Hiroshima and Miyajima Full-Day Tour from Kyoto by Bullet Train
Description
Embark on an unforgettable journey through Hiroshima’s rich history and Miyajima’s breathtaking beauty. Take a scenic ferry ride to Miyajima Island, home to the stunning Itsukushima Shrine and its famous floating torii gate. Stroll through charming streets, savor local delicacies, and encounter the island’s friendly deer. Then visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where you’ll reflect on the past at the Atomic Bomb Dome and other significant monuments. With seamless transportation and expert guidance, this tour offers an immersive experience of Japan’s culture and heritage.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your journey begins at Kyoto Station (If option selected), where you will board the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima. As you travel at high speed through Japan’s picturesque countryside, take in the scenic landscapes along the way. The train ticket is included, ensuring a smooth and comfortable ride to your destination.
Then, you’ll board a comfortable bus and travel to the ferry terminal. Along the way, take in the coastal scenery, as you prepare for the next part of your adventure.
Step onto the ferry to Miyajima Island, a breathtaking ride across the Seto Inland Sea. As you approach the island, catch your first glimpse of the iconic floating torii gate, one of Japan’s most famous landmarks. Once on Miyajima Island, you’ll visit the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its stunning architecture and unique setting on the water. Take time to wander through charming streets lined with traditional shops and restaurants, offering local delicacies such as Miyajima’s famous oysters and momiji manju (sweet maple leaf-shaped cakes). Don’t forget to interact with the friendly deer, who roam freely and add to the island’s magical atmosphere Then take the ferry back to Hiroshima to continue on the next destination
Upon your arrival in Hiroshima, your local guide will be waiting to welcome you and begin your journey toward the Peace Memorial Park. Get ready to explore the rich history and deep cultural significance of Hiroshima and Miyajima.
Then, discover Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a place of deep historical importance. Walk through this solemn site and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that stands as a reminder of the past. Pay tribute at the Peace Memorial and other significant monuments, reflecting on Hiroshima’s resilience and its commitment to world peace. Once the visit is over, take the bus back to Hiroshima Station.
Your guide will bid you farewell as you board the bullet train back to Kyoto. Relax and enjoy the comfortable journey as you retrace your route through the scenic landscapes of Japan. Your tour concludes upon arrival at Kyoto Station, leaving you with unforgettable memories of Hiroshima’s history and Miyajima’s natural beauty.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note that we recommend bringing cash, as in some places card payments may not be accepted and access to ATMs may be limited.
Reviews(12)
Our Hiroshima and Miyajima tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Japan, and much of that was thanks to our outstanding guide, Angeles from Chile. From the moment the tour started, everything ran like clockwork. We departed on time, travelled in comfort, and returned exactly as scheduled—a testament to the excellent organization of the trip. Our adventure began with a pleasant boat ride to Miyajima Island. As soon as we arrived, the first residents to welcome us were the famous deer. Unlike some overly enthusiastic wildlife elsewhere, these deer were charming, polite, and seemed genuinely interested in meeting visitors. It was a delightful and memorable encounter. Angeles then guided us through the history and significance of Miyajima's famous Itsukushima Shrine. She explained the spiritual importance of the shrine, known for its iconic floating torii gate that appears to rise from the sea during high tide. Her storytelling brought centuries of Japanese culture and tradition to life, making the visit far more meaningful than simply admiring a beautiful landmark. One of the many fun moments of the tour was when Angeles taught us the Japanese word "Talaima”. Whether we pronounced it correctly or not is another story entirely, but it certainly added to the cultural experience and gave us all a good laugh. What truly set Angeles apart was her remarkable ability to keep the entire group engaged. She delivered her explanations fluently in both Spanish and English, seamlessly switching between the two languages without missing a beat. Her enthusiasm, warmth, and storytelling skills held the audience in rapt, almost mesmerizing attention. History lessons can sometimes feel like homework in disguise, but Angeles transformed them into captivating stories that everyone wanted to hear. After Miyajima, we continued to Hiroshima, where Angeles provided thoughtful and moving explanations about the Peace Memorial and its symbolism. She carefully explained the historical significance of the monument and the powerful message it conveys about peace, remembrance, and hope for future generations. Her presentation was informative, respectful, and deeply impactful. This tour offered the perfect combination of history, culture, education, and enjoyment. Between the scenic boat ride, the friendly deer, the magnificent shrine, the moving visit to Hiroshima, and Angeles's exceptional guiding, it was an unforgettable experience. If you could take this tour, I highly recommend it—and if you're lucky enough to have Angeles as your guide, you're in for something truly special.
