1-Day Tour: Hiroshima Hidden Gems & Highlights

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ID: GYG883526-1388848
Category:
Country: Japan

Duration: 08:30 hours


Description

Explore Hiroshima on a guided tour with entry to the Peace Memorial Museum. Visit the Mitaki-dera Temple, the Hiroshima Castle Ruins, and the Shukkei-en Garden.
Embark on a guided tour of Hiroshima and visit the city's most important landmarks. Learn about the city's history and the events of World War II as you visit the Hiroshima Castle Ruins, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Peace Memorial Museum.

Meet your guide at Hiroshima Station and head to the bus stop to depart for Mitaki-dera. Listen to your guide as they provide some brief information about the city and the temple as you make your way to your first destination.

Once you arrive at Mitaki-dera, your guide will lead you on a walk around the temple grounds.

Learn about the temple's history and the different Buddhist statues and structures within. Then, make your way back on a bus to Hiroshima’s city center. Your guide will direct you to get off at a stop near Hondori Shopping Street, where you will have free time to grab lunch and explore the goods this city has to offer.

After lunch, reconvene at a designated meeting spot and begin making your way to the next location, Shukkei-en Garden. 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. After finishing the tour of the garden, walk to 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.

Next, visit the Atomic Bomb Dome located within the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 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.

Stop at the Children’s Peace Monument and learn about the story of Sadako Sasaki and the other children who perished as a result of the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima.

Have the opportunity to make an offering of an orizuru (paper crane) at the monument. Your guide will teach you how to fold a paper crane while explaining the meaning and symbolism of this origami design.

Next, visit the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb, in which lies a registry of the names of all of those who perished as a consequence of the bombing. By standing in front of this monument, you can observe the “Flame of Peace” and the Atomic Bomb Dome in perfect alignment.

Choose to approach the cenotaph and offer a prayer for the victims of the bombing, or to reflect on the impact of such a tragic event. Your last stop of the tour will be the Peace Memorial Museum. Within, observe the personal belongings left behind by the victims of the atomic bombing.

From here, there will be an option to finalize the tour in front of the museum or at Hiroshima Station. If you wish to return to Hiroshima Station, your guide will take you there via a Hiroshima public transit bus. Feel free to ask the guide for dinner recommendations or instructions back to your hotel.

Highlights

  • Visit the Mitaki-dera Temple, the Hiroshima Castle Ruins, and the Shukkei-en
  • Learn about the history of the city and the temple from your guide
  • Explore the Hondori Shopping Street and enjoy some free time for lunch
  • Take a moment to reflect at the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bomb
  • Learn about the events of August 6th, 1945 at the Peace Memorial Museum

Guiding languages

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Wear comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing
Bring water and sunscreen for protection
Be prepared for a moderate amount of walking
The meetup point is under the Tourist Information sign outside of the Shinkansen gates. If you are arriving via Shinkansen, the sign will be located directly to your left as you exit the gates. If you are arriving via a JR line, please look for signs directing you towards the Shinkansen gates. For those coming from outside the station via bus, follow the Underground Passage and signs directing you to Hiroshima Station. Once you have made it to Hiroshima Station, follow the signs directing you to the Shinkansen gates. For those coming from outside the station via Streetcar, Hiroshima Station will be right next to you. Follow the signs directing you to the Shinkansen gates. I you wish to arrive via taxi, please ask the driver to drop you off at the Shinkansen Entrance (also known as North Entrance). After arriving, please look for signs directing you to the Shinkansen gates. When you arrive, be sure to look for the guide holding a SNOW MONKEY RESORTS tour sign.

When should I book?

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.


Cancellations

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.