Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island Tour from Hiroshima

Hiroshima, Japan

Explore World Heritage sites in Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day! Miyajima is famous for its Itsukushima Jinja Shrine. Its red torii gate appears to be standing in the sea during high tide. Walk through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to promoting peace around the world.

Miyajima (literally 'shrine island') has been celebrated as a sacred island and one of Japan's three most scenic views. It is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, which, together with its large wooden torii (gate), stands in the ocean during high tide. Deer move around the island freely, and so do monkeys on top of Misen, the island's highest mountain.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was built to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and to promote a peaceful world. It is located in the area around the atomic explosion's epicenter, and houses the Peace Memorial Museum and many other related monuments.

The Peace Memorial Museum graphically displays the atomic bomb's horrible effects on the city and its inhabitants. A visit is naturally depressing. In the museum's east building, Hiroshima's militarist past and the process leading to the dropping of the bomb are documented. Audio guides are available in more than a dozen languages.

The Atomic Bomb Dome is one of the few buildings around the explosion's epicenter that partially survived the blast, and the city's only remaining bomb damaged building.

Between the museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome stands the Memorial Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims. It contains a list of all the people who were killed by the explosion or died due to the bombing's long-term effects such as cancer caused by radiation. The Statue of the A-Bomb Children and the Cenotaph for Korean Victims are some of many more monuments found in the park.

USD $143.00

Review by:   hoverscout,    April 2018
We went to the Atomic Dome which is the last surviving building after WWII. Then we went to the Peace Memorial. The Peace Memorial is an experience unlike any other. At first it seems very clinical and straight forward with exhibits talking about the people who discovered atomic energy, the people who weaponised it, the people who ordered it to be used, how they selected Hiroshima, and even where they were aiming for. Then it tells the personal stories of people in Hiroshima. The victims, the children, families... it is a unique experience and should not be missed._br/_ Then we went to Miyajima island. It is a beautiful island with a beautiful shrine, the Tori Gate, deer, and lots of sponge cakes :

Review by:   Robert W,    April 2018
This was a great 101 tour with the lovely and picturesque island of Miyajima. This is no criticism of the tour but there were so many people on the island and it was almost impossible to really enjoy the sights and scenery without doing most of it on your own. Highly recommend wandering and looking and things and perhaps taking the boat to the Peace Park in town. We wanted to spend so much more time on Miyajima. Anyways, the tour at the Memorial Park was nice and enjoyed the serenity of the area in spite of the incredibly painful history of this location.

Review by:   virtue728,    March 2018
This tour was very informative._br/_ Our guide Sammy, was very knowledgeable and offered authentic perspective of events.

Review by:   Gordon R,    March 2018
It was a very informative and thoroughly enjoyable way to spend our day. Miyajima Island is beautiful. Definitely worth taking this tour!

Review by:   Anthony R,    February 2018
We enjoyed this tour very much. It was raining on the day which added to the feel of the afternoon. Fumiko did such a good job _br/_ in passing on heaps of information to us. We would recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in the Hiroshima bombing. _br/_ Thank you so much for this day.

Review by:   Leandro M T,    February 2018
Our guide Mariko was wonderful. Even if you have more than a day in Hiroshima, this day trip is totally worth doing. She is very knowledgeable, and her explanations deserve a 10 out of 10!

Review by:   David J,    January 2018
The guide on the trip was excellent, Samin was very knowledgeable and moved us to tears with her personal family accounts._br/_ The one thing I would change about the trip is the amount of time dedicated to the memorial park and museum. It was way too short._br/_ The tour could start earlier than 10:30, say around 9:00 to accommodate that.

Review by:   Janice H,    December 2017
This was good but not as good as Viator tours usually are bigger group. The company Viator used was just not that good. The Guide did not use her mic and often hard to hear as group was like 35.

Review by:   Nathan H,    December 2017
Great trip worth the time and effort

Review by:   Greg M,    October 2017
A lovely day with such an informative guide. We learnt so much of the history and saw how proud the people of Hiroshima are of the rebuild and the monuments. Mijajima was such a beautiful experience and such a stunning location.

Review by:   Barbara A,    October 2017
We took the Shinkansen from/to Kyoto and met tour right outside Hiroshima station. Guide was knowledgeable and spoke English well. Would've preferred to spend more time at Hiroshima than Miyajima but we enjoyed both. If you want to spend entire day at Peace Park, don't take this tour.

