Hiroshima
& Miyajima

Peace Memorial Park
and the Atomic Bomb Dome

At 8:15am on August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb detonated near the Aioi Bridge, close to the Nakajima district that today forms the heart of Peace Memorial Park. The Atomic Bomb Dome — the skeletal remains of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall — is the only structure left standing near ground zero, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996. It stands largely as it was found, a deliberate choice to preserve the memory of that morning.

The 122,000 m² park around it was designed by architect Kenzo Tange and opened in 1954. Free to enter and open 24 hours, it draws over a million visitors a year. The Cenotaph frames the Dome across the Pond of Peace in a single sightline, and the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by Sadako Sasaki and her paper cranes, is one of the park's most visited memorials. The Peace Memorial Museum sits within the park and has its own separate admission and hours if you'd like to go inside.

The Cenotaph frames the Atomic Bomb Dome across the Pond of Peace — the park's central sightline.

This part of the day is never rushed. Some guests spend about an hour walking the park and the Dome; others prefer a full morning, museum included. Your driver simply follows your pace.

Hiroshima Castle and Shukkei-en Garden

Hiroshima Castle was originally built in 1589 by Mōri Terumoto. Like much of the city, it was destroyed in the atomic bombing, and the keep standing today is a 1958 reconstruction that now serves as a history museum — a faithful replica rather than the original structure, and we say so plainly. It's about a 10–15 minute walk from Peace Memorial Park. A short distance further, Shukkei-en Garden began in 1620 as a villa garden for the Asano clan, a "shrunken-scenery" landscape modelled on famous views in miniature. It too was heavily damaged in 1945 and has since been fully restored — a quieter, greener symbol of the city's recovery, known for cherry blossoms in spring and plum blossoms in winter. It's roughly a 30 minute walk from Peace Memorial Park.

Miyajima and the floating torii

Miyajima is the centerpiece of the afternoon. The island itself is ferry-only — there is no car access to Itsukushima Shrine — so your driver parks near Miyajimaguchi Pier and you cross as foot passengers on the JR or Matsudai ferry, about a 10 minute crossing, followed by a further 10 minute walk to the shrine. Driving time from central Hiroshima to Miyajimaguchi runs approximately 30–45 minutes depending on route and traffic. A small separate ferry fare applies, payable at the pier.

The shrine's torii gate famously appears to float when the tide rises above roughly 250cm, a window of about two to three hours around each of the day's two daily high tides — we'll check the tide table for your actual tour date when planning. At low tide, below about 100cm, visitors can instead walk out across the sand to the base of the torii — a different experience, but still very much worth seeing up close. Near the Miyajima ferry pier, Kakiya is a well-known oyster specialty shop, a five-minute walk from the boat — fitting, since Hiroshima Prefecture produces roughly 60–70% of Japan's oysters.

The floating torii of Itsukushima Shrine — the defining image of Miyajima, tide permitting.

Food along the way

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is built differently from the Osaka version: a thin batter, heavy on cabbage, layered over yakisoba noodles with toppings like oyster, squid, or cheese. Okonomimura, a multi-floor building packed with okonomiyaki counters, is a well-known stop, and Mitchan Souhonten is widely credited with inventing the modern style. Between the castle, the garden, and the ferry crossing, there are natural windows to fit lunch in.

The Iwakuni detour

On the way back from Miyajima, the Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni is an easy add-on in the same direction, without a separate trip. Built in 1673, this distinctive arched wooden bridge sits about 49 km / approximately 43 minutes' drive from Hiroshima. It's entirely optional — skip it if the day is already full, or add it if you have time to spare.