Trip highlights
- 1Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum
- 2Atomic Bomb Dome
- 3Miyajima Island and Itsukushima Shrine
- 4Hiroshima Castle
- 5Okonomimura okonomiyaki food hall
Daily spend
Where you're going
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In pictures
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Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Peace Memorial Park
Monday, April 12
Est. spend
$100
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive via Shinkansen to Hiroshima Station
Hiroshima Station
Most visitors arrive by bullet train from Osaka, Kyoto, or Tokyo — the Shinkansen connects directly to central Hiroshima.
A Japan Rail Pass, if purchased before your trip, can make the Shinkansen journey to Hiroshima significantly more affordable.
☀️ Afternoon
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum
Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima
A profoundly moving museum and park documenting the atomic bombing of August 6, 1945, including the haunting Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the only structures left standing near the blast's hypocentre.
Allow real emotional space for this visit — it is dense and demanding, but widely considered one of the most important museum experiences in the world.
🌙 Evening
Dinner at Okonomimura
Okonomimura, Hiroshima
A multi-floor food hall packed with okonomiyaki stalls, each cooking Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki — a layered savoury pancake distinct from Osaka's mixed-batter version.
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is layered rather than mixed, typically including noodles — a genuinely different dish from its Osaka counterpart.
🍽️ Meals
Travel breakfast
Japanese · $8
Peace Park area lunch
Japanese · $12
Okonomimura dinner
Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki · $22
Miyajima Island Day Trip
Tuesday, April 13
Est. spend
$110
per person
🌅 Morning
Ferry to Miyajima Island
Miyajima Island
A scenic ferry ride to one of Japan's most sacred sites, home to the Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic 'floating' torii gate, which appears to rise directly from the sea at high tide.
Check tide times in advance — the torii gate's famous 'floating' effect only appears during high tide, while low tide allows walking right up to its base.
☀️ Afternoon
Itsukushima Shrine and Mount Misen
Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima
Explore the UNESCO-listed shrine built on stilts over the water, then take the ropeway up Mount Misen for panoramic views over the Seto Inland Sea, alongside the island's famously bold, friendly deer.
Try grilled anago (conger eel) and momiji manju (maple-leaf-shaped cakes), both Miyajima specialties sold throughout the main street.
🌙 Evening
Return to Hiroshima for dinner
Hiroshima
Return by ferry in the evening for a relaxed dinner back in central Hiroshima.
🍽️ Meals
Ferry terminal breakfast
Japanese · $8
Miyajima street food lunch
Japanese · $15
Hiroshima dinner
Japanese · $30
Hiroshima Castle & City Exploration
Wednesday, April 14
Est. spend
$102
per person
🌅 Morning
Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle
A reconstructed feudal-era castle (the original was destroyed in the 1945 bombing), nicknamed 'Carp Castle,' with a museum inside on samurai history and the city's pre-war past.
The surrounding moat and grounds are especially beautiful during cherry blossom season.
☀️ Afternoon
Shukkeien Garden
Shukkeien Garden, Hiroshima
A traditional Japanese landscape garden dating to 1620, built around a central pond with islands, bridges, and tea houses — a peaceful contrast to the city's heavier historical sites.
🌙 Evening
Dinner in the Hondori shopping arcade
Hondori, Hiroshima
Hiroshima's main covered shopping street, with a wide range of restaurants and izakaya for a relaxed final evening of exploration.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Japanese · $8
Castle area lunch
Japanese · $14
Hondori dinner
Japanese · $35
Final Reflection & Departure
Thursday, April 15
Est. spend
$78
per person
🌅 Morning
Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
Orizuru Tower, Hiroshima
A modern observation tower overlooking the Peace Memorial Park, offering a chance for final reflection alongside sweeping city views — visitors can fold a paper crane to add to the tower's collection, echoing Sadako Sasaki's story.
☀️ Afternoon
Final shopping and lunch
Hiroshima
A final lunch and shopping for Kumano brushes, Japanese stationery, or regional sake before departure.
🌙 Evening
Shinkansen departure from Hiroshima Station
Hiroshima Station
Allow at least 1.5 hours before your Shinkansen departure to onward destinations or the airport.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Japanese · $8
City centre lunch
Japanese · $16
Station food
Japanese · $14
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
March–May (cherry blossom season) and October–November (autumn colours) offer the most pleasant temperatures for both the city and the Miyajima day trip. Summer is hot and humid.
🛂 Visas
Many nationalities (US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia) can enter Japan visa-free for short tourist stays — check current requirements before booking.
💱 Currency
Japanese Yen (JPY). Cash is still commonly used at smaller restaurants and shrines; card and contactless acceptance is increasingly common in central Hiroshima.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 110
ambulance: 119
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is emotionally demanding but essential — allow time afterward to process the experience before moving to lighter activities.
- Check tide times before visiting Miyajima's floating torii gate — high tide gives the famous 'floating' effect, while low tide lets you walk right up to its base; both are worthwhile in different ways.
- Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is layered with noodles, distinctly different from Osaka's mixed-batter version — try both if visiting both cities to compare.
- A Japan Rail Pass can make Shinkansen travel to and around Hiroshima significantly more cost-effective if combined with other Japan destinations.
- Miyajima's deer are bolder than Nara's — keep food and loose items secured, as they will approach directly.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Hiroshima, Japan without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
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