Book a fully private tour with a knowledgeable English-speaking guide to explore the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the sights on nearby Miyajima Island.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park © kmf164
The Tour Itinerary
Your guide will meet you at the Hiroshima shinkansen (bullet train) station, a hotel in Hiroshima or other requested place in Hiroshima (including the cruise ship port) and escort you to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. You will take your time exploring the Peace Park, where your guide can give you insights into what you are seeing and a chance to hear the story from a Japanese perspective.
You’ll then travel to Miyajima Island, first viewing the island and the floating shrine gate from the ferry. Once on the island, you’ll take a leisurely stroll along the seaside through to reach the famous Itsukushima-jinja Shrine (you’ll probably spot some of the island’s sacred deer along the way). You will then take a walk through a forest of maple trees and have a look at a historical ryokan (traditional Japanese inn). You’ll eat lunch in a traditional restaurant on the island.
After lunch, you can take a funicular to the hilltop to sample views over the Inland Sea or enjoy a walk through a neighborhood of old houses and souvenir stores, sampling some local sweets. For those staying the night on Miyajima, our guide will drop you at your accommodations at 4pm. Otherwise, our guide will escort you back to either the Hiroshima shinkansen station or your hotel in Hiroshima.
Note that we also offer Hiroshima-only and Miyajima-only tours. These tours are 6 hours long and cost ¥60,000. For those with limited time, we also offer a 4-hour tour of the Peace Memorial Park for ¥40,000.
Your Own Private Tour Guide
Don’t forget this is a private walking tour, just for you and your friends and family. There will be no one else on the tour with you, so you have the guide to yourself. We have some of Japan’s best English-speaking guides, helping you maximize your time and enjoyment of the city and also get a deeper understanding of the history and significance of each place you visit. The tour price is for the whole group, not per person!
- Time: 8 hours, 6 hours or 4 hours
- Cost:
- Hiroshima and Miyajima (8 hours): ¥75,000
- Hiroshima-only (6 hours): ¥60,000
- Miyajima-only (6 hours): ¥60,000
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park-only (4 hours): ¥40,000
- These rates are for 1 to 6 people per private group. The cost is NOT per person; these rates are for the entire group
- Highlights: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima Island, Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, Daisho-in Temple
- Ideal starting time: 9am
The “floating torii” at Miyajima Island © maitreyoda
How To Book A Hiroshima/Miyajima Private Walking Tour
Please send us an inquiry using the form below. We will then quickly respond to you by email confirming availability and any other requirements you may have. You can pay either in advance online using your credit card, or you can pay at the conclusion of the tour in cash. Japanese Yen, US Dollars or Euros are acceptable for cash payments.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why Hire A Private Guide?
You don’t need a guide to enjoy Hiroshima/Miyajima, but having a guide will add a lot of depth to your understanding of the city. A guide will also free you from having to think about the logistics of getting around and making the most efficient use of your time. A guide can also help you enjoy local restaurants without any communication difficulties.
Who Runs These Tours?
My company Chris Rowthorn Tours provides these tours. We have been running tours in Japan for 10 years. I have spent years finding and training the best guides in all of Japan: licensed, professional bilingual guides who love Hiroshima as much as I do. But, don’t take my word for it, have a look at reviews of ChrisRowthorn.com on TripAdvisor.
Is The Price Per Person?
No! This is the PER GROUP price, i.e., it’s the price for a private group of 1 to 6 people. If there is one person booking the 6-hour tour, the price is ¥60,000 total. If there are six of you, the price is still ¥60,000 (making it much cheaper per person). The tour group is private. That means there is only you and your family or you and your friends on the tour and no one else. Please note that we do NOT put different individuals or groups together, even upon request.
Do I Get A Discount If We Are Less Than 6 People?
The price is for a private group for 1 to 6 people. There are no discounts if there are less than the maximum number of people.
How Do I Pay For My Private Hiroshima Walking Tour?
Payment is in cash at the conclusion of the tour or by credit card in advance of the tour (we can set up credit card billing). If you choose to pay in cash, please note that we accept yen cash or the equivalent amount in US/Euro cash.
Can I Cancel A Tour After Booking It?
You can cancel a tour with no penalty up to 48 hours before the scheduled start of the tour. If you cancel between 24 and 48 hours of the scheduled start, we charge you 50% of the price of the tour. Cancellations made fewer than 24 hours from the scheduled start of the tour incur a full 100% charge.
