Hiroshima & Miyajima: Private Full-day Tour With A Local Guide

Alex was wonderful and organized for us the perfect day in Hiroshima visiting the memorial museum and Myajima Island. His explanation were precise and his knowledge of the local culture was impressive.

Alex was so knowledgeable and led us through what turned out to be one of my favourite days of our whole trip. He delivered a great tour and knew how best to navigate busier crowds. Plus a great spot for lunch! Cannot recommend him enough!!

We had a great day with guide Alex. He guided us to Miyajima and Peace Park and Peace Memorial Museum. He has so much knowledge en knows his ways around the island and city. He is energetic but also very kind. It was a great day

Well, where to start. Alex met us just outside the exit gate at the Shinkansen station. He had already sent a photo so we would know who we were looking for. Miyajima was our first stop, with a walk around the harbour & shrine areas, viewing of the 'Floating' Tori gate (as Alex noted, it's 60 metric tonnes, so doesn't really float), and met the local deer. Be careful there - it seems they have a taste for icecream!! Alex provided excellent information on the sites we visited, before making a stop at a bakery for a few cakes. We took a fast boat back to the mainland, arriving near the Hiroshima Peace Park. Lunch came before the walking. Then we were off. As someone with back & lower limb injuries, Alex made sure we took time out to sit & rest - something genuinely appreciated Alex also provided an excellent narrative as we visited a range of memorial sites. The park & it's gardens, the eternal flame, and the remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall (now known as The Atomic Bomb Dome) begin your journey of understanding the devastation of 6 August 1945. The museum, which was our last stop of the day, brought the events of that day into focus. There are some graphic images and emotionally significant items on display. Don't turn away - it's vital the world remembers - no matter the reasons at the time - why we can't afford another Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Alex then took us back to the railway station for our return trip to Kyoto. An amazing day with a wonderful guide. I highly recommend everyone try to visit these sites

We absolutely loved Alex! He was incredibly accommodating and informative. He arranged everything for us and was so personable. Highly recommend him!

Absolutely excellent experience. Very conveniently, he met us at our hotel and accompanied us throughout the day. Extraordinarily knowledgeable, very personable, and a great communicator. Our biggest regret of the trip was not having somebody like him available for the other cities that we visited.

Alex was our guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly with great communication Highly recommend this tour

Alex was a wonderful friendly guide who showed us around and shared his knowledge of the area. Trying to do this on our own would’ve been stressful. Alex’s local knowledge of the area, the history and transport made the day so easy and enjoyable. Avoiding the larger group /bus tours meant we could move easier and quicker.

Good guide! Very dynamic and flexible in the planning. Lots of information about history!

Alex was AMAZING! We started the day with a tour of Miyajima and Alex showed us the beauty of this place. He shared history and a lot of information on the temple, Tory gate etc. it was a very personalized and special experience. Then onto Peace Park and a more solemn and deeply meaningful experience. Alex shared parts of the story that we would have never known about or seen without his expertise. It was simply a beautiful and very special day.

We just finished our private tour of Miyajima and Hiroshima with Alex, and it was by far the best tour we have taken during our time in Japan. Alex was incredibly intentional with every part of the day. Nothing felt rushed, generic, or like he was simply moving us from one stop to the next. He clearly cared about making the experience meaningful for us. I learned so much about Hiroshima, but more importantly, Alex helped us understand the human side of its history in a way that was thoughtful, respectful, and deeply moving. Miyajima was beautiful, and the entire day was balanced perfectly between history, culture, reflection, and enjoying the experience together. Alex was also fantastic with the 12-year-old in our group. He kept her engaged, included her in the conversation, and made sure the tour was meaningful and enjoyable for everyone, not just the adults. This was much more than a sightseeing tour. It was one of the most memorable and meaningful days of our entire trip. Alex is an exceptional guide, and I cannot recommend him highly enough.

We did this one day Hiroshima and Miyajima private tour with Alex Hirotours. We had one of the best tour experience in Japan. Alex knowledge is undoubtedly very comprehensive also heightening the human element of this event. If you want a true and meaningful experience in Hiroshima this is the tour for you. Highly recommend and thank you Alex for this great experience

We had an amazing day with Alex. He was so friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable, making us feel welcome from the very start. He shared the history of Hiroshima with great care and helped us discover the beauty of Miyajima at a relaxed pace. It felt like spending the day with a local friend rather than being on a tour. Thank you, Alex, for making our visit so memorable. Highly recommended!

