Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Photo: Kodai_Miyazaki via FIND/47 · CC BY 4.0
広島CHŪGOKU
CHŪGOKU · 広島県 · Japan

Hiroshima

A moving peace memorial and the floating torii of Miyajima.

Hiroshima is home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, which tell the story of August 1945 and the global call for peace, and the vermilion "floating" torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island. The prefecture also offers Seto Inland Sea scenery, fresh oysters, and the island-hopping Shimanami Kaido cycling route.

Hiroshima (広島) became a global symbol of peace after the atomic bombing of 6 August 1945. Nearby Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社) on Miyajima (宮島) has stood since the 12th century, its torii rising from the sea.

Hiroshima-shi 広島市Miyajima 宮島Onomichi-shi 尾道市
Where it isHiroshima, CHŪGOKU
Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Atomic Bomb Dome
Itsukushima Shrine, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Itsukushima Shrine
Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Hiroshima Castle
Tomonoura old port town, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Tomonoura old port town

Photos: Atomic Bomb Dome — Kodai_Miyazaki via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Itsukushima Shrine — Tgb via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Hiroshima Castle — FIND/47 contributor via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Tomonoura old port town — Masakazu_Murakami via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0

01

Getting there

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Hiroshima is ~4h from Tokyo and ~1h25m from Osaka by shinkansen.

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02

What to see

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Top pick

Atomic Bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park

UNESCO World Heritage Site 160 m from the hypocenter; the skeletal dome and adjacent Peace Memorial Museum convey the history of the 1945 bombing and the…

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Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima, Hiroshima Prefecture, JapanTop pick

Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima)

UNESCO World Heritage shrine built over the tideline, with its iconic vermillion floating torii gate that changes appearance with the tides; one of Japan's…

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Hiroshima Castle, Hiroshima Prefecture, JapanTop pick

Hiroshima Castle & Shukkeien Garden

Reconstructed castle founded in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, paired with the nearby Edo-period Shukkeien strolling garden that miniaturizes scenic landscapes.

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03

What to eat

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Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, Hiroshima Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

Savory layered pancake with a thin crepe base, a heap of cabbage, and yakisoba noodles griddled together; the city's signature dish, found at Okonomimura and…

Setouchi oysters, Hiroshima Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Setouchi oysters (kaki)

Hiroshima is Japan's top oyster producer, famed for plump, creamy oysters from Miyajima waters; eaten raw, grilled, fried or on rice, with peak season roughly…

Anago-meshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JapanMust-eat

Anago-meshi (conger eel rice)

Steamed/grilled conger eel over rice, a Miyajima-area classic; an Aki-Miyajima specialty shop dating to 1902 (Ueno) made the dish iconic.

04

Hiroshima at a glance

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05

Say it in Hiroshima

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Ask a local
Osusume wa nan desu ka?
What do you recommend?
Test yourself
Local word
heiwa
peace — the message of Hiroshima's memorial
Test yourself
One more
heiwa wo inoru
to pray for peace
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Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Sleep in Hiroshima

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07

Next door

OkayamaA great garden, a 'crow castle', and the canal town of Kurashiki.YamaguchiA spectacular five-arched bridge and a vivid vermilion shrine.Play the 47-prefecture mapUnlock Hiroshima in the RPG-style explorer.

Links marked PR are affiliate links: if you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Photos: Atomic Bomb Dome — Kodai_Miyazaki via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Itsukushima Shrine — Tgb via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Hiroshima Castle — FIND/47 contributor via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Tomonoura old port town — Masakazu_Murakami via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima — daisymind via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Hiroshima Castle — dconvertini via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — Sergiy Galyonkin via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Setouchi oysters — Masakazu_Murakami via FIND/47, CC BY 4.0 · Anago-meshi — GinkgoTelegraph via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Map: Geolonia (MIT).