Top Hiroshima Attractions | Atomic Bomb Memorials, Gardens & Museums

Many Hiroshima attractions reflect the historical nuclear bombing for which the city is most famous, and while Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima and the Atomic Bomb Dome are can’t-miss landmarks, other things to do in Hiroshima include touring the MAZDA Museum & Shukkeien garden. Hiroshima Castle is an excellent tourist attraction as well. Plan an itinerary that can’t fail with these five fascinating activities in Hiroshima.

Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Not many people in the world have never heard of the nuclear blast that befell the heart of Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. While the event itself was a grim time in Japanese and world history, the Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima that exists now serves as a reminder of the importance of the event. The park was built in the former government district of the city that was annihilated during the blast and features several notable landmarks, including Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum documents the advent of atomic bombs, the history of Hiroshima and the human suffering that took place following the nuclear explosion. The only structure in the vicinity of the bombing that remained intact is known as the Atomic Bomb Dome. The structure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located across Motoyasu River and can be accessed by Motoyasu Bridge.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum hours: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Admission fees: 200 JPY (1.85 USD) for adults and 100 JPY (.90 USD) for high school students

Can’t-miss landmarks in Peace Memorial Park – Hiroshima

• Gates of Peace
• Prayer Fountain
• Flame of Peace
• Pond of Peace
• Children’s Peace Monument
• Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall
• Atomic Bomb Memorial Burial Mound
• Bell of Peace
• Block Tower of Peace

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Photo credit: victor miyakawa /CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons

MAZDA Museum

A free tour of MAZDA Museum takes some planning, but the adventure is certainly one of the best things to do in Hiroshima. The city is home to Mazda Motor Corporation, which was founded in 1920. While the Mazda brand has earned a global reputation, the company has retained its headquarters in Hiroshima. Guests are invited twice a day to tour the facility and museum for free. English tours take place at 10 a.m., and tours in Japanese start at 1:30 p.m. Tours take about 90 minutes and include a look into the history and making of the Mazda empire, plus a close-up encounter with the factory’s assembly line. Reservations for tours must be made online or by phone and can be made up to a year in advance.

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Itsukushima Shrine

Tucked away in a scenic cove on Miyajima Island, Itsukushima Shrine complex provides a beautiful place for a quiet getaway. The iconic Shinto shrine consists of multiple buildings and is believed to have been built by the most powerful man in Japan, Taira no Kiyomori, in the year 1168. While the intricate grounds contain plenty of traditional architecture and landscaping, the religious site’s most famous landmark is a torii gate that seems to float in the Seto Inland Sea. Known as Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate, the historic structure can be photographed from the grounds of Itsukushima Shrine. When the sun goes down, guests can view the illuminated complex and torii gate during a 30-minute boat cruise, which can be arranged at the shrine’s tourist information desk. Itsukushima Shrine remains illuminated until 11 p.m.

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission fees: 300 JPY (2.75 USD) for general admission and 500 JPY (4.60 USD) for combined entry with Itsukushima Shrine Treasure Hall
How to get to Itsukushima Shrine: ferries to Miyajima Island are available at JR Miyajima Ferry terminal just outside Miyajimaguchi Station. The ride to the island takes about 10 minutes, and the shrine is a 10-minute walk from Miyajima Pier.

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Shukkeien

Translated to English as “shrunken-scenery garden,” Shukkeien is considered a masterful rendition of Japan’s natural scenery … in miniature form. The garden, which dates to 1620, depicts the nation’s lushest valleys, mountains and forest regions through careful landscaping and cultivation practices, giving visitors a delightful journey in a serene atmosphere. Guests can wander over bridges and along winding paths and stop for tea at one of the many tea shops that encircle the garden’s main pond.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Admission fees: 260 JPY (2.40 USD)

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Hiroshima Castle

A trip to Hiroshima wouldn’t be complete without a tour of Hiroshima Castle. The historical structure is unique due to its location inside a moat on plain, rather than on a hilltop, where most Japanese castles were built. Visitors can tour the five-story main keep of the castle to get views of the area. The main keep also serves as a museum, where guests can learn about the history of the castle, which was built in 1589 and destroyed in 1945 by the atomic bomb that hit the city. The castle was restored 13 years after the bombing using original building methods and materials, like the main gate and two turrets, that survived the blast.

Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily (March to November) and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (December to February)
Admission fees: 370 JPY (3.40 USD)

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