Private tour in Hiroshima Joy J
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Joy J.
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I grew up in Hawaii, went to university in Southern California and been now living and working in Hiroshima, Japan for most of my life (it’s a great place to live!). Most of my career, I taught tourism, business & communications at university and have been researching, training and writing about Hiroshima travel for the last 20+ years. In 1999, my partner and I started a local website to introduce a deeper and more meaningful experience to travelers and new residents coming to Hiroshima. We raised two bilingual kids here who are now in university. We bought a traditional Japanese house & renovated it into a comfortable home. I am passionate about sustainable travel & business - having a balance with tourism of what is good for locals and also appealing for international visitors. Finding ways to offer the best travel experiences which also benefit local people & environment while supporting the local economy. I love meeting new people and seeing Japan fresh through visitors eyes while sharing my insights about Japanese culture, traditions, history, natural features, modern life issues in Japan, sustainability issues and locally made products & artisans. I love highlighting the stories of "good people doing great things in Japan", so I host a talkshow-podcast called SEEK SUSTAINABLE JAPAN & now have over 500 episodes - it is fun to talk about some of these people on the tour if guests are interested in a related topic. I have an MA in Sustainable Tourism (Arizona State University) and taught business, communication and tourism classes to University students for 21 years. I also do tour guide training in Hiroshima and Tokyo to help guides create fun and interesting routes that highlight local stories and avoid crowds. I do not hold the Japanese translation-guide license but this does not limit what or where I can guide visitors in Hiroshima. Japanese law, however, does not me as a guide to drive customers, but I can accompany you in your taxi or private hire car. I look forward to meeting you and hearing your stories too while showing you around my long-time adopted home of Hiroshima.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Joy J.
Hiroshima has been my home now for 30 years and I'm still impressed by the powerful history, cultural beauty and kindness of local people. I appreciate learning from each group about their insights and experiences as we spend the day together in Hiroshima. This full-day (8h) tour of Hiroshima city takes in the key sights as well as lesser-known spots to explore the important themes of Hiroshima's past, present, peace, history, resilience, culture, traditions, heritage, locally-made products, sustainable tourism and living strategies and natural beauty. The fee for this tour covers the guiding and translation during the tour as covers the guide's transportation, entry and food or drink costs. Guests should plan to cover their own travel, entry fees and transportation costs as well as any shopping. If possible, please bring your own refillable drink bottle, personal hand towel, shopping bag and even your own chopsticks set to reduce waste and increase health on the tour.
+ Meet at your hotel lobby (or Hiroshima station) + 7-lucky god shrines & temples + Shukkei-en 'shrunken landscape' gardens with 'zen' designs - koi and turtles + World Peace Cathedral + Coffee at a great retro 'kissaten' coffee shop or modern roaster + Surviving Torii-gate, rebuilt castle and shrine grounds. Wartime bunker and A-bomb survivor trees, the outer defenses - beautiful koi carp + Hiroshima peace park via the bridge past the soccer stadium + Lunch break - Hiroshima's famous local favorite dish, Okonomiyaki + 'Gate park' views and history + Hiroshima's "Peace Park" area: A-bomb dome ruins, modern Orizuru-tower, epicenter marker at Shima-hospital, T-bridge, the original Honkawa elementary school, 'Rest House' and meaningful monuments, history and stories along the 'peace line' The tour ends at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum so visitors can go through on your own.
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this is a walking tour for most groups, but we can take taxi's when needed to reduce walk time. Some areas are not wheelchair accessible, but we can make adjustments.
Hiroshima, Hiroshima, 732-0822, Japan
Please let me know what time your train arrives so I can meet you at the ticket exit gate. If staying in Hiroshima, let me know what hotel lobby.
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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