Hiroshima is today a modern, vibrant city, home to one of the most moving sites in Japan in its Peace Memorial. Half an hour away by ferry lies Miyajima, the island of the Itsukushima shrine and its torii rising from the sea.
Hiroshima deserves at least two days: one for the Peace Memorial Park and the centre, and another for the trip to Miyajima. The city is easily explored by streetcar and fits naturally at the end of the Kansai axis, as the shinkansen connects it with Kyoto and Osaka in under two hours. If you travel with a JR Pass, both the train and the JR ferry to Miyajima are included.
See also: Kyoto guide · Osaka guide · JR Pass calculator
Most of the points of interest in the city are reachable by streetcar. Miyajima requires a ferry from the port of Miyajimaguchi.
The emotional centre of the visit. The Atomic Bomb Museum offers one of the most sober and necessary exhibitions on the history of the 20th century. The Genbaku Dome, a World Heritage Site, still stands as a witness.
30 minutes by ferry from the port, Miyajima is home to the Itsukushima shrine and its orange torii over the sea, one of the three most beautiful landscapes in Japan according to tradition. There are also deer, a mountain with a cable car and good okonomiyaki.
The modern city is lively and easy to explore. Hondori is the main covered shopping street, and Hiroshima Castle (reconstructed) offers good views and historical context.
Recommended plans, sights and experiences, with budget guidance and direct links.
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Hiroshima fits well between Osaka or Kyoto and the rest of the journey west. If you have a JR Pass, the shinkansen connects it quickly with the main axis of your route. Many travellers visit it over two nights to devote a full day to Miyajima. To see how to spread out the days across the whole trip, check the itineraries by duration.
Two days is usual: one for the Peace Memorial Park, the Museum and the centre, and a full day for Miyajima. With a single day you can see the essentials of the Memorial, but the island falls short.
The museum takes between 1.5 and 3 hours to see at a relaxed pace. It is an emotionally intense visit, so it is best not to plan too much afterwards.
By shinkansen from Shin-Osaka the journey is around 1h 30 min and from Kyoto about 2 hours. The Nozomi is not covered by the JR Pass, but the Hikari and the Sakura are and take only a few minutes longer. Work out whether the JR Pass is worth it →
Yes, the JR Pass includes the JR ferry between Miyajimaguchi and the island of Miyajima, as well as the train to Miyajimaguchi station. Work out whether the JR Pass is worth it →
At high tide the torii appears to float on the water, which is the best-known image. At low tide you can walk up to it. Check the tide tables before planning your timing.
Spring (cherry blossoms in March-April) and autumn (foliage in November) offer the best weather. Summer is hot and humid. On 6 August the peace ceremony is held on the anniversary of the bombing, a date with large crowds and great emotional weight. See when to travel to Japan →
