Hiroshima isn’t a city you visit by chance. Most travellers come mainly for its unique history, to understand—some even to pay their respects at the Atomic Bomb Dome and wander through Peace Memorial Park. Even so, beyond this emotionally charged heritage, Hiroshima still has plenty going for it, with so much to discover!
What are the must-see things to do and places to visit in Hiroshima? How much time should you allow there? How can you best explore the city’s history and the traces of the war?
To help you as best we can, Trip.com offers a detailed guide on the subject. You’ll discover our tips and recommendations for organising your stay according to your chosen duration and preferred travel style!
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Generally speaking, one to two days are more than enough to fully explore Hiroshima. If you’d still like to extend your stay, we recommend a maximum of three days before continuing your journey to other cities. Here’s a summary of activities to do depending on the kind of stay you’re after:
Duration | Couple | Family | Friends | Solo |
1 day | Park + museum + Miyajima | Miyajima all day OR Park + castle | Park + museum + Miyajima + Nagarekawa outing | Park + museum + city-centre stroll |
2 days | Day 1: Park + museum + centre Day 2: Full day in Miyajima | Day 1: Park + castle Day 2: Miyajima + Mount Misen | Day 1: History Day 2: Miyajima + evening | Day 1: Memorial sites Day 2: Miyajima + Gardens |
3 days | Day 1-2 + Day 3: Seto Inland Sea or Onomichi | Days 1-2 + Day 3: Rabbit Island | Days 1-2 + Day 3: Kure excursion or cycling | Day 1-2 + Day 3: temples or nature |
Hiroshima is divided into areas, each with its own identity and vibe. Here are the neighbourhoods you won’t want to miss!
The heart of Hiroshima is this vast 12-hectare expanse that brings together the Peace Memorial Park, the Genbaku Dome (we’ll tell you more just below), the museum and the commemorative monuments. It’s literally the starting point for any sightseeing visit to Hiroshima, and it’s where everyone begins.
Around the park, the modern city centre has been completely rebuilt! Amid its buildings, shopping centres (notably the large covered Hon-dori arcade that runs through the entire centre), restaurants and hotels, this part of the city reveals a whole new side!
Further north, Hiroshima Castle (entirely rebuilt after the war) houses a museum dedicated to the city’s history before 1945 and to the samurai. The surrounding gardens are well worth a detour, especially Shukkei-en, a 17th-century landscaped garden with its pond, bridges and magnificent tea pavilions. It’s a tranquil spot to catch your breath after the museum’s emotional impact.
Now that we’ve set the scene, let’s move on to the real experiences. As you might expect, most activities are dedicated to the war memorial. Here are the five must-sees in Hiroshima:
We mentioned it briefly, but the first unmissable thing to do in Hiroshima is still the famous Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome). The Genbaku Dome is that twisted skeleton of concrete and steel standing on the riverbank, right in the middle of Peace Park.
Before 6 August 1945, it was the Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, a stately building constructed in 1915. At 8:15 a.m. that day, the atomic bomb exploded 600 metres above this building.
As the building lay directly beneath the epicentre and was built of concrete, part of the structure still stands today!
📌 Heads-up: the Dome isn’t open to visitors (too dangerous); you can only admire it from the outside. The view is breathtaking, especially at sunset when the golden light illuminates the ruins. A unique hush hangs over it, even when it’s busy!
Memorable reminder that the tragedy should never happen again. Well preserved and maintained. A must visit.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park spans 12 hectares of green space right in the heart of the city, on the exact site that was the epicentre of the destruction. Completed in 1954, the park brings together several key monuments, including:
Peace Memorial Museum: the one museum you absolutely can’t miss in Hiroshima. It showcases survivor testimonies, items recovered from the rubble (watches stopped at 8:15, burned clothing, children’s toys...), scientific explanations about the bomb, and the entire story of that dreadful day. It’s poignant, moving, sometimes hard to look at, but truly essential. How long should you spend at Hiroshima’s museum? Allow at least 2 hours to see everything properly, without rushing.
Cenotaph: this arch-shaped monument bears the names of all the known victims. Beneath the arch burns the Flame of Peace, which will only be extinguished when all nuclear weapons have disappeared from the planet. Standing before the cenotaph, you can glimpse the Dome in the distance, which you’ve almost certainly already visited.
Children’s Peace Monument: this statue is dedicated to Sadako Sasaki and to the thousands of children who died as a result of the bombing. Sadako, exposed to radiation at the age of two, developed leukaemia at eleven. While in hospital, she folded origami cranes in the hope of recovery (legend has it that folding 1,000 cranes grants a wish). She folded more than 1,000 before she died. Today, thousands of colourful cranes left by visitors from around the world adorn the monument.
