Tesuto ( Pancho) was great - very engaging and well spoken - we really enjoyed our tour with him and learned a lot
Private tour in Hiroshima Tetsuo H
5.0
(26) reviews
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Tetsuo H.
5.0
Guide rating
67
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5 hrs
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I'm Pancho (Tetsuo Hamano), a licensed English-speaking private tour guide born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan. I guide private walks and days in Hiroshima and Miyajima: Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, Itsukushima Shrine and the Great Torii, evening food walks, and custom time around what you want to see. I'm a second-generation A-bomb survivor: my father and grandparents survived 1945, and I am here. If you ask, I share those family stories as accounts of survival and ordinary life afterward—not as a horror lecture. My tours are two-way conversations about peace history when it matters, plus modern Hiroshima, Japanese culture, and food. Before this work, I spent years at a global heavy-equipment dealership in Japan. I lived apart from my family for about 10 years, returned to Hiroshima in 2018, and left a local company during Covid in my fifties to do what I actually wanted. I started as a virtual tour guide in 2021, then moved to in-person guiding when Japan reopened to individual travelers. I have led 600+ private tours since October 2022. My style is a flexible tour. We follow what you are curious about, at your walking pace. I can arrange vegan and halal-friendly restaurants, shorter distances, souvenir shops, and after-tour ideas (food, bars, anime shops, and more). I am not a driver. I can join you in your vehicle, or arrange a separate car and driver. I look forward to walking my hometown with you. Selected as one of the Best Guides by a Japanese travel agency.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Tetsuo H.
Visit Peace Memorial Park(Atomic-Bomb Dome) and its surroundings in Half a day with a local guide who grew up in Hiroshima. Atomic-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and surroundings Hiroshima was the first A-Bombed city in 1945 in history, There are so many tragedies, but you can see and feel this beautiful city has completely recovered from it. During the tour, you can Taking public transportation and walking. (Taxi and hired vehicle are optional) Language: English The itinerary is flexible, for any changes please let me know.
Tesuto ( Pancho) was great - very engaging and well spoken - we really enjoyed our tour with him and learned a lot
I arranged a half-day tour of the Peace Memorial Park area with Pancho for late May 2026. As a native of Hiroshima and the son and grandson of A-bomb survivors, he was a perfect choice as guide. Pancho speaks excellent English, and setting up the tour with him was easy. We discussed itinerary options and settled our plans after just a few messages. From our meeting spot outside the Peace Museum, we toured through Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic-Bomb Dome building. But we also stopped at other key spots, including the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter Monument marking the point under the blast, a nearby cemetery whose granite monuments survived though melted, and the Fukuromachi Elementary School which became an aid station for survivors. At each spot, Pancho provided a wealth of detail and along the way shared what it was like growing up in the shadow of this terrible event in history. I was particularly touched when he pointed out the special signs marking each of the 133 trees that survived in the blast area. Pancho provided exactly the tour I had hoped for. I strongly recommend him to anyone who wants to learn more about the A-bomb history while visiting this beautiful city.
Absolutely loved this tour with Pancho! What made this extra special was that Pancho is the son and grandson of survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima. His connection to everything he showed us was obviously very personal and carried more weight. Despite the seriousness of the subject matter, Pancho kept the mood light and was a joy to be around. He even took us to lunch at one of his favorite Okonomiyaki spots...so good! After the tour he also texted valuable recommendations for our trip the following day to Miyajima. We all really enjoyed our time with Pancho and how well he took care of us. Highly recommend!!
Pancho was a great guide. His personal family history he shared made the tour special and memorable. He was very nice and helpful. We learned a lot from him. If I came back to Hiroshima to see other things, I'd utilize him again.
What a pleasure to have been guided by “Pancho” through Hiroshima. The “fully customizable” tour was exactly what we needed, as we weren’t looking just for hitting the big tourist spots but it we were first focused on understanding the city that one branch of my wife’s roots (and thus our sons and grandchildren’s roots) had left over 125 years ago. Pancho worked with us hand-and-glove to get us to those places where we knew they had lived and we could envision the time and relationship to the city and rivers. We had tons of questions which with his deep knowledge of the city and its history he patiently answered. He always would take the extra effort, even in advance of our tour, to engage with this on our needs. We seemed well in tune with each other, maybe a kindred spirit, as we crossed paths several times when we were out and about. We hope you take your own opportunity with him!
Wow this tour guide was so knowledgeable and interesting about the bomb site and the peace park. He ot us throuh the long cues by usin a pass, this was reat. It was a very hot day once again but everyone coped. We stopped at a little restaraunt which he had suggested and had Okonomayaki which was very authentic and nice. If we needed a break that was no problem.
Meeting Point Meeting at your hotel in Hiroshima/ Miyajima or Train station in Hiroshima/ Miyajima Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (including Atomic-Bomb Dome and surroundings), Hypocenter, Atomic-Bomb Dome, Peace Children statue, Flame of Peace, Peace memorial cenotaph. Waking tour Peace Memorial Park and surroundings. Lunch Lunch at a local restaurant with local food Options/ Other stops 1. Orizuru-Tower (Origami-experience) 2. Hiroshima Castle (small museum inside the castle) NOTE: Peace museum is optional. Let me know if you want to go to the museum. I can customize the itinerary. Tour ending Tour ending at Hiroshima station/ your hotel
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Walking and Public transportation. Taxi is optional(Excluded)
Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 732-0822, Japan
Airport: ,Cruise: ,ByGuide: Hiroshima station or your hotel.
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