Places You'll See
Highlights
- Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and its most relevant monuments such as the Atomic Bomb Dome, Children’s Peace Monument, and the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb
- Tour the Peace Memorial Museum and reflect upon the realities of nuclear warfare
- Explore historical sites in the city of Hiroshima such as the Shukkei-en Garden and Hiroshima Castle
- Travel to the island of Miyajima, one of Japan’s top three scenic spots, and admire its natural beauty
- Tour the Senjokaku Pavilion, Itsukushima Shrine, and Daisho-in temple to gain a better understanding of Japanese Buddhism and Shintoism
- Experience the Miyajima Ropeway and take in the stunning sights from inside the cable car
- Admire the iconic “floating” O-torii gate from afar and up-close as the tide changes
Description
Explore all of Hiroshima’s top highlighted locations in just two days! Learn about the history of Hiroshima before and after the atomic bombing by visiting museums, monuments, and historic sites. Appreciate also the beauty of the prefecture and explore nature by spending a day in the breathtaking island of Miyajima, home to wild deer, lush forests, and the iconic “floating” Itsukushima Shrine. Enjoy the very best which Hiroshima has to offer!
*ESTIMATED BUDGET – Please note that the estimated budget advertised on this page is only for the cost of the tours and what they include. Some tours may include transportation between tour destinations via tour buses. However some tours do not include transportation between tour destinations, and you will need to book your own transportation in such cases. Please refer to each tour listed on this page for further information on what is not included.
Day 1 HIROSHIMA
How to Start Off Your Day
Your first task will of course be arriving in Hiroshima, which you can either do the night before the start of the itinerary or in the morning of day one. For information on how to get to the city from places such as Tokyo and Osaka, you can take a look through our "How to Get to Hiroshima" webpage.
Once you're all settled in, you will head out to visit all of the most important and popular locations in the Hiroshima city centre. Starting from Hiroshima Station, your guide will take you on a walking tour around the city, explaining the history of Hiroshima before and after the atomic bombing. By the time the tour is over, guests will have a solid understanding of why Hiroshima is known as the "city of peace."
Half-Day Hiroshima Highlights Tour / All Year Round
If you are short of time but still want to make sure you visit all the most important places within the city of Hiroshima, then look no further than our Half-Day Hiroshima Highlights tour. Offered at two different time slots, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, this tour will take guests on foot through Hiroshima's must-see sites. You will be able to visit Shukkei-en garden, Hiroshima Castle, the Atomic Bomb Dome, several monuments in Peace Memorial Park, and the Peace Memorial Museum, all in around 4 hours. With this tour, guests can visit Hiroshima for just half a day while still getting a detailed and comprehensive experience. It also allows for more flexible travel times and leaves the rest of the day open for other fun activities!
How to End Your Day
As this is a half-day tour, you will have plenty of time to explore the city once the tour is over. We recommend guests check out Hondori Shopping Street, a bustling shopping area filled with cafes, restaurants, local and international stores, gaming arcades, and more. On the west side, this street faces Peace Memorial Park and on the east side it faces the "entertainment district" Nagarekawa. In Nagarekawa is where you can find Hiroshima's nightlife, with plenty of bars and nightclubs open past midnight. If you're looking for a good place to have dinner, we recommend trying out the local specialty, Okonomiyaki. This "savory pancake" can be best enjoyed at Okonomimura, a building full of restaurants which exclusively serve this dish.
Recommended Accommodation
There are plenty of great hotel options which can be found around Hiroshima, and where you end up choosing to stay largely depends on how you wish to spend your day when not taking part in tours. For guests who might not have the energy or time to explore the streets of Hiroshima, the best option would undoubtedly be to stay at one of the many hotels near Hiroshima Station. As this is the starting point for most tours, choosing one of these will greatly minimize the amount of traveling you will have to do. If you're more interested in walking around the city, eating at local restaurants, shopping, and visiting top tourist spots, we recommend staying in the Central / Hatchobori Station area. Here, you will be closest to the shops and restaurants, and hotel prices can be cheaper than those at the station.
Day 2 MIYAJIMA
How to Start Off Your Day
On your second day, you will head to the stunning island of Miyajima where you will enjoy a full day of exploring this incredibly popular destination. Not only will you be able to visit multiple temples and shrines, but also experience a ropeway ride to the top of Mount Misen, the highest point on the island. Miyajima's tranquil atmosphere, natural beauty, and remarkable scenic sights will make for the experience of a lifetime.
If you are planning to leave Hiroshima immediately after this tour, then it might be best to check-out of your hotel before getting to the meet-up spot. Many hotels will hold your luggage for the day even after you've checked out, and in the case that they won't, you can always make use of the coin lockers at the station.
1-Day Miyajima Tour: One of Japan’s Most Scenic Spots / All Year Round
Located only a short ferry ride away from the mainland, Itsukushima, popularly known as Miyajima, is a breathtaking island which has long been regarded as one of the three most scenic spots of Japan. This is a must-see destination for those visiting Hiroshima for the first time and is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience for those who decided to spend a day on the island. While Miyajima is best known for its "floating" O-torii gate and shrine, it is also home to many other breathtaking sites. This 1-day tour will allow guests to thoroughly explore the island and all that it has to offer. Apart from visiting Itsukushima Shrine, your guide will also take you to places such as the Daisho-in temple, a prestigious Buddhist temple located by the foot of the mountain, and Senjokaku Pavilion, a building which provides a stunning view of the island. Additionally, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a Ropeway ride to the top of Mt. Misen, where they will find themselves captivated by the extraordinary view of the Seto Inland Sea.
You can find out more information about this tour by clicking on "View Details" above. Alternatively, you can also click "Book Now" if you are ready to enjoy one of Japan's most mesmerizing sites!
How to End Your Day
A full-day of exploring Miyajima can be very rewarding but also exhausting. Thus, we recommend ending the day with dinner at a local restaurant followed by plenty of rest. You can choose to stay overnight at your hotel in Hiroshima or head out on the same day in one of the Shinkansen trains which depart in the evening. If you still have some energy left in you and would like to continue exploring the city, you can enjoy a relaxing stroll around Peace Memorial Park and along the Motoyasu River to take in the sight of the Atomic Bomb Dome illuminated at night.
Recommended Accommodation
If you choose to spend another night in Hiroshima before leaving the following morning, we of course recommend staying at the same hotel from day one. However, there is also the option to talk to your guide so that you may end the tour on the island and be able to stay at one of Miyajima's hotels. This would allow you to enjoy Miyajima once most of the tourists are gone and it is the least crowded. You would also have the opportunity to view the O-torii gate being illuminated once the sun has gone down. The main drawback of this option is getting back to Hiroshima Station early in the morning of the next day to head to your next destination. Still, if this is something that might interest you, consider taking a look at our recommended accommodations in the Miyajima area.
