Hiroshima & Miyajima 1-Day Tour from Hiroshima

A sombre experience followed by serene natural beauty and picturesque sites, this guided tour of Hiroshima and Miyajima will leave you captivated.

Hiroshima, the name that continues to haunt history with the tragic event of 6 August 1945, when the town fell victim to the world’s first nuclear attack. The town has risen from its sombre past yet even today, can be seen engulfed in poignant undertones. From the train station, you will drive past the Hiroshima Jo Castle, built on a plain in the centre of city instead on a hilltop. The castle dates back to 1589 but was reconstructed after being destroyed during the bombing.

Your first stop in Hiroshima will be the Peace Memorial Park. There will be more time for reflection when you stroll around the Peace Memorial Park, a tribute to those who died in the atomic bomb. You will see the paper crane laced Children’s Peace Memorial, dedicated to the children who sacrificed their bright future in the service of their country. Stand in front of the statue of Sasaki Sadako, a young girl who folded over 1000 origami cranes to grant her wish of surviving before succumbing to radiation poisoning in 1955. There are other several monuments and touching memorials dedicated to the victims including the Flame of Peace, which will only go out when there are no more nuclear weapons.

You will then visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, more commonly known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, which survived the bomb though close to the epicenter. Today it stands as a symbol of the hope for lasting peace and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enter the memorial museum and learn more about the impact of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The experience is numbing and will leave you speechless.

After the museum visit, it will be time for a Hiroshima-styled lunch (called Okonomi-yaki), if you upgrade, before heading to your next destination, the island of Miyajima.

To reach Miyajima, you will board a ferry from Hiroshima and sail towards the island where you will be welcomed by wild deer running helter-skelter around the place. Miyajima is most famous for the view of the giant torii gate, which at high time seems as if its floating in the water, and during low tides you can walk up to gate – both offering some fabulous (and mandatory) photo ops.

Next, head to the Itsukushima Shrine and mosey over the wooden hallways also built over water. 

After all that sightseeing, you will have free time to shop and taste oysters in Miyajima markets or you can choose to visit the Daisho in Temple, located at the base of Mount Misen. At the end of the tour, you will take the ferry back to Miyajima guchi from Miyajima, then to Hiroshima by bus.

Know your guide: Japan Panoramic Tours call their activities ‘peace of mind’ experiences and take you to places that are serene and spiritual. They offer expert English speaking guides in Japan and are highly rated for their quality of service. These guys have been awarded with TripAdvisor’s ‘Certificate of Excellence for two consecutive years.