We had the perfect day in Hiroshima with our guide Alex. We started off at Miyajima. Despite the hundreds of tourists pouring into the island every hour, Alex knows all the hidden treasures, and we were often the only tourists as we visited beautiful hidden passages between the main attractions. We enjoyed an amazing okonomiyaki lunch together, which Alex kindly ensured met our dietary standards. From there we progressed to the Peace Memorial, including visiting a hidden gem of a museum that was among the highlights of our time in Japan. Alex's professionalism and expertise was apparent throughout the entire tour, and we strongly recommend him as a guide for anyone visiting Hiroshima.

We spent the day with Alexander Kranenburg. He was knowledgeable, friendly and helped us manage the heat in July. Hiroshima is an emotional and definitely worth visiting. We would highly recommend a tour either him.

This was great experience for us. Historic places you learn a lot when you are guided by your guide. Alex was great local guide who was right on time at the hotel. His knowledge was great about Hiroshima and also about the world. This was great activity for me and for my family since we wanted to visit Hiroshima and no doubt Alex made it even more pleasant visit for us with his knowledge and easy going manners.

“Alex was an amazing tour guide in Hiroshima! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the city’s history. He made the tour engaging, informative, and unforgettable. We learned so much and truly enjoyed every minute. We highly recommend Alex to anyone visiting Hiroshima. Thank you for a fantastic experience!”

Alex was an amazing tour guide in Hiroshima! He was knowledgeable, friendly, and passionate about sharing the city’s history. He made the tour engaging, informative, and unforgettable. We learned so much and truly enjoyed every minute. We highly recommend Alex to anyone visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima. Thank you for a fantastic experience!

Very informative. You learn a lot and see/learn things you wouldn’t if you didnt have a guide. Alex was absolutely amazing, wish we could have him on every tour. Best tour/guide we have ever been on and we have used Viator or many of our travels. Do NOT miss your chance to book this tour with Alex. It was the most memorable thing we did in our two weeks in Japan. Our teenagers enjoyed it just as much as we did.

We enjoyed our tour with Alex very much. We visited the Peace Park. Atomic Bomb Museum, and Miyajima. He was very knowledgeable about the history of these place and also of ferry schedules, buying tickets, etc which helped us make the most of our limited time in Hitlroshima. He even showed us a great place for lunch. His communication with us before the trip was excellent and he was there to pick us up at the port and got us back to the ship on time.

Well prepared trip, a lot of interesting spots and stories. A joy to travel with him

Excellent. Alex had knowledge and understanding of the history and culture. We learn a lot from him.

We had a great day with Alex it was a full day and personalized for us as a couple. He was fully informed and showed us all the great aspects of Miyajima and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Cost effective with trams, ferry and entry fees. Highly recommend.

We had a 6 hour day tour with Alex to the Memorial Park & Miyajima. He made our day a great success, sharing his knowledge & interest in Hiroshima with us & we would not hesitate to recommend him as a guide

Looking for a day trip that truly encapsulates Hiroshima and Miyajima? Look no further. Alex is an exceptional guide and an absolute must for this experience. As frequent travellers, we've toured with countless guides and Alex genuinely ranks among the best we've ever had the pleasure of meeting. His expertise, passion and ability to bring the history and culture to life made for an unforgettable day. Not to be forgotten was the amazing choice for lunch where we had the best okonomiyaki and a wee lical restaurant. Book with Alex, you won't be disappointed. Highly recommended!!!

Highly recommend! We had an amazing day in the morning at the Miyajima island. Alex, our guide, knew how to make it feel less of a tourist destination and more of a cultural experience, by sharing unique paths, walks through neighborhoods, an excellent curry restaurant and other great non-touristy places. We thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the trip and our afternoon in Hiroshima was extremely educational. It married up books we had read and history, with the present day city and focus on peace. Difficult but amazing. Kiddos to Alex for keeping us moving but slowing down when needed. We loved to day and getting to know our guide. Thank you

We had an amazing private tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima with Alex as our guide. From the moment he met us at the train station, everything was perfectly organized and stress-free. Alex took us to Miyajima Island, showed us around the beautiful sites, and shared so much interesting history and cultural information throughout the day. He was extremely knowledgeable, engaging, and passionate about Hiroshima’s history, which made the experience even more meaningful. He also recommended a fantastic local restaurant for lunch where we enjoyed delicious local food. We truly appreciated his kindness, professionalism, and attention to detail. This was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan, and we highly recommend Alex to anyone visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima!

It was a great experience. Alex was Flexible and good in dealing with our wishes. I can certainly recommend Alex for a an active day around Hiroshima.

