Excellent tour of Hiroshima highlights - Miyajima Shrine and Peace Plaza and Museum. Hayato San was very informative and passionate about sharing the history of his city.
About Activity
What's Included
Includes
- Local English Guide
- Admission fee
Excludes
- JR train and ferry paid directly by the guest on the day of the tour at the JR ticket gates and ferry terminal
Departure & Return
Departure Point
- Please meet your guide at Hiroshima Station – Central Exit (JR), right next to the ticket gates. The meeting point is the benches between the JR Green Ticket Office (Midori no Madoguchi) and Starbucks (Minamoa 2F), directly opposite each other. Guide wears a fluorescent green band.
Return
- The tour concludes at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
Itinerary
Visit the beautiful island of Miyajima, one of Japan’s most iconic destinations. Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine and see its famous floating torii gate, one of the most recognizable sights in Japan. Walk through the historic shrine complex while learning about Japanese history, Shinto traditions, and the cultural importance of Miyajima. Stroll around the island, see the friendly local deer, and enjoy the traditional atmosphere of the streets. You will also have time to explore Omotesando Shopping Street, where you can discover local specialties, traditional snacks, and souvenirs.
Visitors will explore Itsukushima Shrine, one of Japan’s most iconic Shinto shrines and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built over the sea, the shrine is famous for its “floating” architecture and the great torii gate standing offshore. Guests will walk through the shrine’s wooden corridors and pavilions while learning about Shinto beliefs, the history of Miyajima, and why the shrine was constructed on the water. Depending on the tide, visitors may see the torii gate appearing to float at high tide or walk close to it at low tide. The visit also offers beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea and surrounding mountains, making it both a cultural and scenic highlight of the tour.
Visitors will stroll along Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street, the island’s main approach street leading to Itsukushima Shrine. This lively street is lined with traditional shops, local food stalls, and souvenir stores that reflect Miyajima’s culture and everyday life. Guests can see and sample local specialties such as freshly grilled oysters, momiji manju (maple leaf–shaped sweets), and other regional snacks while learning about their history and significance from the guide. The street also offers time to browse handmade crafts, local products, and unique souvenirs. This visit provides a relaxed opportunity to experience Miyajima’s local atmosphere, food culture, and traditional shopping scene alongside its famous historic sites.
Visitors will walk through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a spacious riverside park dedicated to the victims of the atomic bombing and the message of lasting peace. The park connects key memorials, monuments, and reflection spaces in a calm, open setting. Your guide will explain the meaning behind major sites such as the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and the Children’s Peace Monument, sharing the historical background and stories associated with each location. Guests will also learn how the park was designed as part of Hiroshima’s postwar reconstruction and peace efforts. This visit offers time for quiet reflection while gaining a deeper understanding of Hiroshima’s history, recovery, and its ongoing role as a global symbol of peace.
Visitors will explore the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which documents the events of August 6, 1945, and the impact of the atomic bombing on the city and its people. Through photographs, personal belongings, models, and multimedia exhibits, the museum presents the human stories behind the tragedy. Your guide will provide historical context before or during the visit, helping guests understand the exhibits, the scale of destruction, and Hiroshima’s recovery after the war. The museum also conveys Hiroshima’s message of peace and the importance of nuclear disarmament. This visit is a powerful and educational experience that deepens understanding of Hiroshima’s history and its continuing commitment to peace. Important information Please note that the Peace Memorial Museum will be closed from February 16 to 21. During this period, the museum visit will be skipped, but the tour will continue as planned with visits to other locations.
Visitors will see the Atomic Bomb Dome, one of Hiroshima’s most important historical landmarks and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building was one of the few structures left standing near the hypocenter of the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, and remains preserved as a symbol of peace. Your guide will explain the history of the building, what happened in Hiroshima on that day, and how the city rebuilt itself after the war. Guests will learn about the human impact of the bombing and the global message of peace and nuclear disarmament associated with the site. The visit offers time to reflect while viewing the dome from nearby walkways along the river, providing a meaningful and educational experience within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
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Reviews
Excellent guide who had a great knowledge of the areas we visited… was able to recommend a great restaurant for lunch
Mariko, was a splendid host guiding our group via public transportation to the beautiful island of Mihajima and then to Hiroshima park. She was so helpful and informative, telling us about her city, her country and people. Highly recommended !
