Free tour

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Food Walking Tour with a Certified Food Specialist

5.00

Excellent(3)

Hiroshima

Duration: 2 hours

Languages: English and Japanese

Guru: Thomas

Registered on 19 November 2025

Thomas moved to Hiroshima eight years ago after falling in love with both the city and the woman who would become his wife. They first met in a 7-Eleven, where she won a loaf of bread in a small lottery. She didn’t need it, so she gave it to him, and from that simple moment their story began. They later married in a bakery on Hiroshima’s main street, a place they still visit together because it holds a special place in their hearts. In his spare time, Thomas enjoys studying for different qualifications. He has passed the Japanese national cooking exam and is now preparing for the Japanese sake certification while working toward becoming a nationally licensed guide. As a Hiroshima tourism ambassador, he is honored to share the city’s complex history and the charm of the place he is proud to call home.

Free reservation and cancellation

Pay-what-you-want tour, no set price, reservation and cancellation are free

Tour description

Step into Hiroshima’s past and taste its resilience on this walking tour with a certified food specialist.

Explore Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, a layered savory pancake made by stacking cabbage, noodles, meat, eggs, and other local ingredients on a thin batter and cooking it on a hot plate. Each layer tells the story of Hiroshima’s rebuilding after the war.

Vegetarian options are available upon request.

We start in a quiet park to learn the surprising origins of flour-based dishes in Japan, then stroll through Shintenchi, where okonomiyaki first took shape. Along the way, hear stories of resilience, local food culture, and the traditions that make this dish Hiroshima’s soul food.

As we walk, spot unique local landmarks like the hera spatula statue, okonomiyaki-themed manholes, and a surviving A-bomb building.

Finally, sit down to enjoy a freshly made okonomiyaki, costing around 2,000 yen per person, and learn how Hiroshima’s beloved Carp baseball team helped make this dish famous. Optional sweets wrap up the tour.

This tour is perfect after a long day of sightseeing. It is a relaxed experience with a short, easy walk, allowing you to slow down, sit, eat, and experience Hiroshima through its most meaningful comfort food.

The tour ends at Gate Park, an area well connected by public transport. The 17:00 time slot is ideal for day-trippers, making it easy to continue onward to Kyoto, Osaka, or Fukuoka after the tour.

This experience blends food, history, and local flavor, offering a deeper taste of Hiroshima’s remarkable resilience for anyone who wants to experience the city through its most iconic dish.

*Food paid by travelers.

Highlights

What will we see on this tour?

Meeting point:

Fukuromachi Park

I’ll be standing in front of the meeting point waving a red flag.

Outside visit

Alice Garden

Learn how Hiroshima’s post-war black market took shape here and how food stalls adapted after the atomic bombing. Discover how okonomiyaki began evolving into the city’s soul food.

Outside visit

Okonomiyaki restaurant

Enjoy Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at a local restaurant. From Wednesday to Saturday, you can also join a hands-on experience and learn how to make it yourself.

Outside visit

Hondori

Hondori is Hiroshima’s bustling main street, lined with shops, restaurants, and landmarks. As we walk through, you’ll get a sense of the city’s lively culture and see how local life has thrived since the post-war rebuilding.

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours don't have a fixed price. At the end, each person contributes to the guide the amount they consider fair based on their satisfaction. As a guideline, Guruwalk recommends between €15 and $50 per participant.