Our group of 4 couples had a memorable day in Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Peace Park on 9th. We are all senior citizens and Alex adapted the schedule to our needs. We were received , escorted and seen off in a most reassuring manner. All the logistics on land and sea were looked after very well. He was knowledgeable and attended to all our queries in fluent English. Made all the difference to ensure a perfect day. Many thanks 🙏

We had a very nice walk with good information about the island and the temple After a nice lunch we went to city to learn and see about the horror of the war Good explanation, Also about the positivity of the Japanese people to rebuild the town We had an interesting and nice day Thanks

Alex was easy to communicate with and was flexible with our start time. He gave us great insight as someone actually living in Hiroshima. We enjoyed some of the photo opportunities that he had an eye for that a typical tour guide might not have had. I'm also still thinking about the okonomiyaki lunch that we had!!

We enjoyed a very interesting, educational, relaxed and fun tour with Alex! He is very well able to assess your needs and preferences during the tour.

Great way to see all that Hiroshima has to offer. Alex took us to all the best spots on Mirajima Island and then helped us to grasp the enormity of the history of Hiroshima. By taking us to key places, he helped us to recognise not just the horrors of history but also the beauty of resilience and hope! Thank you

We had a fantastic day with our guide Alex! He guided us through Hiroshima in a relaxed and engaging way. The walk towards the Peace Memorial Park and museum was very impressive and enriched by the stories he told, which truly brought everything to life. He also showed us some lesser-known spots, which made the experience even more special. We then went to Miyajima, where we were able to admire the beautiful Itsukushima Shrine and the iconic torii gate at high tide, an unforgettable moment. At every stop, Alex shared interesting and often personal stories, giving everything even more meaning. He also perfectly incorporated the charming streets and lovely cafés on the island into the experience. What truly makes Alex stand out is his enthusiasm and his talent for turning every place and moment into a captivating story. Thanks to him, we didn’t just see a lot. We truly experienced it. Highly recommended!

It was a great experience getting to enjoy Hiroshima and Miyajima with Alex he is very knows the City and its history. Perfect English .He is very knowledgeable. I would greatly recommend him.

We had limited time in Hiroshima, so selected this full day tour. Alex was an excellent guide. He was knowledgeable, relaxed, and organised. He worked hard to ensure we got the most out of our day, and we really felt we'd seen everything we wanted. We stopped at a fabulous local cafe for lunch, that we would never have experienced otherwise. Cannot recommend highly enough - definitely one of the highlights of ourcJapan holiday.

We had the best time touring through Hiroshima and Miyajima with Alex. He told us alot about the temples, shrines and history of Miyajima and Hiroshima and how this part of Japan has come to be. He did it with alot of enthousiasm, love and respect, which made it a great experience. He also let us know where we needed to be to enjoy Okonomiyaki. Thank you so much, Alex!

We had a fantastic day with Alex on a Hiroshima and Miyajima Private Day Tour. The day went so smoothly and yet felt so flexible to suit our interests and needs. Alex’s lunch recommendation was great and hopping on and off public transport with him was a breeze. Alex’s knowledge and passion made the tour so informative and interesting. The stories he had of bomb survivors personal experiences were unforgettable. We were very fortunate to see the Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum. It all felt like a once in a lifetime experience.

Alex was fantastic!! He timed everything perfectly. We saw so much. I would highly recommend Alex to anyone. Thank you for a beautiful tour!!

Alex our guide went over and above our expectations. My friend was in a wheelchair due to an accident. Alex rented a car for us so that we would not miss out on our trip. He was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and his kindness was an asset to him as a guide, as he kept the trip to our pace, whilst still seeing all the sights. Although originally from the Netherlands, his love for Japan and its culture shone through with his exceptional knowledge, and personal friends he met along the way. We would like to wholeheartedly thank you Alex for a trip to remember. Thank you from Mavis and Jo. Everyone should book their trip through you.

Thank you Alex for a wonderful day. We appreciate you changing some things for us a bit to help make this a comfortable experience for everyone. We loved visiting the Island, taking wonderful photos and learning all about the history. I was grateful for your knowledge to help explain Japanese customs and traditions. We loved our lunch and having you explain what we do with it! Moving on to Hiroshima, thank you for empathetic explanations of the fateful day of WW2. Being in the city and gaining an understanding of the magnitude of such a horrendous day added to my understanding beyond text books. We couldn’t recommend Alex more highly!

