Hiroshima Travel Guide

A large park in the centre of the city, set on the delta between two rivers. It isn't a tourist stop but a place of remembrance, and planning your visit accordingly is both more respectful and more meaningful.

Suggested order: start with the A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome). Despite being very close to the hypocentre, this building's skeleton remained standing, and it was deliberately left unrepaired. Then walk south through the park: the Children's Peace Monument, the Memorial Mound and the Peace Flame lead you naturally to the museum.

See the museum at the end of your walk through the park. Under the current official arrangement, the Peace Memorial Museum opens at 07:30; closing time varies by season. At some busy times or periods, online reservation in advance is required; at other times an online ticket reduces the risk of queuing. The museum's content is heavy: personal belongings, testimonies and photographs. Don't rush it; allow at least an hour and a half to two hours.

A note for families with children: some parts of the museum can be distressing for young children. The park itself and the Children's Peace Monument, with Sadako's story, offer a more suitable starting point.

Don't rush straight to the next stop after your visit. Sitting by the river for a while is a pause most visitors need.

Coming to Hiroshima and not going to Miyajima (officially Itsukushima) means skipping half the trip. The island is reached from the city by train and then a ferry ride of about ten minutes; two separate companies run the crossing.

There's a new arrangement you need to know about: a visitor tax of ¥100 now applies to the island, and it's added automatically to your ferry ticket. You don't need to pay it separately. The revenue goes to waste management and measures to ease the pressure of overtourism.

The secret of the floating torii is the tide. The famous image of the gate appearing to stand on the water only happens at high tide. At low tide you can walk right up to the gate — also a lovely experience, but not the photo you expect. Choose your visit time by the tide table; if you want to see both, stay on the island for a few hours.

Itsukushima Shrine has a separate admission fee. The shrine itself is built on piles over the sea; when the tide rises, it too looks as if it's floating.

The island also has Mount Misen: a ropeway takes you most of the way up, and the last part to the summit is a hike. On a clear day the view of the Inland Sea is extraordinary. If you have an extra half day, spend it here.

Wild deer roam the island. Unlike in Nara, feeding the deer here is not wanted; keep things like paper and maps in your bag too, as the deer try to eat them.

Technically yes, but it'll be tight. The setup that works: be at the Peace Park close to the 07:30 opening, keep the morning for the park and museum, cross to Miyajima in the afternoon and stay on the island into the late afternoon. Check in advance which time slots require a reservation at the museum that day.

Honest advice: stay a night in Hiroshima. There are two reasons. First, leaving the Peace Park and running straight for the ferry is emotionally draining. Second, Miyajima becomes a completely different place after the day-trippers leave, in the late afternoon and early morning — quiet, empty and far more beautiful.

Staying on the island is also an option. Traditional inns on Miyajima are expensive, but they let you keep the island almost to yourself in the evening and morning.

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki isn't the same dish as Osaka's, and if you say so to locals you may start a serious argument. In Osaka the ingredients are mixed into the batter; in Hiroshima they're laid out layer by layer: a thin layer of batter, plenty of cabbage on top, then pork and — the distinctive part — a layer of yakisoba noodles, with egg on top. The result is a much taller and more filling dish.

The city even has multi-storey buildings devoted to it, with dozens of small counters working side by side. Sitting across the griddle and watching it cook is part of the experience.

Oysters (kaki) are the city's second signature. Hiroshima Bay is one of Japan's largest oyster producers. Winter — roughly November to March — is the season. You'll find them grilled, fried or raw; on Miyajima there are stalls selling grilled oysters in the island's streets.

The third classic is tsukemen: cold noodles eaten by dipping them in a spicy sauce. The Hiroshima style is distinctly spicy, and you can choose the heat level.

To avoid pinning Hiroshima's history to a single day, give time to the north and east of the park too. Shukkeien is a stroll garden created in 1620 as a daimyo garden, bringing together a pond, islets, bridges and little valleys in a miniature landscape. Its restoration after heavy destruction in 1945 quietly but powerfully tells the city's story of continuity. Being close to the station, it's easy to fit into your arrival or departure day; think of it not as a quick photo stop but as a calm walk of at least an hour.

Be careful with old guides on Hiroshima Castle. The reconstructed main keep closed to visitors on 22 March 2026 because of structural deterioration; it can be seen from outside, but you can't go up into the keep museum. The moats, stone walls, Gokoku Shrine and the rebuilt Ninomaru buildings around it can be visited. Don't go just for a panoramic view; add it if you're curious about how the city plan developed around the castle.

For a calmer half day, Mitaki-dera, reached by JR, offers three waterfalls, stone Buddha figures and a red pagoda in the forest. It's especially beautiful in autumn, but in any season it's a quick escape into nature from the centre. The paths are steep and can be slippery in rain; put it in the flexible part of your second day, not the same packed morning as the Peace Park.

If you're interested in art, the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum next to Shukkeien is an indoor bad-weather backup. As the exhibition programme changes, decide by checking the current exhibition rather than on the promise of a collection.

Hiroshima is one of the few large cities in Japan to keep its tram network, and these trams are part of the city's character. Some vehicles are decades old; a few that survived the war are still in service.

Almost everywhere you need as a visitor is on the tram network. There are lines from Hiroshima Station to the Peace Park and to the Miyajima ferry pier. You usually pay when getting off, and IC cards are accepted.

The city is also bike-friendly — built on a delta, it's flat, with pleasant routes along the riverbanks.

Around Hiroshima Station — The Shinkansen connection and the start of the tram lines. Practical but characterless.

Hondori / Kamiyacho — The city's central shopping and dining area, within walking distance of the Peace Park. The most balanced choice for first-timers.

Miyajima island — Expensive but special. For those who want to experience the island in silence after the day-trippers leave.

Hiroshima can generally be noticeably more affordable than Tokyo and Kyoto. However, since 1 April 2026 an accommodation tax of ¥200 per person per night has applied at eligible accommodation in Hiroshima Prefecture; some low-priced and exempt accommodation is outside its scope. Check whether it's included in your booking price.

Autumn (October–November) is the most balanced period: the weather is cool, the maple valley on Miyajima changes colour and humidity drops.

Winter (November–March) is oyster season. The city is cold but not harsh like Hokkaido; if you're coming for the food, it's the right time.

6 August is the day of remembrance. A ceremony is held in the city and lanterns are floated on the river in the evening. It's very meaningful but very crowded; if you're coming on this date, book accommodation months in advance.

Summer is humid and hot; if you're planning a climb on Miyajima, set off early in the morning.

Behave with restraint in the Peace Park. You can take photos here, but walking quietly rather than posing in front of the memorials is appropriate. The Memorial Mound is a real burial site.

Leave time for the museum. The most common mistake is squeezing the museum into an hour. Allow two hours and don't schedule anything afterwards.

Check the tide table. Planning your Miyajima visit around it decides whether you get the torii photo.

Don't feed the deer on Miyajima. Unlike Nara, feeding isn't wanted here; keep your map and ticket safe too.

Don't see the city as just a stop. Hiroshima's riverbanks, coffee culture and evenings are very enjoyable; coming only for the museum and leaving the same day makes for an incomplete visit.