Hiroshima: A City Rebuilt Around a Message of Peace
Hiroshima is not a city defined by tragedy alone — it's a modern, tree-lined city on seven river channels that rebuilt itself with a deliberate message of peace at its core. A short tram ride connects the sobering A-Bomb Dome to lively covered shopping arcades, and just offshore sits Miyajima, one of Japan's most photographed islands. Most visitors come for a day but leave wishing they'd stayed two.
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✈ Plan Your Trip →Sights
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park & Museum
A vast riverside park built around the atomic bombing, anchored by the Peace Memorial Museum, whose exhibits are direct and unflinching.
Genbaku Dome (A-Bomb Dome)
The skeletal ruin of the former Industrial Promotion Hall, left standing as a UNESCO World Heritage reminder of August 6, 1945.
Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima
The vermilion shrine and its 'floating' torii gate appear to hover over the tide on Miyajima island, a 45-minute ferry ride from the city.
Mount Misen
Miyajima's sacred forested peak, reached by ropeway and a short hike, with panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea.
Hiroshima Castle
A reconstructed black-walled castle keep on the site of the 16th-century original, with a small samurai history museum inside.
Shukkei-en Garden
A compact Edo-period landscape garden of miniature valleys, bridges and a central pond, rebuilt after the war using the original design.
Okonomimura
A multi-floor building packed with small okonomiyaki counters, each grilling the layered Hiroshima-style version of the dish in front of you.
A Sample Day
What to Eat
Hiroshima's food identity centers on one dish it insists on doing differently from Osaka, plus fresh oysters from the surrounding inland sea.
March to May and October to November bring mild weather and are ideal for walking the Peace Park and taking the ferry to Miyajima; summer is humid and August 6th itself draws large crowds for the Peace Memorial Ceremony.
Hiroshima's retro tram network (one of the few Japanese cities still running old streetcars) covers most central sights cheaply, while the JR ferry from Miyajimaguchi station links directly to the island.
Take the JR ferry (not the private one) to Miyajima if you have a Japan Rail Pass — it's covered and runs right alongside the shrine's torii gate for a closer view than the paid alternative.
FAQ
Is one day enough for Hiroshima and Miyajima?+
It's possible but tight — a full day covering the Peace Park in the morning and Miyajima in the afternoon works, though staying overnight lets you see the torii gate at both high and low tide.
Do I need to book tickets for the Peace Memorial Museum in advance?+
Same-day tickets are usually available, but booking a timed slot online avoids queuing, especially in spring and around August 6th.
How do I get from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima?+
Take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi Station (about 25 minutes), then the JR ferry to the island, which is a few more minutes and free with a Japan Rail Pass.
Handy for your trip
Ready to plan your Hiroshima trip?
Map out the Peace Park, Miyajima ferry times and okonomiyaki stops before you go.
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