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Hiroshima: 12 Must-See Destinations
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Known as the city of peace and culture, Hiroshima has many places worth visiting. The Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, Itsukushima Shrine, and the Hiroshima Museum of Art are just some of them!
Hiroshima: The City of Peace and Culture
Photo by Pixta
The largest city in the central area of Japan, Hiroshima is internationally famous thanks to its two World Heritage sites, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima island.
There are also plenty of other historical places to visit in the city, the highlights of which include Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden. Hiroshima is also a city for the arts - the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art and the Hiroshima Art Gallery are must-visit spots for art lovers.
12 Must-Visit Destinations in Hiroshima
1. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
3. Orizuru Tower
4. Itsukushima Shrine
5. Mt. Misen
6. Miyajima Public Aquarium
7. Hiroshima Castle
8. Naka Waste Incineration Plant
9. Shukukeien Garden
10. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
11. Hiroshima Museum of Art
12. Mitaki Temple
Traveling to Hiroshima
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1. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and A-Bomb Dome
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was built right in the area where the atomic bomb exploded. This park is home to the A-Bomb Dome, the only standing structure near the hypocenter and currently a UNESCO World Heritage Site on its own.
Before the bombing, this structure used to be the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. It was established as an institution that showcased products from Hiroshima Prefecture and from all around Japan and was used as an art exhibition hall and government offices.
The inside of the dome is off-limits to the public, though the outside may be viewed at any time. The dome is illuminated at night, which gives it a strikingly different appearance compared to that during the daytime.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is also within the park, as well as the cenotaph honoring those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing.
In front of the museum, you'll find The Children's Peace Monument, which was built to commemorate Sadako Sasaki and the thousands of children who died due to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
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2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum displays objects pertaining to the war and bombing. If you look straight out of the central window in the museum, you will be able to see both the A-Bomb Dome and the Cenotaph.
On the commemoration day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, every year on August 6, at the time of the attack, 8:15 AM, a moment of silence is held in remembrance of those who lost their lives and to pray for world peace.
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3. Orizuru Tower
Photo by Pixta
Overlooking the Peace Memorial Park and Museum is a new addition to the Hiroshima skyline: Orizuru Tower. Built as a monument to the reconstruction of Hiroshima city after the bombings, this new modern building serves as a reminder of the city’s resilience and an example of forward-thinking architecture.
Visitors can fold their own paper cranes on the 12th floor and cast them into the air as part of a group artwork effort known as the Orizuru Wall to create colorful mosaics within a glass enclosure. You can also try your hand at digitally folding a giant paper crane as part of an interactive art exhibit.
While you’re up there why not enjoy the views of this fantastic river delta city while sipping on your favorite beverage and enjoying many of the fine snacks that the city is known for?
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4. Itsukushima Shrine
Photo by Pixta
Miyajima Island is where you will find the World Cultural Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine, which is considered to be one of the most scenic places in all of Japan.
With both Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines dotting the landscape, this island is also referred to as the "island of the gods." There are many other historical structures on Miyajima such as Daiganji Temple and Daishoin Temple. When the tide is out, visitors can walk out to the great torii that stands in front of Itsukushima Shrine.
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5. Mt. Misen
Photo by Pixta
Towering over Miyajima at an elevation of 533 meters is Mt. Misen with its incredible mountain trails.
Take the Miyajima Ropeway to ascend to the summit in a single stretch; from this peak, you can enjoy panoramic views of the land around you and the sea. At the foot of Misen lies the famous park Momijidani Park where, in the fall, thousands of spectators come to enjoy the splendid fall foliage.
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6. Miyajima Public Aquarium
Photo by Pixta
After passing through Itsukushima Shrine and heading past Daishoin, you will find yourself at the Miyajima Public Aquarium, which is affectionately called Miyajima Marine by the locals.
The exhibits introduce the features of sea life in the Setouchi Inland Sea, as well as the natural environment of Miyajima Island. There are ten exhibition areas and five pools with various sea creatures such as dolphins and otters.
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7. Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle was a fortress built by the great commander of the city Mori Terumoto at the delta on the mouth of the Ota River.
The castle tower of Hiroshima Castle extends five stories into the sky. The castle has wooden slats attached to its outer walls; this feature distinguishes it from other famous castles in Japan.
From the observatory within the castle tower, visitors can enjoy the view of Hiroshima City. The museum inside has exhibits themed around the military commanders who built the original castle, plus armor and arms that belonged to Mori Terumoto and the Mori family, the former lords of this castle.
