Hiroshima was one of those places on our Japan trip that I knew would be important, but I don’t think I fully understood just how much it would affect me until we were actually there.
We had been traveling through Japan and came to Hiroshima from Osaka. One of the easiest parts of the trip was getting there. The bullet train makes traveling between Osaka and Hiroshima incredibly easy, which makes Hiroshima a very doable addition to a Japan itinerary.
After the fast-paced energy of Osaka, arriving in Hiroshima felt noticeably different. The city was modern, beautiful and peaceful, but there was a feeling underneath it all that you couldn’t quite ignore. And honestly, I think that is part of what makes visiting Hiroshima so meaningful.
It’s a city where you can spend the morning learning about one of the darkest moments in modern history, then spend the afternoon eating incredible food, exploring the city, or taking a ferry to Miyajima to see the famous deer and Itsukushima Shrine.
Hiroshima has a way of reminding you of the past while showing you just how much a city can rebuild and move forward.
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Visiting Hiroshima
The history of Hiroshima is the reason most people immediately associate the city with World War II. On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb used in warfare was dropped on Hiroshima. The devastation was enormous. Tens of thousands of people died immediately, with many more dying from injuries and the effects of radiation in the years that followed.
Visiting Hiroshima isn’t about simply checking a historical attraction off your itinerary. I think it’s important to take the time to understand what happened here and, most importantly, to remember the people who were affected. One of the most striking places we visited was the Atomic Bomb Dome.
The building was extremely close to the hypocenter of the explosion and was one of the few structures in the area that remained partially standing. Rather than completely rebuilding it or removing it, the remains were preserved as a memorial. Standing in front of it is surreal.
There is something incredibly powerful about seeing an actual building that was there when the bomb exploded. It isn’t a replica or something recreated for tourists. It is a physical piece of what happened.
The fact that it has been intentionally left standing makes it one of the most recognizable symbols of Hiroshima and a lasting reminder of the destruction caused by nuclear weapons.
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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
From the Atomic Bomb Dome, we walked through Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which is right in the heart of the city. The park is beautiful and peaceful, which makes the history behind it even more emotional.
There are monuments and memorials throughout the park dedicated to the victims of the bombing and to the hope for peace. We found ourselves slowing down and simply taking everything in.
Even if you aren’t someone who typically spends a lot of time visiting historical sites while traveling, I would absolutely make an exception for Hiroshima. It’s worth taking a little extra time to understand the history of this city, and the sheer scale of the destruction and loss.
Staying at the Hilton Hiroshima
After a day of visiting Hiroshima’s historical sites, we were happy to have a beautiful and comfortable hotel to come back to.
We stayed at the Hilton Hiroshima, and it was a great base for exploring the city. The hotel is modern and comfortable, and after a busy day of walking around Hiroshima, it was nice to have somewhere relaxing to return to.
Its location also made it convenient for exploring the city and getting around to many of the places we wanted to visit.
A Day Trip to Miyajima
One of our favorite experiences was visiting Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima. Getting out to the island feels like you’re leaving the city behind and entering an entirely different world.
And then you see them. The deer. So many deer just casually wandering around. What I loved most was how completely unfazed they were by people. They weren’t frantic or aggressive. They simply wandered through the streets, hung out near the shops, sat around the temples and generally acted like they owned the island. And honestly, they kind of do.
They were some of the calmest animals we’ve encountered while traveling and watching them casually stroll through the crowds was adorable.
Exploring Itsukushima Shrine and Miyajima
Miyajima is famous for Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic torii gate, which appears to float in the water during high tide. The island itself is beautiful. There are temples and shrines tucked throughout, and the little streets are filled with shops and restaurants.
It has this incredible combination of nature, history and traditional Japanese architecture that makes it feel completely different from the cities we had visited.
Come Hungry to Hiroshima
If there is one thing we learned in Hiroshima, it’s that you are going to eat very well. Hiroshima is particularly famous for its version of okonomiyaki. Unlike the Osaka style, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is layered, with ingredients like cabbage, meat, noodles and egg. And it is so good.
We had some of the most delicious Japanese food of our entire trip in Hiroshima and Miyajima. There was something about sitting down after a long day of exploring and having a hot plate of okonomiyaki that just felt perfect.
The Hiroshima-style version was one of the foods I was most excited to try, and it definitely lived up to the hype. It’s hearty, filling and completely different from the Osaka-style okonomiyaki we had experienced earlier in our trip.
But what surprised me most was that we didn’t even have to stick to Japanese food. We found pizza. And it was actually really good.
That was something we kept noticing throughout Japan. You could find incredibly authentic Japanese food everywhere, but you could also find surprisingly good versions of foods from around the world.
Our Amazing Tour Guide
One of the highlights of our Hiroshima trip was taking a tour with an adorable older Japanese woman who was absolutely amazing. She was one of those guides who made the experience feel less like a tour and more like you were spending the day with someone who genuinely loved her city.
She was so sweet, knowledgeable and enthusiastic, and having someone local explain the history and culture made such a difference. Especially in a place like Hiroshima, having a guide who can give context to what you’re seeing makes the experience much more meaningful.
We learned things that we probably would have walked right past on our own, and she brought so much personality to the day. Sometimes a great tour guide can completely change how you experience a destination, and she definitely did that for us.
Sunset at Orizuru Tower
After spending so much time exploring Hiroshima at street level, we wanted to see the city from above. That’s when we headed to Orizuru Tower near the Atomic Bomb Dome. This was one of the places I was most excited to visit because it has a really unique observation area.
The rooftop gives you panoramic views over Hiroshima, including views toward the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. The open-air deck is a completely different way to experience the city.
And then there is the fun part. The slide. Yes, there is an actual spiral slide inside the building.
The tower has a long spiral walkway, and you can take the slide down instead of simply using the elevator. It’s one of those unexpected things that makes you laugh because you are standing in the middle of this incredibly meaningful historical city and then suddenly, you’re sliding down a tower like a child.
The rooftop was also a beautiful place to watch the sunset. We found little areas where you could sit and relax and take in the views.
After spending the day learning about Hiroshima’s history, watching the sunset over the same city felt like a reminder of how much the city has rebuilt and how far it has come.
Why Hiroshima Should Be on Your Japan Itinerary
Before visiting, I wasn’t sure how Hiroshima would fit into our Japan trip.
Hiroshima is a city where you can have a completely different experience every few hours. You can spend the morning learning about one of the most significant and devastating events in modern history. You can walk through the peaceful grounds of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. You can see the Atomic Bomb Dome and take a moment to reflect.
You can stay in a beautiful hotel, explore the city with a local guide and finish the day watching the sunset from high above Hiroshima.
That’s what I loved about Hiroshima. It isn’t defined only by its past. Its history is incredibly important, and it should never be forgotten. But Hiroshima today is also vibrant, welcoming, delicious and beautiful. It is a city that has rebuilt itself while carrying its history with it. And I think that’s exactly why visiting Hiroshima is so powerful.
If you’re planning a trip to Japan, don’t skip Hiroshima. Come for the history, stay for the food, the scenery, the deer and all of the unexpected moments in between.
Hiroshima ended up being one of the most memorable stops of our entire Japan trip, and a place I would absolutely return to.
