima Station | 240JPY |
| Section 2 | Train | Hiroshima～Miyajimaguchi | 420JPY |
| Section 3 | Train | Miyajimaguchi～Hiroshima | 420JPY |
| Total | 1,080JPY | ||
Frequently Asked Questions
Which places does this itinerary cover?
This tour visited Travel to Miyajima (bus, JR, ferry), Great Torii Gate, Daisho-in Temple, Travel to ropeway station, Travel to Mount Misen by ropeway, Travel to Itsukushima Shrine, 15: 10 Itsukushima Shrine and Disperse at Miyajima.
How much did transport cost on this tour?
Public transport came to 1,080JPY per person across 3 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.