Review by:   Harrison P,    October 2017
The tour was good. Everything we saw was interesting and well laid out. Unfortunately, the tour leader spoke very poor broken English. For the amount of money we paid for this tour we expected a tour leader who could speak fluent English, but instead we got someone who read from notes all day, consistently got the words wrong and left many people in the group confused. She also used a portable microphone that was so quiet, unless you stood directly in front of her it was hard to hear. This was then further complicated by her constant turning around as she talked, meaning most people would hear 1-2 words before she turned away. Overall we were very disappointed by the tour. Other tours through this company have been great, but this was definitely a low point of our trip.

Review by:   ANTHONY W,    October 2017
It is a really very nice hotel. It's position right on the station is great. The staff very pleasant and helpful._br/_ We booked a club room that was very good. A good selection of Western and Japanese food was on_br/_ offer whilst having a drink, again with good choice Breakfast was included in our rate and again the_br/_ Quality and choice was very good. The room was spacious and kept clean. They also supply Yukatas_br/_ Which is a nice touch and convenient too. _br/_ We were travelling through and stayed two nights. Very pleasant ones. A very good base for travel and_br/_ a comfortable base to return to after a day out sightseeing._br/_ My wife and I would recommend it a very good hotel for tourists or businessmen on the move.

Review by:   Lia S,    October 2017
Moving.

Review by:   Mike Yang Zhang,    October 2017
Very somber but powerful experience. This was a long guided trip, and well worth the memories.

Review by:   MYZ,    October 2017
Very somber but powerful experience. This was a long guided trip, and well worth the memories.

Review by:   linda c,    September 2017
We had a small group 5 which made the tour much quicker as we didn't have to wait for anyone. This gave us more free time to enjoy Miyajima Island which was very interesting. We didn't expect a market on the island. Hiroshima Peace Park was a moving experience and our guide gave us lots of information to understand what we saw. Our guide was excellent.

Review by:   paul M,    September 2017
We were very impressed. The tour was well organised, the visit to the Peace Memorial very moving and meaningful. Our guide, Akiko, simply had all the right qualities for a guide: Knowledge, ability to explain and cause empathy, sense of humour. Bravo.

Review by:   Victoria B,    August 2017
Our tour guide Fumiko gave us a lot of detailed information. I was surprised at how much I actually learned from this tour. I thought I had known a lot already. The museum was very moving. Parts of the museum were under repairs and the traffic was terrible coming from the island but she filled that time with a lot of history and a perspective on how the japanese people felt during and after the war. I highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   Glenn S,    July 2017
A very nice tour considering the sad topic. Tour guide was very informative of the area and kept us on a good time schedule. Highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   Kristin S,    July 2017
This tour was the highlight of our trip. Our guide, Akiko, was wonderful and so knowledgeable about the history of Hiroshima. We did a day trip from Kyoto and took a bullet train in the morning to meet the tour at the Hotel Granvia, which is connected to the Hiroshima train station. We started the tour by taking a ferry to Miyajima, a gorgeous island off the coast of Hiroshima with a beautiful Shinto shrine/temple and wonderful scenery. There was a wedding taking place at the temple on the day of our visit and we were able to watch some of the ceremony, which was very moving. The island is populated by many tame deer, which was amazing to see. There were also many shops with beautiful local goods and local bakeries and eateries. The food was incredible, and Akiko educated us about some of the local cuisine. After Miyojima, we went to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and museum, which was incredibly sobering and sad. Akiko's family was living near Hiroshima at the time of the bombing so she gave us a very personal understanding of how the people of Hiroshima were impacted by the bombing. We had about 2 hours to explore the museum, but could've spent a whole day there. It was a great introduction though. The tour finished and we returned to the train station around 6:00 p.m. to catch a train back to Kyoto. There are many good informal restaurants at Hiroshima station and a nice shopping area in the basement of the train station. While this was a long day, it was well worth it. Wonderful tour.

Review by:   Sarit R,    July 2017
Great tour! Very knowledgable guide

Review by:   Pranay M,    July 2017
Excellent Tour, Amy was a wonderful Guide. Highly recommend it.