What’s Not Included In The Tour Price?
The tour fee covers the price of the guide. Transport to and from the tour and during the tours, drinks and snacks along the way, and temple/garden/entrance fees are not included in this price (these costs are usually minimal). Please note that for 8-hour and 6-hour tours, the guide will join you for lunch and we ask that you cover the cost of the guide’s lunch and their transport during the tour (usually a minimal expense).
The cost of lunch and transportation during the tour is not included. Approximate costs are as follows: taxi and public transportation — approximately ¥1,800 per person; funicular ride on Miyajima — ¥2,000 per person for a round trip; lunch — ¥1,500 to ¥3,150 per person. We also ask that you cover the guide’s expenses during the tour.
How Do We Meet With Our Guide?
Your guide will meet you at the shinkansen station in Hiroshima. If you are already staying in Hiroshima, your guide can meet you at your lodgings.
Will My Guide Speak Fluent English?
My guides all speak high-level international-standard English and most have studied abroad. They have all passed the Japan National Guiding License, which includes a very strict English language section.
Do We Stop To Eat?
On 8-hour and 6-hour tours, you will most likely stop for lunch en route. You might also stop for a drink at a teahouse or coffee shop en route. Please remember that these are fully private tours – the choice is up to you!
Where Can I Rest Along The Way?
Please do not feel that you have to walk at a certain pace for the entire tour. Or, for that matter, that you have to walk the complete distance or even finish the tour. Because these are fully private tours, you can rest as often as you wish: on park benches, in teahouses, at temple gardens, in restaurants and so on. And, if you tire of walking, you can always jump in a taxi.
Is It Easy To Find A Restroom?
Restrooms are very easy to find in Japan. Almost all attractions like temples have them, as do parks and restaurants.
How Do We Get Home At The End Of Our Tour?
At the conclusion of the tour, your guide can drop you back at the Hiroshima shinkansen station, or at your lodgings in Hiroshima or Miyajima. Please keep in mind that if you choose to have your guide accompany you to your lodgings, this will be on the clock, so that you will have to leave some of the sights a little early to make it back before the end of the tour.
Where Are These Places Located?
See these places on our Hiroshima Google map:- Open the Hiroshima map
- You will see the list of places on the left hand side. (Click the 3-line icon in the top left corner if not). Scroll down or use the map search (the magnifying glass icon) to find the place you want.
- Click the name of the place in the list. Its location pin will be highlighted on the map.
- Map pins are color coded - BLUE: Hotels | VIOLET: Ryokan | PINK: Places to Eat | YELLOW: Things to See and Do
- If you're using the map on your phone, open the map and then search for the name of the place. The map will then zoom in on its location.
Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel Guide:
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel Guide Overview
- Things To Do In Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Hiroshima and Miyajima Walking Tour
- Best Places To Eat In Hiroshima And Miyajima
- Hiroshima And Miyajima Itineraries
- Hiroshima And Miyajima Cherry Blossoms
- Hiroshima And Miyajima Fall Foliage
- Hiroshima And Miyajima Districts
- Best Ryokan In Hiroshima And Miyajima
- Best Hotels In Hiroshima And Miyajima
- How To Get To Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Getting Around Hiroshima and Miyajima
- When To Go To Hiroshima and Miyajima
Other Japan Travel Guides:
Kyoto Vacation Checklist
- For all the essentials in a brief overview, see my First Time In Kyoto guide
- Check Kyoto accommodation availability on Booking.com and Agoda.com - often you can book with no upfront payment and free cancellation
- You can buy shinkansen (bullet train) tickets online from Klook - popular routes include Tokyo to Kyoto, Kyoto to Osaka and Kyoto to Tokyo
- Need tips on where to stay? See my one page guide Where To Stay In Kyoto
- See my comprehensive Packing List For Japan
- You can buy an eSim to activate in Japan or buy a data-only SIM card online for collection when you arrive at Tokyo's Narita or Haneda Airports or Kansai International Airport. You can also rent an unlimited data pocket wifi router
- Compare Japan flight prices and timings to find the best deals
- If you're making frequent train journeys during your visit, you might save money with Japan Rail Pass – see if it's worth it for you
- A prepaid Welcome Suica card makes travelling around Kyoto easy – here's how
- World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world
- Do you want help planning your trip? Chris Rowthorn and his team of Japan experts at Japan Travel Consulting can help
