Hiroshima Travel Guide: Where to Stay, What to See and How to Get Around
This Hiroshima travel guide covers Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima, where to stay, trams, okonomiyaki and 2026 prices.
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In this guide
Hiroshima is a compact riverside city shaped by the 1945 atomic bombing, and a short ferry from one of Japan’s most famous shrine gates. Two full days cover Peace Memorial Park, the museum, the castle grounds, Shukkeien Garden and Miyajima. This guide answers where to stay, what to see, what to eat, how to get around, and what the main sights cost in 2026.
How many days do you need in Hiroshima?
Two full days is the right number for a first visit. Spend day one in Peace Memorial Park and the streets around it. Add Hiroshima Castle or Shukkeien if the legs allow. Give day two entirely to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine, and leave early enough to catch the torii gate at high tide.
A third day buys slower options. The Mazda Museum and Orizuru Tower fill a half day, and an overnight on Miyajima removes the last-ferry rush. Hiroshima also works as a stop between Osaka and further west, and it sits naturally on a wider first trip built around our seven days in Japan route.
Where should you stay in Hiroshima?
Most visitors pick between three bases: the station for trains, downtown for food and evenings, and the quieter Peace Park side for museum walks. All three sit on the same flat tram grid, so none is a bad choice.
| Area | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Hiroshima Station | Shinkansen arrivals and early departures, department-store basements | 10 to 15 minutes by tram from the Peace Park |
| Downtown (Hondori, Nagarekawa) | Restaurants, izakaya, nightlife, walking to most sights | Louder late at night; book central rooms early |
| Near Peace Memorial Park | Early museum visits, quiet evenings | Fewer dinner options after dark |
| Ujina and the port | Ferries onward, quieter rooms | A tram ride from the centre for every meal |
For a first stay, downtown is the best compromise. Hondori shopping arcade, Okonomimura and the tram stop for the Atomic Bomb Dome all sit within a short walk, and rooms run from about 7,000 to 14,000 yen a night in mid-range hotels. Light sleepers should skip rooms directly above Nagarekawa bars.
Hiroshima Station suits anyone with an early Shinkansen or a tight connection. The station area has more chain hotels, coin lockers and basement food halls than the riverside, and trams reach the Peace Park in about 15 minutes for a flat 240 yen ($1.55, about €1.35).
What should you see in Hiroshima?
Group the city sights by riverside and castle district, then keep Miyajima on its own morning.
Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome
Peace Memorial Park covers about 122,100 square metres of land once used as a military parade ground near the hypocentre of the 6 August 1945 atomic bombing (park overview). The park is free to walk at any hour. It holds the Cenotaph, whose arch frames the A-Bomb Dome and carries the names of more than 220,000 victims. The Atomic Bomb Dome is the skeletal remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. You view it from outside the fence. You do not go inside.
The Peace Memorial Park riverside, with the Atomic Bomb Dome at the centre of the view.
The Peace Memorial Museum sits at the heart of the park and is the reason most first visits need a full morning. Admission costs 200 yen ($1.30, about €1.10) for adults (hours and tickets). Opening hours run 7:30am to 7pm. They stretch to 8pm through August and shorten to 6pm from December to February. Book a timed entry online for the first hour of the day or the last 90 minutes. Walk-ups fill the middle of the day instead. The museum closes on 30 and 31 December and for three days in mid-February. Plan two hours inside. Then walk the park, the Peace Flame and the National Peace Memorial Hall without rushing them.
From Hiroshima Station, take tram line 2 or 6 to Genbaku Dome Mae. The ride takes about 15 minutes for the flat 240 yen fare (city transport). The Meipuru-pu loop bus also serves the park at 240 yen a ride or 600 yen for a day pass. The pass is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine
Miyajima, formally Itsukushima, is the island day trip that defines a Hiroshima visit. Its Itsukushima Shrine and floating torii gate sit in the tidal flats west of the city, a UNESCO site since 1996. Shrine entry costs 300 yen, or 500 yen with the treasure hall (shrine hours and fees). Hours run 6:30am to 6pm from mid-March to 14 October and shorten by half an hour in the cooler months, with no regular closing day. The gate and corridors stay lit until 11pm. You cannot enter the shrine after sunset unless you hold a place on the 30-minute night cruise, which costs about 1,600 yen and needs booking.
The great torii at low tide, when the seabed opens around its legs.
The practical sequence is simple. From Hiroshima Station, ride the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi in about 25 to 30 minutes for 420 yen one way, covered by the Japan Rail Pass (Miyajima access). Tram line 2 reaches Miyajimaguchi too, for 240 yen and closer to an hour. From the pier, both JR West and Matsudai Kisen ferries cross in about 10 minutes for 200 yen one way, with boats every 10 to 15 minutes. Only the JR ferry is covered by the Rail Pass. Its daytime sailings take the Great Torii Route past the gate. Add the separate 100 yen Miyajima visitor tax, collected only on the way to the island (operator fares). Plan on about 45 to 90 minutes door to shrine, depending on connections.
