Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable weather for exploring the city on foot and visiting Miyajima. The cherry blossoms in Peace Memorial Park and the autumn foliage on Miyajima are particularly spectacular. August 6 is the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony — a deeply moving but crowded time to visit.

The sacred island with its iconic floating torii gate is Hiroshima's essential day trip. Beyond Itsukushima Shrine, hike or take the ropeway up Mount Misen for panoramic Inland Sea views, explore the charming shopping streets, and feast on grilled oysters and anago (conger eel) rice.

Miyajima (Itsukushima)

A picturesque hillside port town known as the starting point of the Shimanami Kaido, a 70km cycling route across six islands to Shikoku via stunning bridges. The town itself has atmospheric temple walks, cat-filled narrow lanes, and a thriving arts scene in converted warehouses.

Onomichi

This small island in the Seto Inland Sea is famously home to hundreds of friendly wild rabbits that approach visitors for food. The island also has a sobering history as a secret poison gas manufacturing site during World War II, documented in a small museum. Accessible via ferry from Tadanoumi Station.

Rabbit Island (Okunoshima)

Home to the elegant Kintai-kyo Bridge, a beautiful five-arched wooden bridge spanning the Nishiki River. Originally built in 1673, the bridge is one of Japan's most photographed structures. Combine with a visit to Iwakuni Castle on the hilltop above for panoramic views.

Iwakuni

Hiroshima's food scene is defined by a few beloved specialties prepared with local pride and excellent ingredients. The city's position on the Seto Inland Sea provides exceptional seafood, particularly its famous oysters, while its signature layered okonomiyaki has achieved near-religious status among locals. The drinking culture is warm and unpretentious, centered on neighborhood izakayas.

The extensively renovated museum presents the story of the atomic bombing through personal artifacts, survivor testimonies, and unflinching documentation. Allow at least 2 hours. Begin at the museum, then walk through the park past the Memorial Cenotaph, the Flame of Peace (which will burn until all nuclear weapons are eliminated), and the Children's Peace Monument inspired by Sadako Sasaki's paper cranes. Early morning visits are the most contemplative.

Visit the Peace Memorial Park and Museum

The skeletal ruins of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, almost directly below the bomb's detonation point, have been preserved exactly as they appeared after the blast. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the dome is most powerful at dusk when it is illuminated against the evening sky, and its reflection shimmers in the Motoyasu River.

Stand before the Atomic Bomb Dome

The sacred island of Itsukushima (commonly called Miyajima) is home to one of Japan's most iconic images: the vermilion torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine appearing to float on the water at high tide. The shrine complex itself is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built over the water. Explore beyond the shrine to hike Mount Misen (530m, ropeway available), encounter friendly deer, and sample local specialties including momiji manju (maple leaf cakes) and grilled oysters.

Take the ferry to Miyajima Island

Unlike Osaka's mixed-batter style, Hiroshima okonomiyaki is layered: a thin crepe, mountains of cabbage, bean sprouts, pork, yakisoba noodles, and a fried egg, all stacked and pressed on the griddle. Okonomimura, a multi-story building with 24 stalls, is the most famous spot, but locals often prefer individual restaurants like Nagata-ya, Hassho, or Micchan (the shop credited with creating the Hiroshima style in 1950).

Eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

Hiroshima Prefecture produces roughly two-thirds of Japan's oysters, and from October through March, the city becomes an oyster paradise. Try them grilled (kaki no dotenabe), raw, fried (kaki furai), or in a hot pot. The oyster boats along the river and restaurants in Nagarekawa serve them in every preparation. Miyajima's waterfront stalls offer freshly grilled oysters for ¥200-500 each.

Sample Hiroshima oysters in season

The epicenter of Hiroshima's rebirth, this expansive park sits on the island that was the city's busiest commercial district before the bombing. The park contains the Peace Memorial Museum (reopened after major renovation), the Atomic Bomb Dome (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the Children's Peace Monument with its thousands of paper cranes, and numerous cenotaphs and monuments. The park is at its most powerful during quiet morning visits and during the August 6 annual peace ceremony.

Peace Memorial Park Area

Hiroshima's main commercial district stretches along the covered Hondori shopping arcade and radiates out from the Kamiyacho intersection. This lively area is packed with department stores, boutiques, restaurants, and the famous okonomiyaki village (Okonomimura) — a multi-story building with over 20 okonomiyaki stalls. The area has a youthful energy thanks to nearby universities.

Hondori & Kamiyacho (本通・紙屋町)

Hiroshima's main entertainment and nightlife district lies just east of the Hondori area. The streets are lined with izakayas, bars, clubs, and restaurants, making it the city's social hub after dark. The atmosphere is welcoming and less intimidating than entertainment districts in larger cities. This is also a prime area for sampling Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki at local favorites.

Hiroshima

Highlights