Review by:   John C,    June 2017
...if only we had known.....our Japan Rail passes would have covered the cost to get to the Peace Park and the Ferry Ride to Miyajima. You are not given enough time on Miyajima to do hardly anything - and really - other than transportation you are just pretty much dumped there. As far as Hiroshima - again - we could have done this on our own - the guide was nice, she had some history and insight, but nothing special - and then you are dumped into the museum.....not worth the cost - if we had known we would have left very early for Miyajima and gone on our own - then followed up by getting to the Peace Memorial and Museum on our own or the next morning......

Review by:   Ashish M,    June 2017
Very disappointing tour. The guide was not well informed and the price of the tour was too high. The guide did not explain much about Miyajima and very little about Hiroshima. Not worth 100 GBP per person.

Review by:   neale,    May 2017
Probably the highlight of our trip to Japan. Our guide Mitsu was excellent, friendly and as a local of Hiroshima very informative and entertaining. Each place we visited was really memorable firstly Miyajima Island which was stunning. We were given over an hour of free time to explore the island and its many street markets and shops. The short ferry ride adding to the experience. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, cenotaph and Dome building were extraordinary and very moving. The Museum had just re-opened following renovations and was a wonderful display. Right throughout the day Mitsu provided great commentary which really added to the experience. We were returned to the train station with plenty of time to board our pre-arranged train back to Kyoto. Highly recommended tour it is a real must if visiting Japan.

Review by:   crystal_valles,    May 2017
Tour was interesting.

Review by:   parramora,    May 2017
Our guide,Yoshi, was amazing, entertaining and so wonderfully knowledgeable. Miyajima Island was a great way to start off the day, full of great history, delicious food and photo opportunities galore. Hiroshima is a must on any Japan itinerary, a great leveller. I was amazed that there was no tinge of bitterness from our Japanese hosts despite their enormous loss, just a beautiful message of peace. Highly recommended!

Review by:   Nancy W,    May 2017
This tour is an absolute 'must do' if you are going to Japan. The tour guide was informative and her personal anacdotal information was so interesting. The museum was disturbing, as we expected but if you have a 'bucket list' this tour should definitely be on it. The trip to the island was wonderful it was a great opportunity for shopping and eating as well as the sightseeing. Walking amongst the deer couldn't help but put a smile on your face.

Review by:   Yuen Lam H,    April 2017
Trip was great. Our tour guide, Keiko was very informative and very attentive. She shared her personal stories around WWII and was always very peppy in getting our group motivated about learning about Japanese history. Keiko was very attentive because I noticed that within our group, there were several senior folks and the Tour Guide Keiko went out of her way to ensure that not only the able but also the elderly were treated with care. Great trip!

Review by:   jerry k,    April 2017
Miyajima Island is a great place to visit. You get there via a quick ferry ride. There's a shrine but the real treat is just walking around. Plenty of shops and restaurants. You'll have a ball._br/_ The Peace Memorial is a must if you visit Hiroshima. lots to see and reflect on._br/_ Our guide was great.

Review by:   Kate F,    April 2017
The tour guide was lovely however I feel that we could've done this tour our selfs. If your are travelling with a JR pass you can get around quite easily and the ferry to Miyajima is also JR. Hiroshima is quite easy to get around and if you feel like an adventure I would suggest to save your money and visits these places yourself. This way you aren't waiting for other people. Also I feel that considering lunch wasn't included this tour is overalls priced.

Review by:   Kelly C,    April 2017
This was a fantastic tour. The guide Micky was entertaining, helpful, and knowledgeable. Everything was well coordinated. We only wish we could have had more time in both places. We started a little late waiting for people who never showed, but the guide kept us informed. _br/_ We went to Miyajima first. Nice short boat ride. Beautiful and fascinating. I would recommend shortening the tour of the shrine, as it left very little time to explore the town which had great food and shopping. My son skipped it, and I wish I had, too. _br/_ The museum and Peace Memorial Park are well done, moving, and worth seeing. The town of Hiroshima is beautiful and very interesting, outside of the obvious history of the bombing. We took the train out of Kyoto in the morning, and back again in the evening. I strongly recommend at least one if not two overnights in Hiroshima. It has a nice vibe - just over a million people so a nice break from the big cities. It has six rivers and a bay, so everything is on the water. They are known for their eel, oysters, and a dish called ikonomyaki, and all are worth having. Also - the tour ended at 6:00 and the next train out was full. We couldn't get a train until 7:30. Made for a long day.

