Top places to visit in Hiroshima

• Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima Island

  Shinto sea shrine · 4.9 rating · about 4 h · check the fee at the gate

  A 20-minute ferry from Hiroshima, Miyajima Island contains Itsukushima Shrine — a UNESCO World Heritage Shinto shrine built over the sea whose iconic O-torii gate appears to float at high tide and sits in dry sand at low tide. The gate and…

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & A-Bomb Dome

  peace memorial · 4.8 rating · about 3 h · check the fee at the gate

  The A-Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome) — the only building left standing near the hypocenter of the world's first atomic bomb attack on August 6, 1945 — is now a UNESCO World Heritage site and the most powerful symbol of peace in the world. The…

• Hiroshima Hondori Shotengai & Okonomimura

  shopping arcade & food hall · 4.5 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Hiroshima's 600-metre covered Hondori shopping arcade is the city's retail heart, transitioning to the legendary Okonomimura (Okonomiyaki Village) — a five-storey building with 24 independent okonomiyaki restaurants. Hiroshima-style…

• Hiroshima Castle (Carp Castle)

  historic castle · 4.2 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Originally built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, Hiroshima Castle was the centre of a thriving castle town before 1945. The current five-storey tower (rebuilt 1958) houses a museum tracing feudal Hiroshima's history and gives fine views of the…

• Shukkeien Garden

  Nature · about 1 h · entry ¥260 (≈ ₹160)

  Historic Edo-period landscape garden laid out in 1620 with a central pond, tea houses and miniature scenic views.

• Mazda Museum

  Museum · about 1.5 h · free entry

  Factory museum tracing Mazda's rotary-engine history with an assembly-line viewing walkway (reservation required).

• Mitaki-dera Temple

  Temple · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Serene mountainside Buddhist temple with three waterfalls, a vermilion pagoda and forest paths above the city.

• Mount Misen

  Viewpoint · about 2.5 h · entry ¥2,000 (≈ ₹1,200)

  Sacred 535 m summit on Miyajima with primeval forest, an eternal flame and panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea.

• Daisho-in Temple

  Temple · about 0.8 h · free entry

  Atmospheric Shingon Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount Misen, famous for spinning sutra wheels and rows of jizo statues.

• Senjokaku & Five-Storey Pagoda

  Heritage · about 0.5 h · entry ¥100 (≈ ₹60)

  Vast unfinished 16th-century hall of a thousand tatami mats beside a striking 27 m vermilion pagoda on Miyajima.

• Orizuru Tower

  Viewpoint · about 1 h · entry ¥2,200 (≈ ₹1,320)

  Observation tower overlooking the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park, with a spiral wooden ramp and paper-crane wall.

• Hiroshima Museum of Art

  Museum · about 1 h · entry ¥1,500 (≈ ₹900)

  Compact museum in Central Park known for French Impressionist works and Japanese modern painting.

Things to do

• Miyajima Island & Floating Torii Day Trip Cultural · 6 h · from JPY 7,600 per person
• Peace Memorial Museum & Atomic Bomb Dome Guided Tour Cultural · 3 h · from JPY 2,800 per person
• Hiroshima Oyster Tasting & Okonomiyaki Class Cultural · 3 h · from JPY 10,900 per person
• Peace Park & Hypocenter Walking Tour Tour · 2 h · from JPY 3,000 per person

Day trips and tours

• Hiroshima Peace Park & Miyajima Floating Torii Full Day 10 h · from JPY 9,300

Where to stay in Hiroshima

• Central Area about JPY 4,000 per night

  Peace memorial area with accommodation

• Peace Memorial Park Area about JPY 14,000 per night

  The most meaningful location to stay in Hiroshima — wake up and walk to the Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Museum before tourist crowds arrive. Excellent restaurants on Hondori covered arcade nearby.

Hotels

• ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima 4-star · JPY 18,000 to JPY 35,000 per night
• Sheraton Grand Hiroshima 5-star · JPY 22,000 to JPY 45,000 per night
• J-Hoppers Hiroshima Guesthouse 2-star
• Hotel Granvia Hiroshima 4-star
• Aster Plaza Hiroshima 3-star · JPY 6,500 to JPY 12,000 per night

Where to eat

• Okonomimura Japanese, Okonomiyaki · about JPY 1,200 per person
• Hassei Okonomiyaki Japanese · about JPY 1,200 per person
• Kakifune Kanawa Japanese, Seafood · about JPY 5,500 per person
• Ramen Yokocho Hiroshima Japanese, Ramen · about JPY 1,100 per person
• Nagataya japanese, okonomiyaki · about JPY 1,500 per person
• Ekohiiki japanese, noodles · about JPY 1,000 per person
• Kaki Tei japanese, seafood · about JPY 3,500 per person

Getting to Hiroshima

Airport: Hiroshima (HIJ)

