Visit Japan: Day Trip to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island

One of the highlights of our Japan trip was a day tour to Hiroshima and Miyajima Island—booked through Tripadvisor—and it turned out to be one of the most meaningful days of the entire trip.

The day started early with our first Shinkansen experience from Osaka to Hiroshima.

Once again, Google Maps came to the rescue. It helped me figure out exactly which Shinkansen to book, what time to leave the hotel, which station to go to, and even which platform to stand on. Honestly, I'm not sure how I would travel around Japan without it!

We had heard that it’s best to reserve seats on the Shinkansen ahead of time—and I’m glad we did. Reserved seating takes away the stress, especially when you’re on a schedule for a tour, and you're also traveling with kids.

I ended up purchasing our tickets through this website a few days before the trip… on my phone.

Would I recommend doing that? Not exactly.

It worked, but navigating the site on a small screen was a bit of a challenge. If I could do it again, I’d definitely book on a computer before leaving for Japan. Much easier to see everything clearly and avoid any last-minute stress.

 We made it to the train station, grabbed ekiben (bento boxes) for the ride (an absolute must when taking the Shinkansen), figured out how to print our physical tickets at the station, and successfully boarded our train to Hiroshima. Everything felt a little intimidating at first, but once we were on, it all came together.

The Shinkansen itself? Smooth, fast, and incredibly efficient. Watching the scenery zip by while sitting in a clean, quiet cabin—it’s one of those experiences that feels very “Japan.”

Before we knew it, we arrived in Hiroshima and met up with our tour group.

We quickly boarded the bus, and enjoyed the ride over to the ferry terminal. From there, our guide had everything handled—tickets in hand, we walked straight to the loading dock and onto the ferry.

Before boarding, our guide gave us a great tip: sit on the right side of the boat for the best views of the famous torii gate—and it did not disappoint.

After arriving on Miyajima Island, we disembarked and began walking through the main shopping street toward Itsukushima Shrine.

Our guide had warned us ahead of time—not to stop while walking to the shrine, and that we’d have plenty of time afterward to explore, eat, and shop. It was so hard to resist. The smell of grilled seafood, the rows of snacks, the endless little stalls—it definitely built up our appetite.

We toured the shrine together, taking in its beauty and the iconic views, and then we were set free to explore.

And that’s when the real fun began.

We wandered through the streets, grabbed lunch, sampled local treats, did a little shopping, and just soaked in the relaxed island vibe. 

Once back on the mainland, we boarded the bus again and headed to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The atmosphere here is hard to put into words—quiet, powerful, and deeply moving.

The Atomic Bomb Dome, preserved exactly as it was after the bombing, is one of the few structures that remain partially intact.  It serves as a powerful reminder of what happened in August 1945.  

Another meaningful stop is the Memorial Cenotaph, which holds the names of the victims. It’s designed so that when you look through the arch, it perfectly frames the Atomic Bomb Dome in the distance—a quiet but powerful alignment that symbolizes remembrance and reflection.

 Our tour included entry into the museum, which was an experience in itself. Seeing the artifacts, clothing, photographs, and personal items from that day really brings history into a very real and emotional perspective.  I chose not to take photos inside the museum - it just didn't feel right in a space that carries a lot of emotion and history.

By the time we boarded the Shinkansen back to Osaka, we were completely exhausted—but in a good kind of way.

We got back around 8:45 p.m., and there was no way we had the energy for a full dinner outing. Instead, we grabbed some quick takeaway ramen from a spot next door to our hotel, ate, and called it a day.