Things to do in Hiroshima: top sights and where to go
Hiroshima is a city of rivers and green squares on the Ota delta: the rebuilt castle and the Shukkei-en landscape garden sit a short walk apart in the centre, and Okonomi-mura near the Hondori arcade serves the local layered okonomiyaki. Give day one to the castle, the garden and the evening food streets; on day two take the JR train and ferry to Miyajima for the floating torii of Itsukushima Shrine, Daisho-in temple and the ropeway up Mount Misen.
Sights
Hiroshima itineraries
Hiroshima travel guide
Before you go: Miyajima and the floating torii of Itsukushima, Mount Misen, the castle and Shukkei-en, okonomiyaki, getting there, weather.
Hiroshima on your own: the essentials
- How many days
- 2 days: the city and Miyajima
- When to go
- Late March–May and October–November
- Visa
- Depends on your passport — many are visa-exempt
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY); carry some cash
- From Osaka
- ≈ 1 h 25 min by shinkansen
- From Tokyo
- ≈ 4 h by shinkansen or 1.5 h by air
- Miyajima
- JR to Miyajimaguchi + ferry ≈ 10 min
- Tides
- The torii “floats” at high tide — check the table
- Getting around
- Streetcars across town, ICOCA card
- Time zone
- UTC+9 all year
officiali
Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
Sourcei
UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 776Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Itsukushima Shrine”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Mount Misen”Sourcei
Wikipedia, “Shukkei-en”Things to do in Hiroshima
The top things to do in and around Hiroshima are Miyajima island with Itsukushima Shrine and its floating red torii, Daisho-in temple and the ropeway up Mount Misen, and in the city, Hiroshima Castle, the Shukkei-en landscape garden and Okonomi-mura for the local okonomiyaki. Every place with its YesGo score is in the list above.
| Centre | Castle, Shukkei-en | ½ day |
|---|---|---|
| Hondori | Okonomi-mura | evening |
| Miyajima | Itsukushima, Daisho-in | ½ day |
| Miyajima | Mount Misen | 2–3 h |
Rather not plan it yourself? The list above has ready itineraries for 1–2 days, with places in a sensible order.
Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima
A Miyajima day trip from Hiroshima is simple: take a JR train to Miyajimaguchi in about 30 minutes, then the JR or Matsudai ferry for 10 minutes. A direct boat also runs from central Hiroshima. Visitors pay a small island entry levy.
| JR + ferry | Hiroshima Station | ≈ 45 min |
|---|---|---|
| Streetcar + ferry | Central Hiroshima | ≈ 1 h 15 min |
| Direct boat | City-centre pier | ≈ 45 min |
At high tide the torii stands in the water; at low tide you can walk to it — check the tide table to see both.
Getting to Hiroshima
The easiest way to Hiroshima is the shinkansen: about 1 hour 25 minutes from Osaka, 1 hour 40 from Kyoto and 4 hours from Tokyo. Hiroshima Airport (HIJ) is ≈ 50 km away, about 50 minutes by bus.
Hiroshima weather by month
Hiroshima has a mild climate: the best times are spring, late March and April, and autumn, October to November, when maples redden in Miyajima’s Momijidani valley. Summer is hot and humid at ≈ 32–33 °C with June rains; winter is dry at ≈ 10 °C by day.
°CiLong-term averages, °C: day and night air, sea water near the shore, rain — rainy days a month. Any given year can be warmer or cooler. Tap a month for details below. | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day | 10° | 11° | 15° | 20° | 25° | 28° | 32° | 33° | 29° | 23° | 17° | 12° |
| Night | 2° | 3° | 6° | 10° | 15° | 20° | 24° | 25° | 21° | 15° | 9° | 4° |
| Rain | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Warm — 20 °C and above by dayBest time to go: March–May and October–November
- day ≈ 10°
- night ≈ 2°
- rain 6 days
About 10°, dry.
- day ≈ 11°
- night ≈ 3°
- rain 7 days
Cold; oyster season.
- day ≈ 15°
- night ≈ 6°
- rain 10 days
About 15°; cherry blossom late in the month.