On the island, do not feed the wild deer. Unlike Nara, feeding is banned and can draw a fine. The five-storied pagoda near the shrine is under renovation until November 2027, with scaffolding due to come down in December 2026. The ropeway up Mount Misen costs about 2,000 yen return, or 1,500 yen with the Hiroshima-area tram and ferry day pass.
Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden
Hiroshima Castle, known locally as Carp Castle, was founded in 1589 by Mori Terumoto and rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1958 after the bombing. The five-storey keep closed permanently on 22 March 2026, when the city decided the structure no longer met earthquake standards. This is the single biggest change for visitors in 2026: older guides still list a 370 yen keep ticket and a climb, and both are now wrong. The keep stays visible from outside. The moats, stone walls and free Ninomaru buildings remain open. Ninomaru hours run 9am to 5:30pm, and shorten to 4:30pm from October to March. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing, and the New Year closure runs 29 December to 2 January. Budget about an hour for the grounds, then walk 10 to 15 minutes east to Shukkeien.
The castle keep above the moat, still the landmark even with the interior shut.
Shukkeien Garden is a “shrunken-scenery” landscape garden dating to 1620. It models valleys, mountains and forests in miniature around a central pond ringed by tea houses (garden details). Entry costs 350 yen ($2.25, about €1.95). Hours run 9am to 6pm, and until 5pm from 16 September to 15 March. Admission ends 30 minutes before closing, and the garden is shut from 29 to 31 December. It sits a 15-minute walk from Hiroshima Station, or a short hop by tram line 9.
Find experiences for your Hiroshima trip
If you book through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.How much does it cost to see Hiroshima’s main sights?
The paid sights are cheap by Japanese city standards. Most of a day’s sightseeing bill is transport and food.
| Attraction | Entry fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Peace Memorial Park and A-Bomb Dome | Free | Open at all hours; Dome viewed from outside |
| Peace Memorial Museum | 200 yen | 7:30am to 7pm; longer hours in August; book peak slots |
| Hiroshima Castle grounds and Ninomaru | Free | Keep closed permanently since 22 March 2026 |
| Shukkeien Garden | 350 yen | 9am to 6pm; shorter hours in winter |
| Itsukushima Shrine | 300 yen | 500 yen with treasure hall; no regular closing day |
| Miyajima ferry return plus visitor tax | About 500 yen | 200 yen each way plus 100 yen tax |
| Tram one-day pass | 700 yen | 1,000 yen with Miyajima ferry and visitor tax |
| Meipuru-pu loop bus day pass | 600 yen | Covered by the Japan Rail Pass |
What should you eat in Hiroshima?
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is the city’s signature plate. It differs from the Osaka version in one clear way: the batter is a thin layer, and cabbage, yakisoba noodles, egg and toppings are stacked rather than mixed (local food guide). Popular additions include oysters, squid and cheese, finished with sauce, bonito flakes and green seaweed. Most shops seat you at a counter facing a large griddle. The multi-building Okonomimura near the station gathers dozens of those counters under one roof. Budget about 1,000 to 1,500 yen ($6.45 to $9.70) for a standard plate.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, stacked rather than mixed, with sauce and sesame on top.
Hiroshima Prefecture produces roughly 60 to 70 percent of Japan’s oysters. You will find them raw with soy or ponzu, deep-fried, grilled on the half shell, or piled on rice. On Miyajima, grilled anago saltwater eel and momiji manju are the things to buy warm. Momiji manju are maple-leaf cakes with sweet red bean paste, created on the island in the early 1900s. Tsukemen, cold noodles dipped in a spicy red-pepper sauce with a heat scale you choose, is the local lunch that is not a pancake.
For wider context on Japanese street food and market eating, see our Japanese street food guide and the Japan trip cost breakdown before setting a daily food budget.
How do you get around Hiroshima?
The city runs on trams with a flat 240 yen fare anywhere on the network, paid on exit (access guide). An IC card such as Suica, ICOCA or Pasmo works on trams, trains and the Miyajima ferries. A one-day tram pass costs 700 yen. It rises to 1,000 yen when it includes the Miyajima ferry and the island visitor tax, which is the version to buy if Miyajima is on the plan. The Meipuru-pu loop bus charges 240 yen a ride or 600 yen for a day pass, stops every 10 to 15 minutes, and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass.
- From Tokyo: the Shinkansen reaches Hiroshima in about 4 hours. Non-reserved seats run about 18,380 yen, and reserved Nozomi seats about 19,500 yen. The Japan Rail Pass covers Hikari and Sakura services, not Nozomi. Nozomi needs a roughly 6,500 yen supplement.
- From Osaka: the Shinkansen takes about 1 hour 25 minutes. That timing makes Hiroshima a realistic overnight or two-night stop from a Kansai base.
- From Hiroshima Airport: the bus journey into the city takes about 50 minutes and costs around 1,500 yen.
- Within the centre: most Peace Park, castle and downtown sights sit inside a 20-minute tram or walking triangle. Taxis are metered and useful late at night or with bags.
