Private tour in Miyajima Joy J
5.0
(12) reviews
5 hours
1
5 hours
1
Joy J.
5.0
Guide rating
83
Reviews
Tours delivered
7 hrs
Avg. response time
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.
The sacred island of Miyajima is naturally and culturally beautiful with a rich history. If we are traveling to-from Hiroshima city center, this is a 5+ hour tour of Miyajima island (Itsukushima UNESCO) that takes in the key sights and important themes of peace, history, resilience, culture, traditions, heritage, locally-made products and natural beauty. If you are staying on Miyajima island, we can finish this tour in 4 hours on the island but give an extra hour if you want to include transportation to-from the city center. Time also depending on our walking pace, level of interest and stops. The fee for this tour covers the guiding and translation during the tour as well as my own transportation, entry and food or drink costs. Guests should plan to cover their own travel, entry fees and transportation costs- please plan to have 2,000 yen per person (in cash) to cover the basic tour expenses for donations, entry and travel. Plan for an additional 3,000 yen per person to cover any food and drink.
This was a wonderful visit and our guide, Joy, was a delight. We learned so much about Miyajima, it's history and it's temples through her fascinating stories and insights. We so appreciated her flexibility, terrific food suggestions, and cultural info, which really made our visit come alive. Couldn't have asked for a better afternoon! Thank you, Joy!
Joy was a delight, knowledgeable and cheerful. We had a fabulous day. She pointed out interesting sites and shared her insights into Japanese culture and customs. We were met at the pier and looked after the entire tour. Thank you Joy!
We had a wonderful morning with Joy visiting this beautiful island which exceeded our expectations. Joy definitely lives up to her name and gave us such a warm welcome and enthusiastic tour. Her knowledge of the area and passion for all things Japanese is amazing! Joy also took care of us making sure our transport arrangements were easy knowing we had to make it back in time for the bullet train to Tokyo.
Joy was a very knowledgeable and entertaining guide. She has a wealth of interesting stories about Japan. She made exploring in a downpour fun and made sure our interests were taken care of.
We had Joy for another day in Hiroshima and visited Mijayima island - the floating Tori gate and shrine were absolutely stunning - Daishoin shrine was also absolutely beautiful with stunning views of the island - we tried the maple leaf shaped local delicacy - the five storey pagoda is also beautiful - again Joy was incredibly knowledgeable and had stories of every corner of the sites - excellent day
"Joy was wonderful! The day was so good." Despite the pouring day, Joy successfully managed to transport the twelve senior ladies from the meeting at the cruise terminal in five taxis on time, allowing them to show the best of Hiroshima within hours. Superior management and hearted care have made the day beautiful amid the bad weather.
+ Meet at your hotel on Miyajima / Miyajima-guchi station / OR Hiroshima station or Hiroshima city hotel lobby (add 1 hour if traveling from Hiroshima station/city) + Visit the stunning giant "floating" tori gate + "floating" Itsukushima shrine UNESCO + Visit stunning Buddhist temple Daishoin - at the foot of the sacred Mt.Misen + Coffee / tea / lunch or snack break + Thousand mat hall visit look at 5-story pagoda + Visit 4th Generation Traditional Businesses with interesting local stories & culture == NOTE== order, length of each visit and destinations will depend on the weather, guest walking speed and interests of the group. This tour does NOT include a hike up to Mt.Misen or cable car (ropeway) up as it takes over 2-hours to get up and down.
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.
There is a fair bit of walking to do on a Miyajima island tour, but there are rest areas near the island's port where people in the group who have trouble walking can wait and rest while more active members explore. There is no outside traffic allowed in the sightseeing area, so a private car or taxi option is not possible. I am happy to change the route to accommodate people using wheelchairs.
HIROSHIMA STATION, 1 Matsubarachō, Minami Ward, Hiroshima, Japan
Miyajima island hotel or Miyajimaguchi ferry port or Miyajimaguchi station. Alternatively Hiroshima station meeting is also possible for an additional 60 min.
English
JapaneseWho is this private tour in Miyajima best suited for?
What should I bring or wear?
Can this private tour in Miyajima be customized to focus on what I want to see and skip places I've already visited?
How long is the tour, and can the start time or duration be adjusted?
Where does the tour start and end?
Is transportation included?
How much walking is involved, and is it suitable for kids, seniors, or travellers with mobility concerns?
Is this private tour in Miyajima suitable for cruise ship passengers as a shore excursion?
What happens if a site is closed, crowded, or the weather changes?
What languages is this tour offered in?
AI-generated. Please confirm details with your guide
5 hours
1
5 hours
1
If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
How it works