Within the precincts of Hiroshima Castle is Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine with an impressive stone torii gate.
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8. Naka Waste Incineration Plant
Inside the Naka Waste Incineration Plant, towering waste processing funnels stand behind two-story-tall glass walls with natural light filtering in from the Seto Inland Sea-faced windows. The architect who designed this light-infused steel and glass structure is Yoshio Taniguchi, who was also in charge of the MoMA in New York.
With free entry, this is a perfect place to spend some time amid Hiroshima's inspiring contemporary architecture.
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9. Shukukeien Garden
Shukukeien is an authentic Japanese landscape garden with a 400-year-old history. Inside the garden there are flowers and plant that blooms in each of the four seasons, making it a place of perpetual color.
Shukkeien Garden is one of the best places to enjoy the fall foliage in Hiroshima.
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10. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
Photo by Pixta
Right beside Shukkeien Garden is the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art, which boasts a collection of over 5,000 works of art, many of which have been created by local artists. The museum also prides itself on providing an exhibition space for students and upcoming artists to showcase their works.
Stop by the cafe and restaurant at the museum to enjoy views of Shukukeien Garden along with lunch menus and desserts.
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11. Hiroshima Museum of Art
The Hiroshima Museum of Art was established one hundred years ago by the Bank of Hiroshima and is located in the heart of the city.
Featuring many different works of modern art by French Impressionists, this gallery has about 300 works of Japanese Western-style art, Japanese paintings, and modern art in its collections, with 76 on permanent display in their main building. There are special seasonal exhibitions and events here, as well as monthly museum concerts for visitors to enjoy.
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12. Mitaki Temple
To the northwest of Hiroshima in the valley of Mount Mitakiyama, you will find Mitaki Temple. Close to the city, it is also known as Mitaki Kannon to the locals.
Within its grounds stands a vermilion two-storied pagoda, an important cultural property of Hiroshima prefecture, and within that, a Japanese important cultural property - a wooden sculpture depicting the seated Buddha; both of which appoint this as a prominent Buddhist temple in the city. Cherry blossoms in the spring and fall colors in the autumn also make this an incredibly popular place for sightseers all year round.
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Traveling to Hiroshima
For sightseeing in Hiroshima city, the streetcar, managed by the Hiroshima railway, is very convenient.
Known as the Hiroden to the locals, it is a mainstay of daily life in the city and known as the legs of the city. Though it takes more or less the same amount of time to travel on as the JR lines and buses, the Hiroden is cheaper and travels more frequently. It also stops much closer to most of the sightseeing spots in the city.
Convenient Passenger Tickets
If you would like to sightsee in both Hiroshima city and Miyajima, we recommend getting the 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Ticket, which also offers a special discount when purchasing tickets for the ropeway.
- 1 Day Train and Ferry ticket: 900 yen for adults, 450 yen for children (can be used freely on all Hiroshima streetcar lines and the Miyajima Matsudai Ferries).
If you would like to just spend your time in Hiroshima city, then the 1 Day Streetcar Ticket is perfect for you.
- 1 Day Streetcar ticket: 700 yen for adults, 350 yen for children (can be used freely on all Hiroshima railway lines).
*These tickets are sold on the streetcars, at the information desk within Hiroshima Station, and at any ticket window, as well as at major hotels in Hiroshima City.
The commuter IC card (PASPY) is ideal for sightseeing as it enables holders to use the streetcar, buses, and ferries to Miyajima. These are available on any streetcar or bus or at commuter pass ticket windows and machines. Although you cannot use the Suica IC cards issued by the JR East here, you can use the JR West IC, ICOCA, in Hiroshima.
The Hiroshima city sightseeing loop bus Meipuru-pu (400 yen for adults, 200 yen for children) travels to major parts of the city, sightseeing spots and by the art galleries and museums.
There are three routes to choose from; please check the official Meipuru-pu website for details. Make use of this bus as it is a very convenient way to see all the sights within Hiroshima city.
Visiting Japan? Book the JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)
Living in Japan? Book Shinkansen tickets for Hiroshima
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Enjoy Exploring Hiroshima
Hiroshima is a city that is always changing, with many new exciting attractions being added to the city landscape day by day. We hope that the 12 places mentioned above serve as a starting point for your Hiroshima explorations.
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All pictures from PIXTA
日本への訪日外国人の方が、もっと増えますように！
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