Hiroshima and Miyajima
The Peace Memorial, okonomiyaki and the floating torii of Miyajima. How to plan one or two days in the area.
Quick answer
- Region: Chugoku, western Honshu
- Nearest airport: Hiroshima Airport (HIJ), about 50 minutes by bus
- Ideal stay: 2 days, one in the city and one on Miyajima
- Best for: History, the floating torii, okonomiyaki
On 6 August 1945, Hiroshima became the first city in the world to be destroyed by an atomic bomb. Today it is a green, lively city of rivers and trams, and its Peace Memorial Park is one of the most moving places you can visit in Japan.
Just offshore, the island of Miyajima is one of the classic sights of Japan, with the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine standing in the sea. The two make a perfect pair: plan a day for each, or stay a night on the island to see it at its quietest.
Top things to do in Hiroshima and Miyajima
- Visit the Peace Memorial Park. The park sits at the heart of the area destroyed by the bomb. Walk from the Cenotaph to the Flame of Peace and the Children's Peace Monument, hung with thousands of paper cranes.
- See the Atomic Bomb Dome. The ruined exhibition hall that survived near the hypocentre is kept as it was, and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See our guide to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
- Give time to the Peace Memorial Museum. Personal belongings, photos and survivors' stories make this a powerful, difficult visit. Allow at least 90 minutes, and buy tickets online at busy times.
- Stroll Shukkei-en garden. A peaceful landscape garden near the station, with a pond, bridges and a tea house.
- See the floating torii of Miyajima. The great gate of Itsukushima Shrine seems to float at high tide. At low tide you can walk out to its base across the sand.
- Climb or ride up Mount Misen. A ropeway and a short hike lead to the island's summit, with views across the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
- Explore Daisho-in. A temple on the slopes behind the town, with rows of small Buddha statues, prayer wheels and a cave of lanterns.
- Graze along Omotesando. Miyajima's shopping street is the place for grilled oysters and momiji manju, maple-leaf cakes filled with sweet bean paste.
Areas to know
| Area | Why stay or visit |
|---|---|
| Hiroshima Station area | Best for shinkansen connections and easy day trips. |
| Peace Park and Hondori | Walking distance to the memorial, shops and the best okonomiyaki. |
| Miyajima | Ryokan by the sea, and the shrine almost to yourself in the evening and early morning. |
| Miyajimaguchi | The mainland ferry port, with cheaper hotels and quick boats to the island. |
When to go
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable, with cherry blossoms in early April and red maples at Momijidani Park on Miyajima in November. Summer is hot and humid. On 6 August the city holds its Peace Memorial Ceremony, and that evening thousands of paper lanterns float down the river in front of the Dome.
For Miyajima, check the tide table before you go. High tide is best for the floating torii photo, and low tide lets you walk out to it.
Getting there and around
Hiroshima is on the Sanyo Shinkansen: about 1 hour 20 minutes from Shin-Osaka, 1 hour 40 minutes from Kyoto and 4 hours from Tokyo on the fastest trains. Hiroshima Airport buses reach the station in about 50 minutes.
In the city, the trams are cheap and easy, and the Peace Park is about 20 minutes from the station. For Miyajima, take the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi (about 30 minutes) and then a 10-minute ferry. The JR ferry is covered by the JR Pass. In season, direct boats also run from the Peace Park to Miyajima in about 45 minutes. Visitors to Miyajima pay a small visitor tax of 100 yen, usually added to the ferry fare.
Where to stay
Stay near Hiroshima Station for transport, or near the Peace Park and Hondori for food and evening walks. If you can, spend one night in a ryokan on Miyajima. The day-trippers leave by late afternoon, and the lit-up torii at night is unforgettable.
What to eat
- Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, layered with cabbage, noodles and egg
- Oysters, grilled, fried or raw, from the bay
- Anago-meshi, grilled conger eel on rice, a Miyajima speciality
- Momiji manju, maple-leaf cakes, often fried on Miyajima
- Tsukemen, Hiroshima's spicy dipping noodles
For okonomiyaki, try Okonomimura, a building packed with small counters, each with its own hotplate.
Day trips and next stops
The five-arched Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni is about 50 minutes west. Okunoshima, the rabbit island, is about 2 hours east by train and ferry. The port town of Onomichi is the start of the Shimanami Kaido cycling route, and Kurashiki's canal quarter is about an hour away by shinkansen and local train. Hiroshima also works as a long day trip from Osaka or Kyoto, and is a natural stop between Kansai and Fukuoka.
Opening hours, prices and transport details change. Check the official sources before you travel: Hiroshima Tourism (Discover Hiroshima).
Frequently asked questions
Can you see Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day?
Yes, it is a busy but popular day. Start with the Peace Park and museum in the morning, then take the train and ferry to Miyajima in the afternoon. Two days is much more relaxed.
Is it better to stay on Miyajima?
If you can, yes. After the last ferries of day-trippers leave, the island is calm, the deer wander the streets and the shrine and torii are lit up at night.
When is the best time to see the floating torii?
At high tide, when the water surrounds the gate. At low tide you can walk out to it. Tide times are posted online and at the ferry terminal.
Is it respectful to visit Hiroshima as a tourist?
Yes. Hiroshima welcomes visitors, and the city wants people to learn its story. Be quiet and thoughtful at the memorials and in the museum.
