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Destinations / Japan

Hiroshima

Hiroshima (広島)

Peace, rebirth and the floating torii

historyfoodfirst-timersnature
Plan your trip to HiroshimaSee the top 10
1,190,000Population
2.0 millionMetro area
JapaneseLanguage
JPYCurrency
3 daysIdeal stay
$150-250Typical day

Hiroshima is a vibrant city rebuilt after the 1945 atomic bombing, now a global symbol of peace. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum are profoundly moving. Miyajima's floating torii gate is a short trip away.

Where to start

Top 10 things to do

Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.

  1. A park at the hypocenter with memorials to bombing victims. The Children's Peace Monument has paper cranes.

    1.5 hoursTime needed
    about $1-3Cost
    noBook ahead

    The park is free and the museum charges a small fee (admission has been changed at times, so check).

    Tip. Ring the Peace Bell.
    Official siteSee on the map

  2. The skeletal ruin of a hall left as the bomb struck. It is a UNESCO site.

    30 minutesTime needed
    FreeCost
    noBook ahead

    Free outside view.

    Tip. Visit at dusk.
    See on the map

  3. Museum documenting the bombing and its human toll. It is intense and essential.

    2 hoursTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Small fee for adults.

    Tip. Go early to avoid queues.
    Official siteSee on the map

  4. A building with floors of okonomiyaki stalls. Fun and tasty.

    1 hourTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Meal costs.

    Tip. Sit at the griddle.
    See on the map

  5. A shrine on stilts with a giant torii in the sea. Deer roam the island.

    Full dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Shrine fee plus island visitor tax.

    Tip. Train and ferry take about 1 hour.
    Official siteSee on the map

  6. A reconstructed castle with a museum. Moat views are good.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $3-5Cost
    noBook ahead

    The grounds are free and the main keep charges entry.

    Tip. Grounds are free.
    See on the map

  7. A 1620 landscape garden in miniature. Teahouses dot it.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $2-3Cost
    noBook ahead

    Small entry fee.

    Tip. Lovely in autumn.
    See on the map

  8. Miyajima's peak with a ropeway and views. Monkeys and temples on the way.

    Half dayTime needed
    about $12-18Cost
    noBook ahead

    Return ropeway ticket; hiking up is free.

    Tip. Combine with the shrine.
    See on the map

  9. Viewing deck overlooking the Dome. You can fold cranes.

    1 hourTime needed
    about $10-15Cost
    noBook ahead

    Entry price varies with the deck option.

    Tip. Sunset views.
    Official siteSee on the map

  10. An elegant five-arched wooden bridge. Castle above it.

    Half dayTime needed
    noBook ahead

    Bridge toll.

    Tip. Train about 45 minutes.
    See on the map
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors.
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Ready-made itineraries

Choose how many days you have.

Hiroshima in three days

Peace day, Miyajima day, then Shukkeien and Onomichi.

  1. Peace Memorial Park1.5 hours · about $1-3
  2. Atomic Bomb Dome30 minutes · Free
  3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum2 hours
  4. Okonomiyaki Mura1 hour
  5. Itsukushima Shrine and MiyajimaFull day
  6. Hiroshima Castle1 hour · about $3-5
  7. Shukkeien Garden1 hour · about $2-3
  8. Mount MisenHalf day · about $12-18
  9. Orizuru Tower1 hour · about $10-15
  10. Iwakuni Kintaikyo BridgeHalf day
Beyond the city

Day trips

Onomichi

Hilly temple town and cycling route.

53 mi · Train, about 1 hour

Kure

Yamato Museum.

19 mi · Train, about 40 minutes

Kure and the Yamato Museum

A port city with a museum on Japan's naval history and its warship.

16 mi · JR train, about 40 minutes

Tomonoura

A quiet old harbour town with a preserved lantern and stone quays.

59 mi · Train and bus, about 2 hours each way

Plan your dates

Weather and seasons

Best: March to May and October to November. Cherry blossoms or autumn leaves.

Busy and priceyShoulderQuiet and cheaper

Temperature

Daily high and average, by month

32°50°68°86°104°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecDaily highAverage

Rain

Typical inches per month

0.00.81.62.43.13.94.75.56.37.17.98.79.410.2JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

January

42°F
Typical daily high
Average35°F
Rain2.5 in
About8 rainy days
Sun strength2.2 kWh/m²

Quiet season. Lower prices, fewer crowds.

Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.

Main events

Aug

Peace Memorial Ceremony

August 6

Ceremony and lantern floating on the river.

May

Hiroshima Flower Festival

May 3 to 5

A big Golden Week street festival with parades and stage shows.

Year

Miyajima Water Fireworks

Mid to late autumn (check the date each year)

Fireworks over the bay near the floating torii gate.

Jan

Hiroshima Dreamination

Mid November to early January

Winter illuminations along the main boulevard.

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Know before you go

At a glance

5/5
Safety

Japan is at US State Department Level 1 (normal precautions); very safe.

4/5
Walkability

Flat and easy to walk.

4/5
Public transport

Streetcars and buses; IC cards work.

Pick your base

Where to stay

The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.

Map: OpenStreetMap contributors. Shapes where OpenStreetMap has a boundary; dashed circles mark areas it only has a point for.
12345

1. Hiroshima Station

$$

Best for: first-timers

Transport hub.

2. Hondori and Peace Park

$$

Best for: couples

Central and walkable.

3. Miyajima

$$$$

Best for: couples

Overnight ryokan.

4. Hon-dori and Kamiya-cho

$$

Best for: food lovers, nightlife, shoppers

Central, with shops and restaurants within walking distance of the Peace Park.

5. Near the Peace Park

$$$

Best for: history lovers, couples

Quiet riverside setting close to the main memorials.

Getting there and around

Main airportHiroshima Airport (HIJ), 31 mi from the center
To the centerAirport limousine bus to Hiroshima Station takes about 50 to 60 minutes.
Around townStreetcars, walking and ferries to Miyajima.
Ride appsGO, Uber
Taste it

What to eat

Hiroshima okonomiyaki

Layered savory pancake with noodles.

Oysters

Grilled oysters on Miyajima.

Momiji manju

Maple leaf cakes.

Anago meshi

Sea eel over rice, a Miyajima speciality.

Good to know

PlugsType A and B, 100 V
Tap waterSafe to drink
TippingTipping is not practiced and can cause confusion.
PaymentsCards are widely accepted, but carry cash for small shops, shrines and some restaurants.
EtiquetteQueue in line, keep quiet on trains and do not eat while walking in busy areas.
  • Miyajima has a small visitor tax.
  • The floating torii appears at high tide; check tide tables.
  • Okonomiyaki here is layered with noodles.
  • The Peace Museum is crowded midday.
  • Many sights are close together, so a tram day pass is not always needed.
  • The Peace Memorial Museum is emotionally heavy, so plan a calm hour afterward.
  • Miyajima levies a small visitor tax on the ferry fare.
  • Check the tide for the best photos of the floating torii: it looks floating at high tide and walkable at low tide.

A short history

Hiroshima was founded as a castle town in 1589. On August 6, 1945, it became the first city struck by an atomic bomb, killing tens of thousands instantly. The Atomic Bomb Dome was preserved as a memorial. The rebuilt city declared itself a city of peace.

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Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.

Plan Hiroshima