DAY 1: HIROSHIMA FREE DAY

Make your way to your hotel for a two-night stay. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure. The first day allows you to arrive at Hiroshima on your own time. Eat a Japanese-style meal at your hotel, or go to town and find Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at an izakaya nearby. Rest up for tomorrow's excursions at leisure.

DAY 2: HIROSHIMA FULL DAY WITH GUIDE BY PRIVATE VEHICLE

Please go to the meeting point today for a full-day tour of Hiroshima with a guide and private vehicle to some famous places in Hiroshima and Miyajima. Miyajima Island is the popular name of Itsuku-shima Island, situated in Hatsukaichi City in southwestern Hiroshima. It is a scenic site in which the mountains, sea, and red shrine buildings blend in harmony, and the entire island is designated as a historic site. It is said to be one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan, along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Ama-no-hashidate in Kyoto. Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine, located in Miyajima, Hatsukaichi City in southwestern Hiroshima, is a unique shrine that looks as if it is floating in the sea. It boasts of a solemn and gorgeous architectural beauty in the shinden style, the palace style popular around the 10th century. The main shrine with its red pillars and white walls, along with the symbol of Miyajima, the O-torii Gate in the sea, creates a wonderful contrast with the dark green woods and deep blue sea. It was inscribed as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996. As the name implies, Momiji-dani Park, or Maple Leaf Park, where the Momiji-dani-gawa River flows, has many maple trees and is a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. Climbing Mt. Mi-sen from there by ropeway or on foot along a climbing path is also a wonderful experience. From the mountaintop, you can enjoy the beautiful scene of the numerous islands of the Seto Inland Sea. There are bathing beaches with camping grounds around the island, and sea bathers throng to the island in summer. Mt. Misen, the main peak in Miyajima, is 535 meters high. Its northern slope is covered with virgin forests, where conifers coexist with southern plants. These forests provide a valuable opportunity to see primeval plants such as Trochodendrales in their natural state.

On this day, we take you on a fully guided tour of the colorful city of Hiroshima. We begin at Miyajima, an island made famous for its beautiful Itsukushima Shrine and "floating" red torii gate, recognizable worldwide and considered one of the three Great Views of Japan. The area is populated by friendly deer - meet them as you tour the holy area. Visit Mount Misen by ropeway and see a view of the whole area and eat momiji-manju: an o-miyage gift unique to the area since the Meiji Period.

We also visit the Peace Museum in the city's center, to better appreciate humanity's recent history. Take a walk through the peaceful gardens to the river. There are ferries and river cruises available, and the area nearest to the Peace Museum has now blossomed into a shopping and teahouse town, lined with cobblestone and tradition. Visit Hiroshima Castle, try local sake, and enjoy a dinner of the local oysters - the city is famous for them.

DAY 3: TRAIN TO OSAKA. TOUR ENDS.
Please make your own way to the station for the train to Osaka. The tour ends upon arrival in Osaka.
On the final day, we guide you safely to the Shinkansen bullet train that leads you to Osaka. Don't forget to ask about "eki-ben" - lunchboxes unique to each specific train station on the Shinkansen lines!

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