THINGS TO DO IN HIROSHIMA 広島
Time to reflect, gardens to wander and something delicious waiting at the counter. Discover Hiroshima’s many sides, or take the ferry to Miyajima for an unhurried island day.
A little planning. Room for discovery. Choose what you love. Keep nearby places together. Leave time for lunch.
How this works ↓A LITTLE INSPIRATION
Choose one outing. See how to get there, where to pause and how to make it shorter. Then make it your own.
A thoughtful first Hiroshima visitMuseum, memorials & riverside 01
About 5 hours · 3 main stops
Begin with the museum, then give the memorials and riverbanks the time and attention they deserve.
Indoor exhibits, park paths & time to reflect
Gardens, art & a slower paceShukkeien & Hiroshima Museum of Art 02
4–5 hours · 2 main stops
A garden morning, a leisurely lunch and time with a few paintings make a gentle central-city day.
Garden paths, a city walk & indoor galleries
Castle scenery, shops & local cookingCastle grounds, Hondori & Okonomimura 03
About 5 hours · 3 main stops
See the castle across its moat, browse the city’s shopping streets and sit down for Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Outdoor grounds, city pavements & a seated meal
Contemporary art & a change of paceContemporary art & Hijiyama Park 04
4–5 hours · 2 main stops
Let an exhibition be the focus, then enjoy a short green pause around the museum and an unhurried meal.
Indoor art with an optional hilltop stroll
A full island dayShrine, island lunch & a wooded pause 05
7–8 hours from Hiroshima · 3 main stops
Cross the water, visit the shrine and make time for lunch, little shops and a short walk beneath the trees.
Train, ferry, waterfront walking & some park slopes
Temple detail & a more active island dayItsukushima Shrine & Daishoin 06
7–8 hours from Hiroshima · 2 main stops
Begin beside the water, then follow the rising streets to Daishoin for a slower temple visit and an island lunch.
Ferry crossing, uphill lanes & substantial temple steps
THINGS TO DO IN HIROSHIMA
01Peace Memorial Park & riverside
A place for remembrance
The memorials, riverbanks and open spaces invite attention rather than a hurried circuit. Pause at the Cenotaph and Children’s Peace Monument, read the stories and allow time for what the visit means to you.
Broad park paths with bridges, some steps and exposed stretches.
02Peace Memorial Park & riverside
Listen to the human stories
Personal belongings, testimony and historical records explain the atomic bombing and its consequences. Give this important visit your attention and your own pace, with time afterwards to sit quietly or talk.
Indoor exhibitions; standing, queues and emotionally demanding material.
03Peace Memorial Park & riverside
Witness to the city’s history
View the preserved structure from the surrounding paths and read its history. Seen alongside the park and museum, the Dome helps connect the present-day city with the lives and events remembered here.
Outdoor viewing paths; riverside approaches and crowds.
04Central Hiroshima
A garden in miniature
Ponds, bridges and carefully composed views bring a quieter rhythm to the city. Choose a gentle route, notice the changing scenes and make space for a rest rather than trying every narrow path.
Garden paths, arched bridges, steps and uneven surfaces.
05Central Hiroshima
The castle beside the moat
Walk through the grounds, see the tower across the water and explore the setting of Hiroshima’s castle town. This is an outdoor visit, with the moat, approaches and restored Ninomaru area as the focus.
Open grounds, gravel paths, bridges and some steps.
06Central Hiroshima
A little time with the paintings
Step into a focused art visit in the centre of the city. Let a few paintings hold your attention, enjoy the museum’s quieter scale and leave time for a leisurely lunch afterwards.
Indoor galleries with an outdoor approach.
07Hijiyama
A fresh way of looking
Contemporary art, striking architecture and a hilltop setting offer another side of Hiroshima. Choose the exhibition that interests you and combine it with a modest walk through the surrounding park.
Indoor galleries on a hill; uphill approach unless using suitable transport.
08Hijiyama
Green space above the streets
Wooded paths and places to pause surround the contemporary art museum. Treat the park as a short change of scene before or after the galleries, choosing a comfortable path rather than a complete hill circuit.
Hilly park with sloping paths and steps.
09Hondori & Hatchobori
Find your own little Hiroshima
The covered arcade brings everyday city life, shops and places to eat into an easy-to-browse stretch. Look for something that catches your eye, stop for a drink and enjoy the pleasure of having no fixed shopping list.
Mostly covered shopping street with busy crossings and shop thresholds.
10Hondori & Hatchobori
Pull up a seat for Hiroshima flavour
Several small counters gather Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki under one roof. Choose a shop, watch the layers come together on the hotplate and make the meal an experience in its own right.
Indoor restaurant floors, close seating and possible queues.
11Miyajima island
A shrine shaped by the sea
The shrine’s vermilion buildings and great offshore torii make Miyajima unforgettable. Walk the waterfront, visit the shrine respectfully and notice how the tide changes the scene rather than expecting one fixed picture.
Waterfront walk and shrine corridors; crowding and some level changes.
12Miyajima island
Island tastes and little treasures
Browse the island’s main shopping street for local sweets, craft and something good for lunch. A momiji-shaped cake, a thoughtful gift or a small restaurant can be part of the day without turning it into a shopping dash.
Busy shopping street with narrow sections and varied shop access.