It was a nice small group tour where our guide hiro made us use all means of transport in Japan!! It was actually good fun. Hiro was knowledgeable and street smart and gave us a lot of explanation for both Miyajima as well as the Hiroshima peace memorial area. He took us to some great picture spots and recommended good food options as well. Even at Hiroshima he hit the right spots and we thoroughly enjoyed the tour over all. He even went out of the way to take us to buy origami paper as I wanted to make the paper crane. The tour was also nicely paced and we didn’t have to hurry anywhere or finish any spot quickly. I would recommend this in a heartbeat
A long day. Plenty of explanation, history, options available. Only suggestion, check to see if there is a daily card for the tram/ferry, as there are several trips at your expense (which we knew, but didn't think to check before).
Our tour guide Hayato was ABOVE AND BEYOND THE BEST!!I travel the world and have had many great guides, but he was EXCEPTIONAL!his care to give the best customized tour,combined with his love and passion was second to none!!he has love,compassion and care for what he does and it shows far beyond "liking his job",he was absolutely incredible and we can't wait to have him show us around next time, he will absolutely be requested specifically ♥️🙏Mahalo and Aloha from Hawaii ♥️🤙Hiroshima was both stunning and very emotional, but our guid truly walked us through it all in the BEST,professional and caring way♥️🙏
They don't offer the transportation, They make you take the trail to go to the island, the meeting point at the trail station was so confused. You are paying just for the walking tour at the island. The city tour and the musseum is free so you can take it by your own.
Get ready to walk and bring water and sun protection when visiting in summer months. No tour vehicle for this tour.
The day was very hot but our guide was wonderful! He was patient with me and my 79 year old mother, we had difficulty finding the correct Starbucks meeting point, so he came and found us! We enjoyed our tour even through the heat, he ensured that we were well cared for. He had good knowledge of the history and was respectful of the solemn experience at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
Mirako was a great guide. She gave us a very informative...fun and enjoyable experience. Her English was perfect. I will be asking for her for my next tour when I return to Japan .
We had an amazing time on this tour! Our guide, Shion, was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the history and culture of the area. He took the time to explain the significance of each place we visited and made sure we truly understood the stories behind them. We never felt rushed, and he encouraged us to take our time, enjoy the experience, and ask questions along the way. His enthusiasm and genuine care made the tour both educational and enjoyable. Thanks to Shion, this was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone looking for an authentic and memorable experience!
Great fun informative day with Mariko. So informative...patient and a very good communicator. My next adventure I will be asking for her. Stephen...Australia
My son and I learned so much, and our guide was so knowledgeable and spoke perfect English. It was enlightening!
Great tour of Miyajima and the Peace Memorial. Damian is very knowledgeable and friendly. I would give it a 5 star but the bus ride to the Peace Memorial and Museum was very long. There is a ferry from Miyajima to the Peace Memorial that would have been faster.
Very Good tour and Great guidePerfect tour and guide.
Some walking, but well planned. The guide spoke good English. She controlled the tour but we never felt rushed.
Our guide Kota was great. He communicated with us via WhatsApp so we were kept up to date. He interacted with the group really well so everyone was included. He never seemed to rush us. We did have a few slower people in our group which meant the tour went much longer than it should have, but Kota was relaxed and made sure we still saw everything. We would have missed out on so many places if we had tried to do it ourselves. Well worth doing.
The island tour was interesting but seemed to make the Hiroshima memorial and museum seem rushed. Our guide was young and passionate though at times difficult to understand.
Great tour with interesting insights both during the visit to Miyajima and at the various memorials. Very good preparation for the meeting as well as great support during the trips to the locations. We would book this tour again at any time and can only recommend it.
Our experience was very nice, thanks to our guide Mariko for her kindness and preparation. It was a memorable day!
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
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