Excellent excursion to Miyajima Island & Hiroshima! The floating tori gate & temple were fun to see, the town was delightful. The Peace Park & museum in Hiroshima were quite powerful and emotional. Our guide, Caesar, was superb. Well spoken, very knowledgeable, did a fine job keeping track of everybody. Highly recommend him & this tour!
Long initial train ride from Kyoto, but well worth it. A part of history that hopefully will only happen once.
We travelled from Kyoto to join this tour. We consulted the company Amigo Tour’s about what time Shinkanzen to take to join the tour and booked reserved seats. Well, there are different types of Shinkansen Nozomi, Kodama and Hikari ranked from express to less express. Our JR Rail Pass didn’t allow Nozomi and what we didn’t realise was that the tour operator advised an 8:01 train that arrived at Hiroshima at 9:39 , ample time to join the tour at 10:00 . However the 8:02 train i booked wasn’t at Nozomi but a Kodama that arrived at 10:00 and we got to the meeting point at 10:10 , and they left without us and wouldn't allow us to join the tour at a later point. Thanks for nothing Amigo Tour’s.. We were also refused a refund. So we ended up doing the tour "self guided" thanks to the advice of another tour guide Mo from Japan Panoramic Tours and we had a great time. This was much easier than I thought it would be because our JR Rail Passes took us to all the locations on the itinerary including the ferry....and it turned out way better. This is included The Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park , the Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima Island and the famous floating Tori Gate, that wasn’t floating... very low tide. We also had a walk around in Hiroshima shopping district including a look inside SOGO a major department store.
Dear Bruce, Thank you for sharing such a detailed account of your experience. We’re truly sorry that you were unable to participate in the tour as planned. Train schedules, train types and ticket eligibility (such as JR Pass restrictions) are managed by the railway operators and unfortunately fall outside of our control. While we always aim to provide accurate guidance, final responsibility for selecting the correct train rests with the traveler. As clearly stated in our policies, the tour must depart on time and cannot be rejoined later once it has begun. We regret the inconvenience this caused and appreciate you sharing your feedback. Kind regards, Ramos, Quality Team
Relevant places. Ease of booking and enough communication that saved headaches of managing logistics. Angeles the tour guide was awesome and very professional. Her passion about Hiroshima was really high and genuine. She diligently explained in both Spain and English.
It's long and tiring, but it's worth it Walks a lot and should wear comfortable shoes Try to bring water
It was a very good experience. Had enough time to enjoy Miyajima Island and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. Jorge was knowledgeable and fun.
Long day but expert guide with great advice. Spoke in both Spanish and English. Angeles was her name highly recommended
This was a very disappointing experience wherein Viator and the outsourced partner Amigo took the money to book bullet train from Kyoto to Hiroshima and return but they provided tickets while returning from Hiroshima to Osaka without arranging for train tickets back to Kyoto during peak season of New Year. With just one hour notice, I had to buy very costly ticket and got delayed by 4 hours to return to our hotel. Very frustrating service from Viator wherein they took the money and denied the service.
Dear Sankar_G, We are truly very sorry for the very stressful situation you experienced with the bullet train tickets. We understand how frustrating it was to have to arrange travel on your own during the busy New Year period. While some logistical issues can be beyond our immediate control, we deeply regret the inconvenience caused. Your feedback is extremely valuable, and we are taking steps to improve our ticketing and coordination to ensure this does not happen in the future. Kind regards, Ramos – Amigo Tours Quality Department
Very educational, and beautiful. Tour guide Alex was very knowledgeable and professional. Recommend you will see the most interesting sights
Dear Sara S, Thank you for your kind words. Alex’s deep knowledge and professionalism are key to making each visit meaningful, and we’re delighted that you found the experience both educational and beautiful. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated! Warm regards, Ramos, Quality Team