13Miyajima island
A quieter side of the island
Temple buildings, small statues and wooded slopes reward a slower visit beyond the busiest waterfront. Notice the details, give worshippers space and choose as much of the temple grounds as feels comfortable.
Uphill approach and many steps within the temple complex.
14Miyajima island
A little shade beside the stream
A wooded valley behind the shrine offers a change of pace from the waterfront. Follow a modest stretch of the stream, pause beneath the trees and enjoy the season without needing to make a mountain expedition of it.
Wooded paths, slopes, bridges and some steps.
Try another area or a broader interest.
LET THE EVENING BE SIMPLE
Find a counter you like, browse a few city streets and let dinner be the evening’s main event. If you have spent the day on Miyajima, plan the ferry back before choosing your restaurant in Hiroshima.
Leave time for dinner. Check menus, reservations and your journey back.
THE PLACES ARE ONLY THE BEGINNING
Knowing where to go is a start. Understanding what’s on your plate, finding a thoughtful gift and connecting with someone you meet can make the day unforgettable.
A richer food experience
Ask Fumi about Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, what goes into it and how to order. Understanding a dish can make a simple meal one of your favourite memories.
Shopping with confidence
A local sweet, a small craft or a gift for someone you love. Fumi can help you ask about the details and understand the shopkeeper’s answer.
Conversations worth having
Ask for a local recommendation, chat at a café or share a little of where you come from. Fumi helps with the language so you can take part in the conversation.
YOUR CHOICES. YOUR OWN WONDERFUL HIROSHIMA.
The Fumi app is your interactive companion for the day. Tell her which places you’d like to visit, then talk with her about the sights, the food and the little discoveries along the way.
THE LITTLE THINGS THAT HELP
Useful now, and easy to find again on your phone.
One Hiroshima outing or one Miyajima day is a comfortable starting point. The ferry may be a short ride, but reaching it, boarding and walking from the island terminal are part of the journey.
Understand the Miyajima connection ↗Book the Peace Memorial Museum online ahead and check your admission time. Leave room afterwards to reflect. Gardens and art museums have separate calendars; check the venue you actually intend to visit.
Peace Memorial Museum visitor guide ↗JR trains and Hiroden trams are different services. For Miyajima from Hiroshima Station, the JR Sanyo Line to Miyajimaguchi is the straightforward rail route. In the city, check the tram destination and stop before boarding.
Hiroden’s current tram map ↗Two main ferry operators run from Miyajimaguchi. Match the boat to your ticket or pass. Miyajima’s visitor tax is separate even when an eligible rail pass covers the JR ferry; check the operator’s current fare and boarding information.
JR ferry fares, passes & visitor tax ↗Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, an island lunch or a small sweet can be a highlight. Ask Fumi about the ingredients and cooking, then confirm dietary needs with the restaurant before ordering.
Get the Fumi app ↗The park and waterfront are different from Daishoin’s stairs or Hijiyama’s hill. Choose a shorter outing if you prefer fewer steps, and check lift routes, ferry boarding and entrances before starting.
Miyajimaguchi access & boarding ↗SIMPLE BY DESIGN
The heart keeps a wish list. You don't have to fit everything into today.
Add a few stops to My day. Change their order and leave space for meals and breaks.
Share your day, print it, or open directions for each leg. Saved choices stay in this browser.
YOUR NEXT LITTLE HELPING HAND
Keep the station map, a few Japanese phrases and your wider trip close at hand.
A FEW GOOD QUESTIONS
It is possible to make a selective visit to both, but it is not the pace suggested here. The museum deserves time, and the island adds trains, ferries and walking. With two days, choose one city outing and one island outing. With one day, choose what matters most and avoid treating every place as a requirement.
Miyajima, without the rush combines the shrine, shopping and an optional short lower-park walk. The island, a little deeper adds Daishoin’s uphill approach and many temple steps. Both allow a full day from Hiroshima; neither includes the ropeway or a Mount Misen hike.
Not necessarily. Compare the journeys you actually plan with the operators and services covered. A tram pass and a JR rail pass are different. For ferries, choose the operator that matches your ticket, and allow for the separate Miyajima visitor tax.
Choose a small number of stops, a proper lunch and time to rest. The Peace Memorial Museum’s subject matter can be distressing, so decide what suits your family. Daishoin and Hijiyama involve slopes or stairs; the shorter waterfront and central-city choices may suit you better.
No. The guide and planner are free, and Fumi receives no booking commissions. Use the official venue links for reservations. The Fumi app is a separate interactive companion, with free credits to get started.
Yes. Save favourites, select your stops and share a day link or download a day sheet. The sheet includes Japanese place names and practical notes. Maps and new directions need a connection; saved choices stay in this browser, separately for each city.
Visitor information reviewed 22 October 2026. Opening arrangements can change; use each venue’s official link for your date. Visit times are Fumi’s estimates. Map pins locate sights or districts; follow the entrance advice for the final approach.
Official Hiroshima visitor guide ↗ · Miyajima Tourist Association ↗ · JR ferry timetable ↗ · Hiroden transport information ↗
Your saved places stay in this browser. Share a day link to open it on another device. Maps and directions use external services; this page does not request your location or store your hotel address.
Real photographs, resized and compressed; layouts may crop their display. Adapted CC BY-SA photographs retain their stated licence.
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