A Rail Pass only pays for itself if you are already crossing the country by train. Price single tickets against a pass with our Japan Rail Pass guide before you buy. Coming from Tokyo or Kyoto, the bullet train is usually the only sensible option. Once you are in Hiroshima, the tram and one well-timed ferry beat any tour bus.
When is the best time to visit Hiroshima?
Late March to early April brings cherry blossom to the castle moat, Shukkeien and the riverside paths around Peace Park. October and November bring cooler air, clearer views of the torii from the Miyajima ferry and comfortable walking weather. Both windows are busy. Book rooms early and expect the highest rates of the year.
August is complicated on purpose. The Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6 August draws visitors who want to be there for the anniversary, and the museum stays open until 8pm. Daytime heat and humidity are severe. June is rainy, and September carries typhoon risk that can stop the Miyajima ferries. December to February is quieter and cheaper, with shorter museum and garden hours. For the wider national picture, use our best time to visit Japan guide alongside these local notes. Official destination context also sits on the JNTO Hiroshima page.
Hiroshima works when the days stay simple: park and museum first, Miyajima second, then the castle and garden only if the schedule has room. An IC card, a tram day pass and a rough plan by neighbourhood are most of what the city needs. Browse our Japan guides when you are ready to add the next stop.
At a glance
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Riverside park around the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, free to walk and the centre of any first visit to Hiroshima.
- Address
- Hiroshima, JP
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
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Japan at a glance
Best time to visit
March to May, October to November
- January: cool, some showers
- February: cool, some showers
- March: mild, rainy
- April: mild, rainy
- May: warm, rainy
- June: warm, very wet
- July: warm, very wet
- August: hot, rainy
- September: warm, very wet
- October: mild, very wet
- November: mild, rainy
- December: cool, some showers
Some showers Rainy Very wet
- Capital
- Tokyo
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY)
- Language
- Japanese
- Time zone
- JST, UTC+9
- Plugs
- Type A / B, 100 V
- Driving
- On the left
Emergency110 police, 119 fire and ambulance
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Hiroshima?
Two full days covers Peace Memorial Park and the museum, Hiroshima Castle grounds, Shukkeien Garden and a full day trip to Miyajima at an easy pace. A third day suits the Mazda Museum, Orizuru Tower, or a slower look at the park. One overnight in Miyajima itself turns the day trip into a quieter evening on the island.
How do I get from Hiroshima to Miyajima?
Take the JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi in about 25 to 30 minutes for 420 yen, covered by the Japan Rail Pass, then a 10-minute ferry for 200 yen. Add the 100 yen Miyajima visitor tax charged only when you arrive on the island. The whole journey takes roughly one hour door to pier.
How much does the Peace Memorial Museum cost in 2026?
Admission costs 200 yen for adults, about 100 yen for high school students, and free for younger children. Opening hours run 7:30am to 7pm, extending to 8pm in August and shortening to 6pm from December to February. Book a timed slot online for the first hour of the day or the last 90 minutes, and note the museum closes 30 and 31 December plus three days in mid-February.
Is Hiroshima Castle open to climb in 2026?
No. The main keep closed permanently on 22 March 2026 after the 1958 concrete reconstruction no longer met earthquake standards. The moats, stone walls, grounds and rebuilt Ninomaru buildings stay open and free of charge. The keep itself remains visible from outside, and a new Sannomaru History Museum is scheduled to open in June 2027.
What is the best time to visit Hiroshima?
Late March to early April for cherry blossom in the castle park and along the rivers, or October to November for cooler walking weather. August brings the Peace Memorial Ceremony on 6 August and longer museum hours, but also peak heat. June is rainy, and September carries typhoon risk.
Is Hiroshima worth visiting for the food alone?
Yes. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki layers cabbage and yakisoba rather than mixing batter, the prefecture produces roughly 60 to 70 percent of Japan's oysters, and Miyajima adds grilled anago eel and momiji manju maple cakes. Okonomimura near the station packs counters into several buildings, so a full meal rarely costs much more than a typical night out elsewhere in Japan.
Useful links (6)
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Japan Guide— japan-guide.com
- Hiroshima, Japan Guide (city overview)— japan-guide.com
- How to get to and around Hiroshima, Japan Guide— japan-guide.com
- Hiroshima Food Guide, Japan Guide— japan-guide.com
- Hiroshima destination guide, Japan National Tourism Organization— japan.travel
- Miyajima ferry fares, Miyajima Matsudai Kisen— miyajima-matsudai.co.jp
Photo credits
Thank you to DXR, original photo: Dean S. Pemberton (derivative work: Torsodog, Bernard Gagnon and ノボホショコロトソ for sharing these beautiful photographs and helping bring this guide to life.
Editorial byline
Sophie Bennett Asia editor
Sophie covers Japan and Thailand for Epic Trip Ideas: temple towns, festivals, rail journeys, street food and island routes, planned around seasons and local holidays. Sophie Bennett is a pen name the Epic Trip Ideas editors use for Japan and Thailand; every guide is checked against official sources before it goes live.