The park is a place of silence, remembrance, and reflection. Take your time!
Thoughtfully preserved as reminder that the tragedy should never happen again. A true dedication to the families and community that was destroyed.
Miyajima (officially Itsukushima) is that little sacred island just 45 minutes from Hiroshima, home to one of Japan’s most photographed landscapes: the torii set right in the middle of the water (those double-lintel gates at the entrance to shrines).
The entire island is considered sacred. Semi-wild deer wander everywhere (take care—they can be quite bold if you have food). You can even reach the summit of Mount Misen (535 m), either on foot (a steep 2-hour climb) or by cable car (10 minutes), for a breathtaking view over the Seto Inland Sea and its hundreds of islets.
Itsukushima (Miyajima) is truly worth a visit! As you approach the island by boat, you'll see a magnificent torii gate standing in the sea – a truly breathtaking sight. Itsukushima Shrine, with its elegant architecture, appears to float on the water at high tide, embodying the beauty of traditional Japanese culture. Many adorable deer roam freely on the island, adding to the enjoyment of your trip. Strolling along the old streets and sampling local delicacies like grilled oysters and maple leaf-shaped steamed buns is an unforgettable experience. Whether it's the natural scenery, historical culture, or culinary experiences, it leaves a lasting impression and is an absolute must-see in Hiroshima.
Still on Miyajima Island, you won’t want to miss the famous Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, a masterpiece of architecture founded in the 6th century and rebuilt in the 12th! It comprises several buildings linked by wooden walkways supported by stilts. At high tide, everything seems to float. At low tide, you can walk out to the great torii and touch it (many people do so for good luck).
The complex has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1996. The shrine’s vermilion colours contrast superbly with the blue of the sea and the green of the mountains beyond.
📌 Trip.com tip: Doing Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day is perfectly doable if you set off early (around 8 am) and return around 5–6 pm. That gives you about 5–6 hours on the island, more than enough to see the essentials (shrine, stroll, Mount Misen). If you have time, stay until sunset—the torii lit up at dusk will offer a magnificent view!
This world-class floating shrine truly lives up to its reputation. The vermilion torii gates offer different views with the tides; at high tide, it appears to float on the sea, while at low tide, it can be admired up close on foot, each with its own unique charm. The shrine architecture blends seamlessly with the sea and mountains, creating a solemn yet tranquil atmosphere, perfect for a leisurely stroll and quiet contemplation.
It's recommended to visit during the tides, as early morning or evening are less crowded and offer the most beautiful lighting. Even simply standing quietly by the sea looking at the torii gates allows you to feel the spirit of "reverence for nature" inherent in Japanese culture.
The Seto Inland Sea is the enclosed sea between Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, dotted with thousands of small islands! The landscapes here are gentle and soothing, with calm waters, wooded islets, suspension bridges spanning the straits, and a distinctive light that makes you want to linger for hours, simply contemplating.
Here are several ways to make the most of it:
This sea is located between the three major islands of Kyushu, Honshu, and Shikoku in Japan. It is an important transportation route. Western travelers came here before the Meiji Restoration.
It’s impossible to leave Hiroshima without trying its famous okonomiyaki, a local spin on this thick, topping-filled savoury pancake. Unlike Osaka-style okonomiyaki, where all the ingredients are mixed into the batter, Hiroshima’s is assembled in layers: a thin batter, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, yakisoba noodles (or udon), egg... The whole lot is cooked on a scorching hot griddle, served generously, and finished with a sweet-savoury sauce and Japanese mayonnaise.
Where to eat it? Trip.com highly recommends heading to Okonomimura, a four-storey building packed with around twenty small okonomiyaki stalls. Each stall has its own speciality and style. The atmosphere is unique, it smells wonderful, and it’s delicious. Expect to pay 800 to 1,200 yen per okonomiyaki.
Hiroshima’s oysters are also renowned across Japan, especially in winter (November to March). Grilled, fried, in soup, with rice… they’re delicious however you have them. If you love seafood, don’t miss out!
Hiroshima is a year-round destination, but some seasons offer their own advantages:
Season | Weather | Highlights |
Spring | Soft | Cherry blossoms in bloom, ideal weather for visiting the Peace Park |
Summer | Hot, humid | 6 August ceremony (poignant), traditional music festivals |
Autumn | Pleasant | Red foliage in Miyajima (for magnificent scenery) |
Winter | Cold, dry | Fewer crowds and, above all, seasonal oysters for seafood lovers! |
To reach the sacred island of Miyajima (Itsukushima) from Hiroshima, you have several options:
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