One Day Group Tour to Hiroshima & Miyajima

After a warm greeting from the guide, we will first take a charter bus or train to Miyajimaguchi Station. Then, follow your guide on a ferry ride to Miyajima Island, which means “Island of Worship” and has been revered as a deity since ancient times. Therefore, residents built a shrine at a distant location where the tide rises and falls to avoid disrupting the island’s sacred ground; this shrine is now known as the Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage Site we are about to visit. When you see the vermilion Itsukushima Shrine Otorii Gate, aka the Grand Torii Gate, standing in the vast ocean from a distance, framed by the lush forest on Mt. Misen and the rippling waves of the Seto Inland Sea, it’s easy to understand why Itsukushima is highly praised as one of Japan’s three most scenic views.

► Please note that the ferry route providing the closest view of the Great Torii may be replaced by another one due to poor weather or high tide. However, don’t worry; you can see it up close from Itsukushima Shrine.

Upon arrival, let’s enjoy a leisurely 30-minute stroll to Itsukushima Shrine along the vibrant Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street, where you’ll be greeted by countless snack stalls and handicraft shop selling wooden “shamoji” (rice paddle), a local symbol of prosperity.

Constructed in the 6th century, Itsukushima Shrine is the only shrine in Japan where the Main Hall, Prayer Hall, Maidono (Dance Hall), and other buildings are all built over the sea, featuring a distinctive red and white architectural style that stands out against the backdrop of green mountains. Upon entering the shrine, you can feel its deep historical heritage and solemn atmosphere. From the T-shaped wooden stage extending to the sea, you can feast on a closer, striking view of the Grand Torii Gate’s corridor columns immersed in the waves of the Seto Inland Sea, where the vermilion color gradually blends into the silky water surface; while during low tide, visitors can walk directly to the torii and take photos with it. Additionally, you may encounter adroable deer wandering in the woods and on the beach around the shrine. They are generally more docile than those in Nara, allowing you to get close for gentle petting.

► While the spring equinox high tide in late March and the autumnal equinox high tide in late September are the best times to admire the view of a “floating” Grand Torii Gate, there are also high-tide and low-tide days each month, with more high-tide days occurring throughout the year. You can check the tide times provided by the Miyajima Tourist Association and plan your trip based on whether you want to capture the “floating” torii or walk up to it.

Since many specialty restaurants and snack bars are on the island, we will not arrange lunch today, so you can freely enjoy Hiroshima’s specialties.

Miyajima is renowned for its large, fresh, and plump oysters. Whether you prefer grilled oysters, steamed oysters, oyster tempura, or oyster rice, each dish lets your taste buds burst with juice and savor the flavors of the sea from the very first bite. If you’re not a seafood lover, try Itsukushima’s special dessert: maple leaf-shaped honey cakes filled with various options like red beans, matcha, chestnuts, cheese, or chocolate.

In the afternoon, we’ll return to Miyajimaguchi Station by ferry and head to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which was once the most prosperous area in Hiroshima but was reduced to ruins by the atomic bombing in 1945. Only the broken walls of the Atomic Bomb Dome persist stubbornly, like a silent witness, conveying the tragic story of that time. The flame of peace in the park has been burning since 1964, symbolizing that it will not extinguish until all nuclear weapons cease to exist. When we enter the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, it feels like we’ve walked into a frozen moment of the bombing: burnt textbooks, watches stopped at 8:15, items left by survivors, and so on. Through real objects and images, the harsh history is intuitively presented to us, making us sigh at the realization that peace is hard-won and hoping that the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be the first and last two.

After finishing all the visits, the guide will take you back to Hiroshima Station, where our tour ends, and you can then return to your hotel on your own or spend the night nearby.

Likewise, we’ll escort you back to Osaka if you book a round-trip tour from Osaka to Hiroshima. If you also want a guided exploration of Osaka, don’t hesitate to contact us for an ‘Osaka Day Tour’ or ‘Osaka-Kyoto Day Tour’.

► How to Enjoy Your Free Night in Hiroshima
If you think that Hiroshima can only become a dilapidated “city of ruins” after the atomic bomb, you are mistaken. Today, Hiroshima is by no means just an ordinary small city. Especially at night, its liveliness rivals Tokyo and Osaka, which may challenge your perception. Our drop-off place of Hiroshima Station is quite bustling; however, take the Hiroshima Electric Railway Line 2 for 10 minutes to Hatchobori Station, and you can head directly to the heart of the city’s nightlife. Beyond the nearby Kamiya-cho neighbourhood, filled with fine dining restaurants, Ebisu-cho features numerous izakayas, ranging from traditional ones serving local dishes like Hiroshima yaki (a savory layered pancake) and seafood to trendy standing izakayas and themed izakayas.