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About
Hiroshima was established on a river delta coastline of the Seto Inland Sea in 1589 by powerful warlord Mori Terumoto. Terumoto left his castle in Aki Province (which was an old province in what is now Hiroshima Province) and in 1593 quickly built the new castle in Hiroshima. However, Terumoto was on the losing side at the Battle of Sekigahara (one of the "great" battles to unify Japan) and as the "loser" lost most of his land to Tokugawa Ieyasu. After the Meiji Restoration (1868), Hiroshima City became the capital if Hiroshima Prefecture and a major urban center.
During the 1870s, one of the seven government-sponsored English language schools was established in Hiroshima and Ujina Harbor was constructed which enabled it to become an important port city. From 1871–1939 Hiroshima grew to become one of the major cities in Japan and even Emperor Meiji maintained his headquarters at Hiroshima Castle from September 15, 1894, to April 27, 1895. During WW2 Hiroshima did not come under "Fire Bombing" attacks and was relatively a strong, major city in Japan until "The Bomb" ("Little Boy") was dropped on August 6, 1945, at 8:15 a.m.
Since WW2 Hiroshima has recovered at an amazing rate. The city is now incredibly large with over a million people, an excellent public transportation system, parks, Hiroshima Castle (re-constructed), modern architecture and a bustling economy. Hiroshima was proclaimed a City of Peace by the Japanese parliament in 1949. As a result, the city of Hiroshima received more international attention as a desirable location for holding international conferences on peace as well as social issues. Hiroshima is also a destination for tourists, many who visit to see the "Peace Park" (the epicenter of where the atomic bomb detonated) but also because of the castle, nearby Miyajima (where Istukushima Shrine is), nearby Iwakuni (with its famous bridge) and many other interesting locations. "Peace Park" and the Atomic Bomb legacy of Hiroshima will always be remembered (as it should), but if you visit Hiroshima, also look into many of it's other positive and fascinating features.
Access
The graphic above is a simplified "Quick Glance" at transportation options. Due to fluctuating schedules & pricing, Times & Costs are subject to change.
from Tokyo
- by Train
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 18,360 yen and takes about 4 hours and 30 min. plus transfer time.
Getting on and riding the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Hiroshima is the simplest method to get to Hiroshima. If your using a JR Pass you cannot ride "Nozomi" trains so you will have to transfer in Shin-Osaka. The transfer is simple though (same station, maybe just a platform change). There are flights to Hiroshima from Haneda airport but getting to Haneda and flight weights usually make flights take much longer with more hassle.
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 18,360 yen and takes about 4 hours and 30 min. plus transfer time.
from Kyoto
- by Train
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 10,890 yen and takes about 1 hour and 45 min. plus transfer time.
Ride the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Shin-Osaka (a short 15 min. ride) and then transfer to another Shinkansen bound for Hiroshima.
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 10,890 yen and takes about 1 hour and 45 min. plus transfer time.
from Shin-Osaka
- by Train
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 10,890 yen and takes about 1 hour and 45 min. plus transfer time.
From Shin-Osaka it's easy and a direct ride on the Shinkansen.
- Shinkansen (Bullet Train) - around 10,890 yen and takes about 1 hour and 45 min. plus transfer time.
Hotels & Lodging
Recommended
Area Map
Attractions
Here is a list of some of the top Attractions in & nearby Hiroshima. View all Attractions in Hiroshima.
Itsukushima Shrine
Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (closing time may fluctuate depending on the season)
Cost: The general grounds of Shrines and Temples are free but may charge a small fee (a couple/few hundred yen) for special gardens, exhibitions, artifact viewing, etc.
Map: Google Map
Moonlight over Itsukushima shrine by Rosino (CC BY-SA 2.0) Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine on the island of Itsukushima (better known as Miyajima) in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The shrine is best known for the "Floating" Tori gate. The Tori here is one the top, well known images o... more details
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Hours: Summer: 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Winter: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (last entry 30 min. before closing)
Closed: No closing days
Cost:
Map: Google Map
Prayers at the Peace Memorial Michael Day (CC BY-SA 2.5) Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a "Memorial Park" in Hiroshima Japan that is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be a target of a nuclear attack. Before the bomb was dropped, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Pa... more details
Hiroshima Castle
Hours: March to November: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., December to February: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Golden Week and Obon holidays: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: December 29 - 31
Cost: Adult (18+): 370 yen, 12-17: 180 yen, under 12 and 65+ are free.
Map: Google Map
Nagaoka Sotoshi (CC BY-SA 2.0) Hiroshima Castle is a castle in Hiroshima Japan that was originally built in the 1590s. Mori Terumoto, a powerful feudal lord at the time, built Hiroshima Castle in 1589 and it became an important seat of power in Western Japan. The original castle was destroyed by th... more details
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Hours: March-July 8:30 am - 6:00 pm, Aug. 8:30 am - 7:00 pm (Open until 8:00 p on August 5 and 6) Sept.-Nov. 8:30 am - 6:00, Dec.-Feb. 8:30 am - 5:00 pm (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: December 30 and 31
Cost: Adult (18+): 200 yen, 12-17: 100 yen, under 12: Free
Map: Google Map
Established in 1955, The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is one of the main attractions in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park (広島平和記念資料館) . The museum is dedicated to documenting and displaying items and artifacts from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during WW2. There are two buildi... more details
Mazda Museum
Hours: English tour: 10 a.m.
Closed: Saturday, Sunday; spring, summer, winter and company vacations
Cost:
Map: Google Map
Mazda Museum by Taisyo (CC BY-SA 3.0) The Mazda Museum is Mazda Motor Corporations "Museum" of its history of production in Hiroshima Japan. The museum is at the Mazda Motor Corporation headquarters and is FREE. Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in Hiroshima in 1920 and still has its co... more details
Kurashiki
Hours: This is a Area, therefore each establishment has it's own hours but generally shops in Japan generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. while restaurants are generally open until 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.
Cost: Each establishment's cost is different.
Map: Google Map
Kurashiki is a city in Okayama Prefecture Japan. It has a preserved, and popular with tourists, "Canal Area" (Bikan Historical Quarter) that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867) when the city served as an important rice distribution center and white-walled, black-tiled warehouses wer... more details
copyright 長岡外史 (license)
Hiroshima Castle is a castle in Hiroshima Japan that was originally built in the 1590s. Mori Terumoto, a powerful feudal lord at the time, built Hiroshima Castle in 1589 and it became an important seat of power in Western Japan. The original castle was destroyed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945 and the current structure(s) are ...see more details.
copyright pixabay (license)
Hiroshima Peace Park is a "Memorial Park" in Hiroshima Japan that is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to be a target of a nuclear attack. Before the bomb was dropped, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park area was once the city’s busiest downtown commercial and residential district. The park was built in the open space the explosion of the bomb created. There are many...see more details.
copyright Taisyo (license)
Mazda Museum is Mazda Motor Corporations "Museum" of its history of production in Hiroshima Japan. The museum is at the Mazda Motor Corporation headquarters and is FREE. Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in Hiroshima in 1920 and still has its corporate headquarters there. In addition to the headquarters, Mazda owns large areas of land in Hiroshima which its uses for research and development, factories, and...see more details.
