Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour
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.
Options
Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour
What's included in Full Day Hiroshima and Miyajima Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Shukkeien
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.
Hiroshima Castle
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.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
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.
Inclusions
- English speaking guide
- Entry fees at all tour locations
- Transportation to/from Miyajima (Ferry and Train)
- Accommodation
- Lunch
- Transportation to meet-up point
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- The meetup point is under the Tourist Information sign outside of the Shinkansen gates. Be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign.
