Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the city where the Peace Memorial Park honors the 1945 atomic bombing, with the ferry to Miyajima and okonomiyaki close by.

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Hiroshima is a city on the western side of Honshu, the main island of Japan, about 90 minutes from Osaka by shinkansen. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city. Today the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum stand near the city center, and the A-Bomb Dome, the ruin of a former exhibition hall, is a short walk away. Most visitors start with the park.

Beyond the park, the city is known for okonomiyaki, a layered pancake of batter, cabbage and noodles cooked on a griddle. Hiroshima is also the port for Miyajima, a short ferry ride across Hiroshima Bay, where the Itsukushima Shrine's torii gate stands in the water. The city suits first-time visitors, history-minded travelers and food lovers. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable seasons; summer is hot and humid. Plan at least one full day for the city and Miyajima.

Hiroshima in five

Reserve a Peace Museum slot for peak hoursAdult entry is ¥200 and the museum opens at 7:30am. Extended morning and evening slots need an online reservation, and entry can be limited when it is crowded.Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Base near the station or in HondoriStation hotels win for early trains and Miyajima; Hondori wins for dinner on foot. Rooms at ¥6,000 or more per person per night carry a ¥200 prefecture tax.Where to stay in Hiroshima
Pair the city with MiyajimaMiyajima is 25 minutes by JR plus a 10-minute ferry. See the Peace Park in the morning and the shrine before dusk, or split it over two days.Hiroshima and Miyajima in a day
Ride the streetcar, not taxisHiroden lines 2 and 6 run from the station to the Peace Park in about 15 minutes. City lines charge one flat fare, and IC cards work.Money in Japan
Skip the JR Pass for Hiroshima aloneA return shinkansen from Osaka or Kyoto costs far less than a 7-day pass. Price the whole route first, not one leg.Is the JR Pass worth it?

Things to do in Hiroshima

See all attractions in Hiroshima

A large rock with writing on it in front of a building

Monument · HiroshimaChildren's Peace MonumentVisit early in the day for a quieter moment.

Historic site · HiroshimaFlame of PeaceGo early or later in the day if you want fewer people around the monument.

Museum · HiroshimaHiroshima City Museum of Contemporary ArtCheck the museum website before setting out; it is closed on Mondays.

Free trip plannerPlan a trip to HiroshimaPut the places you like in Hiroshima on a map, give them days, and let one button order each day. Free, with no account.Plan a trip

Need to know

Getting there: Shinkansen: Osaka about 1.5 hours, Tokyo about 4 hours
Getting around: Hiroden streetcars and walking; JR and ferry to Miyajima
Best base: Hiroshima Station or Hondori
Time needed: 1 day for the city; 2 with Miyajima
Accommodation tax: ¥200 per person, per night, from ¥6,000 a night (since Apr 2026) Read more

Weather by month

Rainy days
Festival

Best
Good
Mixed

JanuaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, dry
FebruaryPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°Cold, quiet
MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh14°Low5°Blossom late
AprilRain10 rainy daysHigh18°Low9°Cherry blossom
MayRain10 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°Golden Week, mild
JuneRain14 rainy daysHigh25°Low18°Rainy season
JulyRain15 rainy daysHigh29°Low22°Hot, humid
AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Aug 6 ceremony
SeptemberRain15 rainy daysHigh28°Low20°Typhoon risk
OctoberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Clear, mild
NovemberPartly cloudy6 rainy daysHigh17°Low9°Autumn color
DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh11°Low4°Oyster season

Average daily high and low in Hiroshima, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.

Festivals: May Hiroshima Flower Festival

Right now in Hiroshima

Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.

Feels like: 8°
Humidity: 86%
Wind: 5 km/h
Chance of rain: 0%

Hiroshima

09:04 AM

Tuesday, November 3

GMT+9

Today21°10°0%Tuesday: Clear. High 21°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 0%.
Wed20°11°2%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 2%.
Thu19°14°62%Thursday: Rain. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 62%.
Fri20°12°22%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 22%.
Sat15°7°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 15°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 0%.
Sun16°6°3%Sunday: Cloudy. High 16°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 3%.
Mon17°8°2%Monday: Cloudy. High 17°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 2%.

Updated 06:28 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Money

Mid-market rate1 USD = 157.5 JPY

Amount

Converted to

JPY · Japanese Yen

Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API

What's on in Hiroshima

Concerts, festivals and big events in and around the city

Events calendar

Every year

MayHiroshima Flower FestivalHiroshima

Day trips by train

Miyajimaabout 25 min by JR plus a 10-minute ferryThe floating torii, deer and Mt Misen. Check the tide first.Read the guide
Naoshimaabout 2 hours via Okayama and UnoArt island in the Seto Inland Sea. Book museum slots early.Read the guide
Iwakuniabout 40 min by JRKintai-kyo, a five-arch wooden bridge, and a hilltop castle.
Kureabout 30–45 min by JRA port town with a naval history museum and harbor walks.

Before you go to Hiroshima

Shinkansen to HiroshimaOsaka 1.5 hrs, Tokyo about 4 hrsSee pass prices

Hotels near the stationBusiness hotels and small guesthousesCheck availability

eSIM for JapanData on landing, no SIM swapRead the guide

Travel insurance for JapanMedical cover and delay coverRead the guide

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Rules for Hiroshima, checked

The Peace Memorial Museum needs an online reservation for extended morning and evening hours, and may limit entry when crowded.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source
The museum is closed Dec 30–31 and Feb 15–20, 2027 for exhibition changes.Checked Oct 1, 2026 · Source

All Hiroshima guides

a large red structure on a beach with Itsukushima in the background

ItineraryHiroshima and Miyajima in a day: a timed route from 7:30am to dinnerChecked Oct 1, 2026

Where to stayWhere to stay in Hiroshima: four bases, station to MiyajimaguchiChecked Oct 1, 2026

Plan around Hiroshima

Miyajima travel guide

Tides, deer, the visitor tax and the ferry

Read the guide JR Pass worth it?

Price Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima before you buy

Read the guide Best time to visit Japan

Blossom, autumn color, rainy season and typhoons

Read the guide Best eSIM for Japan

Data plans compared for a first trip

Read the guide

Hiroshima FAQ

How many days do you need in Hiroshima?

One full day covers the Peace Memorial Park, the museum and a meal of okonomiyaki. Two days lets you add Miyajima without rushing. Skip a third day unless you plan Naoshima, Iwakuni or Kure.

Is Hiroshima worth visiting?

Yes. The Peace Memorial Museum and Atomic Bomb Dome are among the most important sites in Japan, and Miyajima is close by. It is a calmer, cheaper city than Osaka or Kyoto with easy shinkansen access.

Where should I stay in Hiroshima?

Near Hiroshima Station for early trains and Miyajima, or in Hondori for food and evenings on foot. Both are a short streetcar ride from the Peace Park. Choose Miyajimaguchi only for dawn on the island.

Can you visit Hiroshima as a day trip from Osaka?

Yes, about 1.5 hours each way by shinkansen. It gives you the Peace Park and museum in a long day, but not Miyajima as well. Stay a night if you want both.

Do you need tickets for the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum?

Regular hours need only the entry fee, which is ¥200 for adults. Extended morning and evening slots require an online reservation, and entry can be limited on busy days, so reserve ahead in peak seasons.

Is the JR Pass worth it for Hiroshima?

Usually not for Hiroshima alone. A return shinkansen from Osaka or Kyoto costs less than a 7-day pass. It can pay off on a long loop that includes Kyushu or the north, so price the whole route first.