15 Guided Tours in Western Japan Worth the Shinkansen Fare

Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide - Peace Memorial Park and Museum: allow 90 minutes

1.Hiroshima / Miyajima Full-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $202Our pick

Review of Hiroshima and Miyajima’s private 8-hour tour, covering the Peace Park, Itsukushima Shrine, local transport, guides, costs, and practical tips.

“Very moving. A fantastic tour guide who made sure we were a head of the crowds. She obtained advanced tickets to the shrine and the temple. Lunch was at a local restaurant without tourist. Mari was a 10 on a scale of 5. As a local she knew the history of Hiroshima inside and out. Her English was impeccable. Just a fantastic day. Highly recommend her.”

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Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide - Peace Memorial Park and the museum

2.Hiroshima City 4hr Private Walking Tour with Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $122

Explore Hiroshima with a private guide, from the Peace Museum and A Bomb Dome to Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden.

“Sei (our Guide) met us at the Cruise Port and took us on public transport to the Hiroshima Peace Park. He helped us with buying tickets for the tram. Sei explained really well about each of the monuments and also about living in Japan. We were able to stop when we needed to in the intense heat. He even stood in the queue in the sun to get the tickets for the museum while we rested in the shade. Sei was extremely passionate about Hiroshima and friendly. He took us back to the ship on the tram. We could not have asked for more. We would thoroughly recommend a tour…”

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Hiroshima 2hr Peace Cycling Tour with Local Guide - Meeting at the Rest House at 11:00 or 15:00

3.Hiroshima 2hr Peace Cycling Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $59

Cycle Hiroshima’s Peace Park with a local guide, hear personal family stories, see the A-Bomb Dome, and explore the rebuilt city by e-bike.

“A lovely guide however she was not someone who had family experience in Hiroshima. Cycling is a good way to travel around.”

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Hiroshima: Peace Cycling Tour with Local Guide - Starting at the Rest House in Peace Memorial Park

4.Hiroshima: Peace Cycling Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 2 - 3 hours · from $52

Cycle Hiroshima with a local English-speaking guide, visiting Peace Park, A-bomb sites, surviving streetcars, and lesser-known neighborhoods for $52.

“Kana our beautiful guide was passionate, informative and fun! The electric bikes were great. Without giving it away, the inspiration for hope and for the people of Hiroshima was amazing.”

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Hiroshima & Miyajima: Full-Day Private Tour & Licensed Guide - Meeting your guide and shaping the route

5.Hiroshima & Miyajima: Full-Day Private Tour & Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 8 hours · from $196

Explore Hiroshima and Miyajima with a private licensed guide, from the Peace Memorial Park and museum to Itsukushima Shrine and its floating torii.

“Sei was a wonderful guide. Very knowledgeable and certainly knows his way around Hiroshima/Miyajima. We learnt so much about Hiroshima and would recommend Sei as a guide when you're in Hiroshima.”

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Hiroshima Local guided Hiking Tour&Open-air Tea Ceremony - Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine and the first cultural stop

6.Hiroshima Local guided Hiking Tour&Open-air Tea Ceremony

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $109

Hike Hiroshima’s Futaba Mountains, visit quiet shrines, practice forest bathing, and enjoy an open-air tea ceremony with city and Miyajima views.

“This is a unique way to experience a Japanese tea ceremony that my dad and I won’t forget anytime soon. Our guide Naomi was very welcoming and made us feel right at home. Definitely a highlight of our trip.”

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Hiroshima: Food and Culture Guided Walking Tour with Dinner - Meeting at Don Quijote Hiroshima Hatchobori

7.Hiroshima: Food and Culture Guided Walking Tour with Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 3 hours · from $94

Taste Hiroshima at three local tachinomi restaurants, with ten or more dishes, three drinks, and an English-speaking guide.

“We went to some true backstreet places we would never have found on our own. Ken was open and friendly. I will warn you. Don’t ask him about baseball!! Food was plentifully and very tasty.”

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Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide - Meeting at Miyajimaguchi or from your Hiroshima hotel

8.Miyajima Half-day Private Tour with Government Licensed Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $122

Review of Miyajima’s flexible four-hour private tour, covering Itsukushima Shrine, Daishoin Temple, transport costs, guides, and value.

“The tour can be tailored to what you want to see, and I loved it. I chose to see the Itsukushima shrine and the Daisho-in temple and both sights were stunningly beautiful! My guide was Noriko-san, and she did an amazing job. She was very knowledgeable, well prepared, and the communication and preparation process for the tour were flawless. I can certainly recommend this experience to anyone!”

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Hiroshima/Guided Virtual Tour of Peace Park/PEACE PARK TOUR VR - The Peace Clock Tower and the Atomic Bomb Dome

9.Hiroshima/Guided Virtual Tour of Peace Park/PEACE PARK TOUR VR

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · from $33Best value

Walk Hiroshima Peace Park with an English-speaking guide and VR scenes of prewar Hiroshima, the bombing, and the city’s recovery.

“It’s quite a short tour with only a few videos (which are not as high quality as other VR games/videos I have seen in the past) so I’m not convinced that it represents good value for money. We had already visited the museum the previous day Read more”

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Hiroshima/Miyajima Private Custom Tour with Local Guide - Starting at Hiroshima Station

10.Hiroshima/Miyajima Private Custom Tour with Local Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 - 7 hours · from $55

See Hiroshima’s Peace Park and Miyajima with a private English-speaking guide, using local trains and ferries for a thoughtful, flexible day out.

“Masahiko-san is a true local, with great patience and passion. He takes the time to answer every question and is well-prepared. We highly recommend this tour to everyone!”

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