Review by:   Javier V,    March 2017
This was an excellent tour! It covers all of the major attractions, so it felt a little rushed at times, particularly in the beginning. Still, our tour guide, Mariko, did an excellent job, informing us and entertaining us. The visit to the Peace Memorial Park/Museum was indeed memorable, as it convincingly demonstrated the importance of peace in such a subtle and tasteful manner without engaging in political blame game or relying on melodramatic displays. I thought that was quite effective. The Miyajima visit was probably the highlight of the tour, and the scenery there was definitely breathtaking. Hiroshima, though lovely in many ways, hasn't been developed in a tourism-friendly way as such, it can be difficult to get around on your own--with the attractions scattered around the area without direct public transportation access. So, this tour is a wonderful option.

Review by:   Vivek S,    January 2017
The tour guide Akiko is really good in articulating and explaining fine details. Speaks good English too!

Review by:   JoAnn Q,    December 2016
Hiroko met us at the hotel. Her English was great. The tour was organized, gave us the highlights of Hiroshima. The visit to the Peace Park and seeing the dome was quite moving. We only had a day, so having a guide was very helpful.

Review by:   Aaron B,    December 2016
Great tour! Good balance of guidance and free time.

Review by:   cooper.gem,    November 2016
Excellent tour - Nobu was really interesting and her personal connection with the bombing through her father made for a different take on what happened. Great day. Highly recommended.

Review by:   Caitlin R,    November 2016
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island Tour was absolutely wonderful! I had such a great time on this tour. We covered so much ground in only a day but it never felt rushed. Our guide, Sammy, as so full of knowledge, was so approachable and kind. She was nice enough to share personal stories of relative who experienced the bomb in Hiroshima to give us a true sense of the horror it caused. It really put it all in to perspective and it can’t have been easy for her to share so we greatly appreciated it. Visiting Hiroshima was so surreal as someone who has wanted to go since I was little. It certainly lived up to my expectations! We visited the museum, gave a paper crane to Sadako, and marvelled at the Dome. Miyajima was also beautiful. It was not an Island I knew a great deal about prior to the tour but I was so lovely. All the deer walking around were hilarious as they attempted to steal and eat our bits of paper. Overall it was such an inspiring and fulfilling day that I would certainly recommend to everyone!

Review by:   John M,    September 2016
A great days experience. Unfortunately rain spoilt the day to some degree._br/_ The Miyajima Island visit was wonderful and should not be missed. The lunch on the Island was enjoyable. Peace Memorial was sobering and after visiting the museum you appreciated the devastation that the local people endured.

Review by:   Santa A,    August 2016
The tour company was very efficient and professional. They did an excellent job of accommodating all the people on the tour. The guide was very knowledgeable and spoke English very well. I highly recommend this tour.

Review by:   suzy,    August 2016
The guide was very good and knowledgeable, but the time scale only gave us 1 hour at Hiroshima museum which was not enough time there

Review by:   David M,    June 2016
A very good guide helped overcome the mornings bad weather. She kept going and when the weather improved it was even better. A most enjoyable day.

Review by:   Charles V,    June 2016
Loved this tour. Miyajima is beautiful and Hiroshima peace park is a very moving and touching place.

Review by:   Ryan D,    June 2016
Vey good tour. Our guide was very knowledgable and thorough in her explanations of various sites in Hiroshima.

Review by:   Ray C,    June 2016
Tour was altered to allow for visit by Mr Obama. Not enough time at the Peace Museum or gardens. Rushed. Mijajima Island nice.

Review by:   Lindsey B,    June 2016
Our guide was amazing. He was very informative and went to extra lengths to make sure we had a memorable tour.

Review by:   Duane H,    April 2016
The tour was great and Sammi our guide was informative. We feel it should start an hour earlier so that there is more time to explore and shop on Miyajima Island by ourselves.

Review by:   Sandra S,    April 2016
A fascinating and intensely disturbing place that's risen beautifully from what can only be called ashes. Our guide Mariko was lovely and very knowledgeable, and clearly very proud of her town. The inclusion of the Island was nice.

Review by:   Wayne S,    April 2016
Very good tour. Leader was very knowledgeable. Unfortunate that a group of 6 was 1/2 late to start