How visitors arrive in Hiroshima

• Shinkansen to Hiroshima Station By train from Osaka / Tokyo · common

  The Sanyo Shinkansen stops at JR Hiroshima Station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Fly to Hiroshima Airport By air from Tokyo Haneda · common

  The airport has domestic and some Asian routes, with buses to the city. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Highway bus By road from Tokyo / Osaka · possible

  Overnight and day buses leave from Hiroshima Station and the Bus Center. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

• Ferry from Matsuyama By ferry from Matsuyama · possible

  Ferries from Shikoku dock at Ujina port. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

From the airport to the centre

• Airport bus

  Buses run from Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) to JR Hiroshima Station and to the Hiroshima Bus Center. Source: city.hiroshima.lg.jp

From the railway station to the centre

• Sanyo Shinkansen

  Hiroshima Station is on the Sanyo Shinkansen. Shinkansen arrive on the north side; an underground walkway leads to the south side with trams, buses and taxis. Source: city.hiroshima.lg.jp

From the port to the centre

• Ferry from Matsuyama

  Ishizaki Kisen ferries from Matsuyama dock at Ujina Passenger Terminal, where several tram lines end. Source: en.wikivoyage.org

Getting around

• Tram

  Hiroden streetcars run from Hiroshima Station, lines 2 and 6 stop at Genbaku Dome-mae by Peace Memorial Park, and the Miyajima Line reaches the ferry area at Miyajimaguchi.

  Hiroden streetcar official site

• Transit Pass

  Hiroden lists nationwide IC cards such as Suica, ICOCA and Pasmo as accepted on its streetcars, with a tap when boarding and again when getting off.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Roppongi bar overcharge

  Roppongi · Kabukicho nightlife

  Foreign-fronted bar in Roppongi adds drink charges and seat fees you weren't shown; bill arrives at 5–10x expected.

  How to avoid it: Stick to bars with clear printed menus and prices on the door. Ask price before sitting.

• Unmetered Taxi from Hiroshima Station

  Hiroshima Station south exit taxi queue

  Rare but reported: a driver quotes a flat ¥3,000 fare to Peace Memorial Park (standard meter fare is ~¥800). Refusal mid-journey is possible.

  How to avoid it: Use the metered taxi queue at Hiroshima Station. The streetcar (tram) to Peace Park costs ¥190 and is perfectly safe.

• Fake "closed today" misdirection scam

  Near popular restaurants and shops, Osaka

  A friendly local approaches tourists heading to a well-known restaurant saying it is "closed today" and offers to guide them to "a better place" — which is invariably a higher-priced establishment where they receive commission.

  How to avoid it: Verify opening hours directly on Google Maps or Tabelog. Do not trust unsolicited advice from strangers outside restaurants. Walk past and check yourself.

• Yatai overcharging for tourists

  Nakasu riverfront yatai stalls

  Some yatai operators charge tourists significantly more than Japanese customers, or add undisclosed items to the bill. Alcohol portions may be measured to inflate costs.

  How to avoid it: Confirm the price of each item before ordering. Ask for a running total if unsure. Reputable yatai clearly display prices; if there is no menu, ask before ordering.

• Misleading "English tour guide" approaches near Peace Park

  Peace Memorial Park entrance, Hiroshima

  Individuals approach tourists outside the Peace Museum offering a private guided tour for a "suggested donation." Quality varies widely and some request large sums at the end.

  How to avoid it: The Peace Museum offers official English audio guides for ¥300. City-accredited volunteer guides are available at the Tourist Information Center at no charge. Only use accredited guides.

Best time to visit Hiroshima

• Jan 10°C
• Feb 11°C
• Mar 15°C
• Apr 20°C
• May 24°C
• Jun 27°C
• Jul 31°C
• Aug 33°C
• Sep 29°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 18°C
• Dec 12°C

More in Japan

• Tokyo
• Kyoto
• Osaka
• Hakone
• Kamakura
• Nikko

Frequently asked questions about Hiroshima

How many days do you need in Hiroshima?

A typical trip to Hiroshima is 1-2 days.

What are the top-rated places to visit in Hiroshima?

The highest-rated places in our Hiroshima guide are Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & A-Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Hondori Shotengai & Okonomimura, Hiroshima Castle (Carp Castle).

Where should I stay in Hiroshima?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Hiroshima: Central Area, Peace Memorial Park Area.

How do I get around Hiroshima?

Ways to get around Hiroshima covered in our guide: Tram, Transit pass, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Hiroshima?

Scams reported to us for Hiroshima include Roppongi bar overcharge; Unmetered Taxi from Hiroshima Station; Fake "closed today" misdirection scam. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Hiroshima?

Average daytime highs in Hiroshima run from 10°C in Jan to 33°C in Aug.

Which airport is nearest to Hiroshima?

The nearest airport to Hiroshima has the code HIJ.