On this page, I will introduce the attractions of Hiroshima, things to do, and especially places to visit.
Table of Contents
Outline of Hiroshima Prefecture
Map of Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima prefecture is the center of Chugoku district. Hiroshima city with the prefectural office’s location is famous as a city damaged by the atomic bomb during the Second World War. If you go to Hiroshima, you can visit the famous museum that memorized those days. At the same time, you can feel the strength of this city that was later rebuilt. Hiroshima has Miyajima Island which is a very popular tourist attraction. A trip to Hiroshima will give you a lot of wonderful experiences.
There are two sightseeing spots which can not be removed from itinerary during Hiroshima sightseeing. One is Miyajima Island in the Seto Inland Sea. And the other is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima city.
Hiroshima prefecture is located in a calm area facing the Seto Inland Sea in western Japan. This prefecture is connected to the Ehime prefecture of Shikoku on the other side of the Seto Inland Sea by a connecting bridge named “Shimanami Kaido”. From this bridge you can enjoy the scenery of the beautiful Seto Inland Sea.
Shimanami Kaido’s starting point is Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Onomichi is a beautiful town often used as a film location. You may stop by Onomichi.
Access
Airport
There is Hiroshima Airport in Mihara city, Hiroshima prefecture. It is approximately 45 minutes by bus to JR Hiroshima Station from this airport. At Hiroshima Airport, scheduled flights are operated with the following airports.
International flights
Seoul / Incheon
Beijing
Shanghai / Pudong
Dalian
Taipei / Taoyuan
Hong Kong
Singapore
Domestic flights
Sapporo / New Chitose
Sendai
Tokyo / Haneda
Tokyo / Narita
Okinawa / Naha
Shinkansen
The Sanyo Shinkansen runs in Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima Prefecture has the next 5 stations.
Fukuyama station
Shin-Onomichi station
Mihara station
Higashi Hiroshima station
Hiroshima station
It is approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes by Hiroshima Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Hiroshima Station. Among people coming from Tokyo to Hiroshima, the number of users of airplanes and Shinkansen are nearly half.
Miyajima (Itsukushima Shrine)
The torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island = Shutterstock
The cable car to Mount Misen, Miyajima island, Japan = Shutterstock
Miyajima Island is a small island in the west of Hiroshima City. Here is a very famous old shrine named Itsukushima Shrine. This shrine sticks out in the shallow of the Seto Inland Sea. To the huge torii gate, you can walk when the sea is at low tide.
Behind this shrine is Mt. Misen. From the top of the mountain you can see the Seto Inland Sea and Shikoku.
About Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine I have already introduced in several articles. If you are interested, please stop by those articles.
>> For details of Itsukushima Shrine, please see this article
>> For details of Miyajima please see this article
>> For Miyajima’s autumn leaves, please see this article
Hiroshima city
Even if you go to Hiroshima City, you may no longer have the image of a city reduced to ruins by the atomic bomb. On August 6, 1945, the city of Hiroshima was reduced to ruins in an instant. However, after that, the survivors of Hiroshima worked hard and achieved reconstruction. If you walk around Hiroshima city, you can feel the power of this city.
One of Hiroshima’s most important landmarks is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. There are various monuments in the park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can learn about the history of the atomic bombing and the importance of peace by visiting the exhibits and monuments in the park. I also feel that the people of Hiroshima have not forgotten the tragedy of the atomic bombing.
Peace Memorial Museum
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Japan with blue sky = shutterstock
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has been introduced in the following article. If you don’t mind, please drop in on this article as well.
Okonomiyaki
okonomiyaki
If you visit Hiroshima, be sure to eat okonomiyaki. Okonomiyaki is a popular teppanyaki dish that uses various ingredients such as noodles, vegetables, and meat. From children to the elderly, most Japanese people love it. You can eat okonomiyaki all over Japan, but Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki is especially delicious. We especially recommend the one with oysters, a specialty of Hiroshima. You can taste this specialty at many restaurants in Hiroshima city.
Onomichi city
Ropeway in onomichi, Hiroshima, Japan = shutterstock
Small street in Onomichi = shutterstock
Onomichi is a fun town. As you can see in the photo above, houses are densely beside the ocean in Onomichi. If you go to the Senkoji Park on the mountain by the ropeway which is operated in this town, you can look over this whole town. Beautiful sea is spreading beyond that.
In Onomichi, walking in town is fun. If you take a ropeway, I will recommend walking on the way home. It takes about 30 minutes on foot to reach the station at the foot of the mountain. There are really many retro houses on the slope of the mountain. If you get off the narrow slope, you may encounter lots of cats on the way.
It is approximately 40 minutes by Shinkansen from Hiroshima station to Onomichi city. It takes about 3 minutes by the ropeway to Senkoji Park.
Onomichi is well known for its delicious Ramen. Please do eat it.
Shimanami Kaido
Nishi-Seto Expressway (Shimanami Kaido), which connects Hiroshima prefecture in Honshu and Ehime prefecture in Shikoku = AdobeStock
“Shimanami Kaido” connecting Hiroshima prefecture and Ehime prefecture of Shikoku is a wonderful bridge where travelers can comfortably cross by bicycle. About Shimanami Kaido, I introduced in the following article. If you do not mind, please refer to this article.
Thank you for reading to the end.
>>If you want to know the tour menu of Hiroshima, click here!
Now, let’s plan to make your vacation in Japan the best experience ever!
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