Welcome to a brand new city! This is one of the highlights of this trip where I went all the way down south to visit Hiroshima. This makes it my 13th different Japanese city. Hiroshima might be out of the usual golden route and the first-tier destination but don’t miss it. With the Shinkansen being so efficient and fuss-free, it is just an easy train ride away. Hiroshima is only about an hour away from Osaka and about 4 hours from Tokyo. Undeniably, the atomic bomb and World War II were the ones that got me interested in this city. I have also heard constantly about how pretty the place is and how nicely it is rebuilt which makes me want to see it in person. Somehow, I did feel that there are a lot more American tourists in Hiroshima too as compared to the others. There were barely any Asian tourists. Let’s check it out.

Transportation in Hiroshima

There is no metro system in Hiroshima. There are only street cars and buses connecting the city. Similarly, you can use any IC from different parts of Japan. They are always interchangeable throughout the entire nation. I got a PASMO during my first trip and never refunded it. I did not try the street car but took the bus. Google Maps works very well for routing and timing.

Most of the time, I walk around the city centre. It is a very walkable city and not too huge. From Hilton Hiroshima where I was staying, it is about a 30-minute stroll to the Peace Museum. Taxis are also available. It is said that the city suffers from a lack of taxis but I did not face any difficulties when I got one from the train station.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima City

Peace Memorial Park

Peace Memorial Museum

Atomic Bomb Dome

“Little Boy” point of impact

Miyajima Island

Eating in Hiroshima

Soba

Okonomiyaki

Sanukiya Kamiyachoten

Miyagiyama Oysters

Momiji Manju

Sumiyaki Kaminari Honten Yakitori

Conclusion

Most people skip out on Hiroshima when they are headed to Japan with Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto being the classic and favourite. I enjoyed my time over in Hiroshima, it is very different to the rest of the city and I love the history of this city. Don’t miss it if you have some extra time or on your subsequent trip to Japan. This will be a great spot for 2 to 3 days. If you love Oysters, you certainly can’t miss out. I enjoyed the informative Peace Museum and also Miyagiyama Island.