Private: Hiroshima And Its Past - Full Day Tour

Private: Hiroshima And Its Past - Full Day Tour Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

Hiroshima past and present revealed!

We are all reminded of the same event when hearing the name of this city. But it is lovely as are the people and it is possible to enjoy the culture that has developed in and around the city.

Hiroshima is a city that truly honors its past, and it has built up a wonderful infrastructure for remembering both the beautiful and devastating events that make up its history. On this tour, you’ll delve into the complicated history of this major Japanese city.

You’ll begin in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, which covers over 120,000 square meters of the central city with trees, lawns, and walking paths. Before the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city. The district’s importance in the city made it a target for the American pilots when they were determining where to drop the bomb. As Hiroshima began its recovery, it was decided that the area not be redeveloped but instead be devoted to peace memorial facilities. The park's main attraction is the Peace Memorial Museum. Consisting of two buildings, the museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its strongest focus is on the events of August 6: the dropping of the bomb and its destructive effects on the region.

The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Before the bomb was dropped, the building served to promote Hiroshima's industries. After the bomb exploded, the building was one of the few structures remaining in the area. It still stands today, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Connecting the museum and the A-Bomb Dome is the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Cenotaph is an arched tomb for those who died from the bomb’s blast or its resulting radiation. A stone chest holding a register of the 220,000 deceased sits under the arch.

After you’ve taken in the park, enjoy an Okonomiyaki lunch. Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake that could be called Japanese style pizza. It is a local specialty.

A brief ferry ride from Hiroshima will take you to Miyajima Island. This tiny sacred island is located in the Inland Sea and has been a holy place of Shintoism for many, many centuries. Its star attraction is the floating Torii gate, perhaps the most photographed site in Japan. Designated as one of Japan's "3 most beautiful views," the shrine it belongs to dates back to the 6th century with the present structure dating back to the 12th century. The harmoniously arranged buildings reveal incredible technical artistry, and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such was the importance of the island that in bygone days, mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot on this holy place, and even now it is forbidden to give birth or die on the island!

You will have time to explore the island’s many shrines and temples and sample local goodies like maple leaf shaped cakes.

- Tour is done using public transportation (costs included).
- Entrance to the Peace Memorial Museum is included in the tour cost.
- An Okonomiyaki lunch is included in the tour cost.

- Please note, that we have limited English speaking guides and this tour must be booked well in advance.
- We will do our best to confirm the tour at the standard pricing, however there may be a surcharge on holidays and from the end of December to the New Year.
- The cancellation policy on this tour is outside of the normal ShoreTrips Terms of Service. The tour is non refundable 18 days prior to the tour date. If your ship does not make port, this tour will be non-refundable. Please take out travel insurance to cover this rare occurrence. This tour will NOT be refundable in cases in which conditions make it impossible for the ship to dock and disembark passengers in a timely manner. In case of extreme delay of ship’s arrival or immigration, the tour may have to be shortened.
- Due to the extreme costs of hospitalization and medical services in Japan, we strongly recommend purchasing independent travel insurance that will cover you for injuries or illness while in Japan.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 8 hours
• 09:00 AM, duration: 8 hours