We highly recommend our private walking tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima with Alex. From start to finish, the experience was outstanding, and Alex was the perfect guide for a day that was both meaningful and thoroughly enjoyable. Alex's professionalism was evident from the beginning. His communication leading up to our tour was excellent, leaving us feeling prepared and excited for the day ahead. As we were arriving by cruise ship, we particularly appreciated how easy he made everything. He met us right on time, and his expert planning ensured we made it back to our ship in plenty of time. His insights brought the sites of Hiroshima to life, and his personal link to the area and moving stories gave us a much deeper understanding of the city's past. The tour was not just educational but also emotionally impactful, allowing us to reflect respectfully on the city's history. Our day was perfectly paced, balancing the poignant history of Hiroshima with the breathtaking natural beauty of Miyajima. Alex guided us through all the important sites and timed everything perfectly. One highlight was a fantastic lunch at a delicious local spot that we would never have discovered on our own. It was a wonderful taste of authentic Hiroshima cuisine. Thank you, Alex, for a truly memorable and enriching day. Your passion for your city and your storytelling made this an unforgettable experience.

We had an amazing day with Alex! He knows all the best spots and shares them in a way that makes you feel like a local. The views were absolutely breathtaking, and he even took us to a sake place where we got to taste and buy some bottles to bring home. On top of that, Alex is super kind and takes incredible photos, which made the experience even more special. We’ll definitely book with him again on our next visit—thank you so much, Alex!

We had a wonderful and impressive day with Alex as our guide visiting Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. In the morning, we took the ferry to Miyajima Island, where Alex showed us the most beautiful spots. We will never forget the Itsukushima Shrine, the Torii gate in the water, the Daishō-in, and the beautiful views. The deer were also fun to see, and they were a lot less pushy than the deer in Nara Park. We took a fast boat straight back to Hiroshima, where we arrived at the foot of the Peace Monument. Here we first ate delicious okonomiyaki, after which Alex guided us past impressive sites about the consequences and history of the A-bomb. The visit to a small school, the Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum, was very impressive and clearly showed the consequences of the bomb. After this, we visited the monument and the Peace Park and ended the day at the Hiroshima Peace Museum. At the end of the day, we were very impressed by all the experiences. We thoroughly enjoyed the tour, the stories and the conversations with Alex. He is very involved with the city, which is reflected in the tour.

we did the tour with alex and wow what an amazing experience we had ,,,alex is very professional and has vast knowledge on all things hiroshima ..past and present day ..i first went on his tour last december and enjoyed it so much that 5 months later i returned with my mum to do the same tour again ,,,,i truly recommend any of alex,s tours

We had a great and thoughtful day with Alex. Experiencing the history of Hiroshima through the personal bond that Alex has with the city was unforgettable. We started our day visiting small pieces of history leading up to visiting memorial park. Visiting the school near memorial park gave the starkest, but most inspiring contrasts: Hearing and seeing the pupils going about their day while we descended into history in the old part of the school that has been preserved to tell about the past. This contrast followed us into memorial park where groups of pupils are eagerly taking in all the history and wishes for the future that Memorial Park has to offer. Through Alex we even had an interview by a group of pupils who had questionnaires for visitors of the park. We ended our morning in the park by visiting the museum, although this is one of the darkest exhibitions we might have ever experienced, while walking back from the main exhibition room to the main building you are led through a corridor with a beautiful view over the park. For the second part of the day we visited Miyajima island and had a ramen lunch on our way there. The island gave us great views all around, from the Itsukushima Shrine and Torii Gate to the beautiful nature and views back to the mainland. We ended our day at a beautiful cafe overlooking the bay with the Itsukushima Shrine and Torii Gate. It was a day to remember! Thank you for the tour, conversations and experiencing a day in Hiroshima through and with you Alex! Greetings the Visser Family.

What a special day with our guide Alex! We started with a visit to the beautiful Miyajima, where we visited temples, shrines, and enjoyed a forest walk! Later that day we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. An experience that became more meaniful and clear due to the personal story of Alex and his Japanese family! Visiting a local school and hearing about their history gave us a much more intimate and human perspective on what Hiroshima has been through! Highly recommend Alex as a tour guide! Thank you, Alex!

Thank you Alex for the moving and beautiful tour! The first part about the Hiroshima bombing and the disaster it caused, is something every person should see. Afterwards you transformed it nicely into a beautiful island visit by starting with an okonomiyaki lunch with a stunning view. We were positively surprised by what the island visit had to offer! Thanks again! Jeroen & Nele

We just spent a brilliant day with Alex looking at the sights of Miyamjima & Hiroshima. Alex was absolutely fantastic. He personalised the tour to our requests, and our children absolutely loved him. Would definitely recommend Alex.