Hiroshima Private Car Tours

“Knowledgeable tour of Miyajima & Hiroshima”

Me, my husband and both our Mother's were guided by Kate through the beautiful Itsukushima Jinja shrine on Miyajima Island and the atomic bomb Peace Memorial Park. Kate also took us to one of her favourite Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki for lunch, which was in the Okonomyaki village in the city centre, and it was delicious! (And catered to our groups dietary needs!) Kate was very responsive and collaborative with her tour plan, asking us if there was anything specific we wanted to see, or what we would prefer doing in the morning vs afternoon. While we were touring the sites, Kate had some visual aids to help her explain the history of the places. This really helped us visualise the stories. We had a lot of questions about the sites, but also general knowledge questions about Japanese culture and lifestyle, and Kate was great at answering them. By the end of the day, we had a really great vibe with her and were having good conversations. This was an English-friendly tour, and would recommend Kate to any other travellers coming to Hiroshima. Thank you so much Kate, we'll be returning to Hiroshima one day again!

Kate M.

(1 reviews)

Thank you so much for your kind words, Miriam! It was a pleasure spending the day with you and your family. I really enjoyed all of your questions and our conversations throughout the tour, and I’m glad my visual materials helped bring Hiroshima and Miyajima’s history to life. Thank you for being so interested in Japanese history and culture. I always try to tailor each tour to my guests’ interests, whether that’s history, local food, or everyday life in Japan, so I’m happy to hear you enjoyed the experience. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your trip, and I’d love to welcome you and your family back to Hiroshima someday! Kind regards, Kate

“Unique, relaxing, off the beaten track experience ”

If you are looking for fresh air, warm hospitality, an opportunity to learn about family life in a small Japanese mountain village and to see how rice is grown, this is the tour for you. We loved learning how the rice fields are watered, walking in the family’s beautiful Japanese garden, visiting the beautiful and peaceful village shrine where harvest celebrations are held and walking in the quiet forest near their home. It was such a lovely antidote to the crowds in the city. Naomi and her family were so kind to us and she was so patient in answering our many questions about life and culture in Japan. Naomi speaks fluent English. I highly recommend this tour. It has been a clear highlight of our trip to Japan.

Naomi K.

(5 reviews)

Thank you so much for your beautiful and thoughtful review. It truly means a lot to me and my family. We were also so happy to welcome such wonderful guests into our home and village. Your curiosity, kindness, and respect for our lifestyle made the day very special for us too. I really enjoyed sharing our rice fields, local shrine, forest paths, and everyday family life with you. I’m especially glad that you felt the peaceful atmosphere of our mountain village after the busy cities in Japan. That balance between nature, family, and tradition is something I deeply treasure, so it made me very happy to share it with you. Thank you as well for your many thoughtful questions and warm conversations throughout the tour. Hosting you was honestly one of the highlights for me too. I hope the rest of your journey in Japan is filled with many more wonderful memories, and you are always welcome back to our village anytime.

“A life-changing day in a quiet mountain village in Hiroshima”

This special tour by far became the gem of my time in Japan.  If you're searching for something deeper than the usual tourist experience, I can't recommend this enough! Naomi invites you into her home, her way of life, and lets you experience the culture of a quiet mountain village with unbelievable kindness, and at a place of breathtaking beauty.  I was greeted at my hotel by Naomi and her daughter, who so kindly drew a welcome card for me - I will cherish this forever! Naomi then drove me to her village in the Hiroshima mountains. We walked around the rice fields, and the neighbouring forest which is nice and cool, dripping with mildew, and scattered with the occasional traditional graveyard. It reminded me of the forests in My Neighbour Totoro! We also checked out the local bridge which has an amazing view of the river and village. During our stroll, we talked about life, family, art, the history of the village, and everything in between as we watched the river steam past, and her children threw pebbles into the water.  But despite all the natural beauty and Ghibli-esque atmosphere of the village, it was the kindness and welcoming nature of Naomi and her family that will stick with me forever the most.  They cooked me the most DELICIOUS tempura lunch with sake, and I had a traditional tea ceremony with them. There was lots of laughing, stories, and being shown how the farming is done - I was almost in tears at how kind they were and the effort they made for me.  All these wonderful moments of nature, calm and human connections have made this the most special trip of my life.  OH, and Naomi is a writer too! Ask her about her awesome publications which feature life stories from the local community - it's incredible!  I couldn't recommend this tour enough, though it didn't really feel like a tour. It felt much more special and profound than that, and I am forever grateful to Naomi and her family for letting me into their world for a while in the mountains!

Naomi K.

(5 reviews)

Thank you so much for your wonderful review. Even though it has already been a few days since your visit, the happiness you brought to our family is still with us. Your thoughtful gifts, including the adorable koala for my kids, meant so much to us. But more than that, I was truly touched by your intelligent, calm, and respectful attitude throughout the day. You showed genuine respect for everything you saw and experienced here, and that made our time together even more special. I was also deeply moved by how seriously you talked about wanting to share and support this tour. I learned so much from you, and honestly, I never expected to meet such an amazing guest. Meeting you reminded me why I created this tour in the first place, and it made me feel that all the effort was truly worth it. Before your trip, you sent me many messages, and I could feel how much you love Japan. You were always so friendly, and that made me want to welcome you with the best hospitality I could offer. Looking back, of course there are a few things I wish I could have done even better, but I truly hope I was able to provide you with a unique and meaningful experience that you could only have here. I’m sure you will visit Japan again someday. And now, I think you have a place here that feels like home. We’ll be waiting for you anytime. With warmest wishes, Naomi