JTB Sunrise Tours · Hotel Granvia Hiroshima
JTB Sunrise Tours collects its group in the lobby of Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, on the shinkansen side of the station, and spends the day on Miyajima first and the Peace Park after. Pick it if you want one price that covers everything except lunch, with a government-licensed guide who speaks only English.
JTB is Japan's biggest travel company, and Sunrise Tours is its day-tour brand for foreign visitors. This one starts at Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, on the north (Shinkansen) side of Hiroshima Station; don't confuse it with Hotel Granvia Hiroshima South Gate. JTB tells rail pass holders to reach the station by 10:00. From there the coach goes to Miyajimaguchi, and the JR ferry normally takes the Otorii route, the sailing that swings close to the great torii, weather and tide permitting.
On the island you get about an hour at Itsukushima Shrine with the guide and an hour on your own, which is lunch. It isn't included, so eat on Omotesando: grilled oysters, anago-meshi, momiji manju. Back in Hiroshima: 20 minutes in the Peace Park, 20 at the A-Bomb Dome and an hour in the Peace Memorial Museum. Everything with a price tag is paid, down to the 100-yen visitor tax.
Two weak spots show up in reviews. The museum hour feels short to many. And a full coach of up to 40 is hard to hear outdoors; a few guides were described as soft-spoken. JTB also needs two bookings to run: if fewer than two people have booked four days before, the date may be cancelled, so don't fix an onward train around it until it's confirmed. Next to the Amigo Tours day (about $119 for the full day) you pay more, and get an English-only guide, the museum ticket and the tax for it.
Find the JTB Sunrise Tours sign in the 1st-floor lobby. Rail pass users should take an early shinkansen and arrive by 10:00.
Coach to Miyajimaguchi, the Otorii-route ferry, then the shrine and its corridors over the water with the guide.
Lunch on your own on Omotesando, the deer and the souvenir shops.
Back to Hiroshima by coach for the park, the Children's Peace Monument and the dome.
Entry paid. The tour ends in the city; reviewers mention guides walking them to the station afterwards.
★★★★★My wife and I enjoyed the tour very much. The host was the son of a Hiroshima survivor so it made the trip very personal and he shared some touching stories. I would only recommend that they give the guests more time to tour the museum, it felt a little rushed.
★★★★★Wonderful tour of Miyajima. Our guide Azusa was expert at getting us great photos so it looked like we were the only ones there! She was also very knowledgeable about the history of the area.
★★★★★Great tour, the tour guide took such pride in the history and was very professional. She took time to answer any questions and also give the option of exploring if you did not want to stay with the group for some time.
★★★★★It was well managed and our guide was knowledgable and the driver was very helpful and provided water bottles on a muggy day. The time allowed for each site was sufficient.
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The licensed guide, the coach, the ferry, Itsukushima Shrine and Peace Memorial Museum entry, and the 100-yen Miyajima visitor tax. Lunch is the only thing you pay for.
In the 1st-floor lobby of Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, on the north (Shinkansen) side of Hiroshima Station. Look for the JTB Sunrise Tours sign.
Yes, if fewer than two people have booked four days before. You can also cancel free of charge yourself up to 24 hours before the start.
JTB uses the JR ferry, which takes the Otorii route close to the gate. Bad weather or a very high tide can rule that route out, and if the JR ferry isn't running, the group crosses with Miyajima Matsudai Kisen.
Ready to book
A licensed guide, a coach, the ferry, entry fees and the visitor tax all covered. You only buy lunch.
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