- day ≈ 20°
- night ≈ 10°
- rain 10 days
Cherry blossom — a great time.
- day ≈ 25°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 10 days
About 25°, warm.
- day ≈ 28°
- night ≈ 20°
- rain 12 days
Rainy season.
- day ≈ 32°
- night ≈ 24°
- rain 11 days
Heat ≈ 32°.
- day ≈ 33°
- night ≈ 25°
- rain 8 days
The hottest month.
- day ≈ 29°
- night ≈ 21°
- rain 9 days
About 29°, typhoons.
- day ≈ 23°
- night ≈ 15°
- rain 6 days
About 23° — pleasant.
- day ≈ 17°
- night ≈ 9°
- rain 6 days
Maples on Miyajima — the best time.
- day ≈ 12°
- night ≈ 4°
- rain 6 days
About 12°, oysters.
What to eat in Hiroshima
Hiroshima is proud of its okonomiyaki: unlike Osaka’s, it is cooked in layers — batter, cabbage, noodles, egg. The region also grows Japan’s best-known oysters, and Miyajima sells maple-leaf momiji manju cakes.
- Hiroshima okonomiyaki — layered, with noodles; best at Okonomi-mura.
- Oysters — grilled, in season from autumn to spring.
- Momiji manju — maple-leaf cakes with fillings.
- Anago — conger eel on rice on Miyajima.
Hiroshima ticket prices
Daisho-in temple and walks around Miyajima are free. You pay for the ferry and island levy, Itsukushima Shrine, the Mount Misen ropeway, Hiroshima Castle and Shukkei-en.
| Hiroshima Castle | 48 | 1 h | free (keep closed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Okonomi-mura | 38 | 1 h | free entry; okonomiyaki ≈ from ¥1,000 |
| Shukkei-en Garden | 37 | 1 h | ¥350 |
| Itsukushima Shrine | 37 | 1 h 30 min | ¥300 |
| Mount Misen | 19 | 3 h | trails free; ropeway ≈ ¥2,000 return |
Free — 1 places: Daisho-in Temple.
Tips
- Stay on Miyajima into the evening: once the tour groups leave, the torii is lit up.
- Miyajima’s deer eat paper and maps — keep them in your bag.
- From the top ropeway station to Misen’s summit is another ≈ 30 minutes on steps.
FAQ
Is Hiroshima worth visiting?
Yes — Miyajima’s floating torii is one of Japan’s classic sights, and the city adds a castle, a beautiful garden and its own okonomiyaki.
Do I need a visa for Japan?
It depends on your passport: many nationalities are visa-exempt for short stays, others apply for a visa or eVISA. Check the official rules for your passport.
How do I get to Miyajima from Hiroshima?
By JR train to Miyajimaguchi in about 30 minutes, then a 10-minute ferry.
When does the Itsukushima torii “float”?
At high tide the water reaches the gate; at low tide you can walk to it. Tide times are on the shrine’s website.
How do I get from Osaka to Hiroshima?
By shinkansen in about 1 hour 25 minutes.
What to do in Hiroshima in one day?
Miyajima in the morning — Itsukushima, Daisho-in and Mount Misen — then the castle, Shukkei-en and dinner at Okonomi-mura.
What is the weather like in Hiroshima in November?
About 17 °C by day and 9 °C at night — maple season on Miyajima.
What to eat in Hiroshima?
Layered Hiroshima okonomiyaki, oysters, anago eel and momiji manju.
Can you stay overnight on Miyajima?
Yes, there are ryokan on the island; evenings and mornings are calmer and the torii is lit.
How do I get from Hiroshima Airport to the city?
By airport bus to Hiroshima Station in about 50 minutes.
Sources and fact-check
- UNESCO World Heritage List, No. 776 (Itsukushima)
- Wikipedia, “Hiroshima”; “Itsukushima Shrine”; “Mount Misen”; “Shukkei-en”; Hiroshima climate (1991–2020 normals)
- Itsukushima Shrine — official website (tide table)