Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour
Description
Hiroshima is a beautiful prefecture with many charming and meaningful locations. So many in fact, that it can be difficult to plan a trip when time is tight. This tour has been specially designed so that guests can visit the most relevant and highlighted places in Hiroshima within just one day. In the Hiroshima City Center, we will make stops at the Shukkei-en gardben, Hiroshima Castle Ruins, and Peace Memorial Park and Museum so that you may experience different aspects of the city. You will then have the unique experience of traveling to Miyajima, an island located not too far from the mainland, on the World Heritage Sea Route ferry Miyajima is a breathtaking island which has long been regarded as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. While the island itself is fairly small, it is brimming with otherworldly scenic spots, and a relaxing atmosphere which is nearly second to none.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour will begin at Hiroshima Station at 9:00 AM. Your guide will meet you by the Shinkansen Gates under the Tourist Information sign. Your guide will lead you out of Hiroshima Station and provide some brief information about the city as you make your way to the first destination of the day, Shukkei-en Garden. Within the garden, you will take a leisurely stroll around the main pond, admiring the tea houses, bridges, and hills, while stopping at the best photo spots. Your guide will also give a thorough explanation of Japanese gardens and their main design principles. As you walk, you will learn about the construction of Shukkei-en during the Edo period, its concept as a “miniaturized landscape,” and its different restorations in the past 400 years.
After the garden, we will walk to our next location, the Hiroshima Castle Ruins. Your guide will take you to the main locations within the ruins and explain their history, purpose, and significance. These locations include the Castle Tower, Ninomaru enclosure, and Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine. By using Hiroshima Castle as case study, you will gain a better understanding of Japanese history and the development of castle towns. As you walk through the ruins, your guide will help you picture what life would have been like during the Edo Period in a flourishing city of Japan. Our next stop will be the Atomic Bomb Dome located within the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. This building was inaugurated in 1915, with the purpose of exhibiting and selling products from Hiroshima Prefecture and it was the only structure left standing near the explosion’s hypocenter. As you walk to this next location, your guide will provide historical context about World War II and the events leading up to the bombing.
Our last stop before traveling to Miyajima will be the Peace Memorial Museum. Within, you will be able to observe the personal belongings left behind by the victims of the atomic bombing. The exhibits will walk you through the events of August 6th, the many hardships and trauma that followed in the years after, and the ultimate reconstruction of the city. Your tour guide will offer some context before entering the different exhibition rooms, but for the most part, this will serve as an opportunity to quietly learn about and reflect on this historical event.
Next, your guide will take you to the pier located near the museum where you will board the ferry to Miyajima. This ferry ride is about 45 minutes long and your guide will indicate relevant spots along the way. After arriving at the Miyajima pier, we will walk to the first destination, Omotesando Shopping Street. Lined with multiple shops and restaurants, this street is a perfect place to grab lunch, eat tasty snacks, or purchase souvenirs. Here, you will enjoy around two hours of free time before we begin the guided tour in Miyajima. This might also be a good time to get some good pictures of the many deer around the island or take a short stroll along the seaside!
Our next stop will be the Senjokaku Pavilion. This pavilion is actually a shrine whose construction was never completed and still remains unfinished to this day. This shrine is unique in its spaciousness and lack of proper entrances or exits, unintentionally creating a building in which beautiful views are accessible from all sides. Your tour guide will provide an explanation of the history and different elements found within the shrine. You will also have the opportunity to relax and take in the beautiful scenery of the island.
Next, you will make your way to Itsukushima Shrine. Your guide will provide insights about Shintoism (Japan’s indigenous religion) and the history of the shrine. As you make your way through the temple, observe the different worship halls, the unique architecture of the “floating shrine,” and the iconic O-torii gate located in the Seto Inland Sea. Walk to the Daisho-in temple, a prestigious Shingon Buddhist temple located not too far from Itsukushima Shrine. Throughout the temple grounds you will be able to observe a myriad of Buddhist figures, with different statues greeting you anywhere you go. Multiple halls are also located throughout the temple grounds, but none is as stunning and breathtaking as the Daishi Hall, with its 88 statues representing the Shikoku Pilgrimage of 88 temples. After finishing the guided tour at the Daisho-in temple we will begin making our way back to Hiroshima
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Tour Availability Disclaimer: All listed events, activities, and experiences are subject to availability. Please note that while certain tour options may appear bookable through our platforms, this does not guarantee that every experience can be carried out as scheduled in the tour itinerary. Many activities require direct confirmation with our partner venues, and availability may vary based on the date and other factors. Should any part of your ordered itinerary require adjustment or deviation from the original schedule, or if a specific experience is unavailable, we will contact you promptly to discuss suitable alternatives or amendments.
Reviews(5)
Lots of walking, but an awesome tour. A great mix of activities. Our guide Isabella was friendly and knowledgeable
Our tour guide Isabella Melendez was amazing! She was super energetic and knowledgeable about Hiroshima and Miyajima. She made the tour fun and informative, sharing interesting stories and facts about each place. Isabella's passion for the area was contagious, and she went out of her way to make sure we had a great experience. If you're visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima, I highly recommend booking a tour with her. You'll have an unforgettable time!
Isabelle was a first class tour guide. Knowledgeable and friendly she provided information and insights into Hiroshima. We appreciated the empathetic manner with which she introduced us to the memorial museum, cenotaph and peace gardens. The trip to Miyajima was fabulous. We loved the naughty wild deer and the view of the floating Tori gate was great. We only had one full day in Hiroshima and we were so glad we booked the Snow Monkeys tour as we felt we really got to see and experience the city. Thank you Isabelle!
Loved the tour! Isabella is a great tour guide! Friendly, very accommodating, very pleasant! Well planned tour with very good amount of detail and everything went according to plan, would certainly recommend!
Dear Nahla, Thank you for the generous review! Isabella is indeed a fantastic guide, and it's great to know you loved the tour. We appreciate your strong recommendation and hope to welcome you back for more exciting adventures in the future! Snow Monkey Resorts
I went for a solo trip with the guide, Isabella, and she was amazing at showing the best highlights of Hiroshima and Miyajima all in one day. I particularly enjoyed the history of Hiroshima city. I didn’t expect much of Miyajima, however I now realise it’s definitely a must see place for everyone visiting the area. All the sights in Hiroshima were in a comfortable walking distance and the stories along the way were very entertaining. Thereafter, taking a boat tour on the Ota river to get to the Miyajima island was a beautiful and relaxing experience. I had some delicious oysters and okonomiyaki on the island before resuming the tour to see the shrines, temples, the O-torii and of course the local deers. Isabella is a positive, organized, entertaining and knowledgeable guide. She also took some great pictures of me for my memory of this beautiful trip.
Dear Alseit, Wow, thank you for your detailed review! We take pride in delivering the best tour experience possible, and we're glad we hit the mark for you. Miyajima is indeed a must-see place, and it's great that you could eat some delicious oysters too! Isabella is a fantastic guide, and we're glad her passion and knowledge of the tour subject enhanced your experience. We can't wait to welcome you back! Snow Monkey Resorts
