5 Things to see/do on your visit to Hiroshima – TREKwithBECK
Hiroshima is a beautiful city which has a complicated and quite sad history. It is most famous for its devastating nuclear attack close to World War II. However, despite this devastation, the city promotes peace and understanding. There is a lot to offer here from amazing shopping, good food and historic monuments.
This list is compromised of the 5 attractions which I highly recommend you visit with your time in Hiroshima. As well as some basic information on how to get around and how long to spend here.
The best way to get around Hiroshima is by public transport, mainly using the streetcars. You will need to pay with cash or using a transport card when you exit/end your trip on this transport – unlike paying before on trains.
It is much easier to have a transport card, to simply tap on or off. If you don’t have one of these, you can look into the Hiroshima Tourist Pass, which includes unlimited transport on street cards, some buses and ferries. I have written a blog post here to determine if it is worth it or not.
How long to spend here?
You can easily visit Hiroshima and the tourist attractions in the centre of the city in one day. Especially if you are travelling from Osaka. However, I recommend spending at least 2 days here. This will give you time after you’ve arrived to see the attractions in the town centre (Atomic Dome, Museum, etc). This also gives you a full day to explore Miyajima Island, which is a highlight when visiting Hiroshima.
1. Atomic Bomb Dome
The Atomic Bomb Dome is the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on August 6th, 1945. Through many efforts, it has been left preserved in the same state as it was at the time of the bombing. It serves as a powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever known to mankind and as hope, in the elimination of nuclear weapons.
2. Peace Memorial Park
After the bombing, the Japanese government felt it was important to do something to commemorate it. That is why it decided that this park should be built and dedicated to this tragedy. The epicentre of the bomb was at the spot where the park is now. There are a few monuments in this park and it is within walking distance from the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum.
3. Peace Memorial Museum
This is somewhere you must visit when in Hiroshima. The Peace Memorial is a very confronting museum, I wouldn’t attend here if you are easily triggered, but also recommend you do as it is important to learn about this sad part of human history. The museum has many levels, with information from the impact of the bombing, to how the bombs were made. It is both educational and extremely confronting. They recently added a new section which has diaries from young children that went missing during the bombing. I felt a lot of emotion in this part of the museum.
The museum visit will take anywhere from 1-3 hours, depending on how much time you spend in each area. A visit for one adult will cost 200 yen.
4. Hiroshima Castle
The Hiroshima Castle, also called the Carp Castle, is a 5-story castle built in the centre of town. The castle grounds also have a shrine and some ruins, as well as being surrounded by a moat. The original castle was built in 1589 by feudal lord Mori Terumoto and was an important seat of power in western Japan. The original castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945, it has since been rebuilt since then.
You can wonder around the grounds of this castle for free, or you can enter the castle for 370 yen.
5. Miyajima Islands
This was one of my favourite activities in Hiroshima. Miyajima Island is an island known for its shrine and large torii gate in the ocean. It is a small island located roughly one hour outside the main city of Hiroshima. It is a beautiful spot to visit for a day trip, or even stay overnight (much quieter). There are plenty of shrines and temples to visit, nature paths and wild deer. The deer are very similar to the ones you will find in Nara, but to me were much nicer (and not as demanding for food).
While on Miyajima Island, I recommend completing these activities.
- Itsukushima shrine (300 yen)
- Daisho-In Temple
- Mount Misen: Either cable car up or walk up via the Daisho-in Course
- Momijidani Park
- Senjokaku Pavillion
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