Hiroshima travel blog — The fullest Hiroshima travel guide & suggested Hiroshima itinerary for 2 days for the first-timers

Hiroshima Castle is an interesting spot for tourists to wander around. You can sit down and take a break after a long walk. You will find your soul seemingly open and peaceful. A part of this castle is a children’s play area. The kids will be fishing, swimming in the moats surroundings the castle like lovely baby turtles. Around the garden of the castle and the moats, there are more than 350 cherry blossom trees. On the time of blooming flowers, visitors will admire the wonderful beauty of this place. In Hiroshima Castle there is a museum built in concrete from the 16th century. If you want to learn about Japanese culture, you should not miss the opportunity to visit this museum. It displays relics, armor, weapons, … of feudal Japanese warriors… as well as introduces historical information of the castle and the city.

Address: 21-1 Motomachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0011, Japan
Opened: 1592
Phone: +81 82-221-7512
Hours: 9 am to 6 pm
Closed: December 29 to 31
Admission: Main Keep: 370 yen / Ninomaru: Free

Hijiyama Park

There is an interesting place for tourists in Hiroshima, which is Hijiyama Park. The park is very large, located in the south of JR Hiroshima station and between two rivers. There are spacious places for visitors to rest and relax. Especially, visitors will find there are many cats lost and live in this park. Unlike other well-built, stylishly decorated parks, Hujiyama Park will make you think of untouched forests that have not been explored by humans. In this park there are 2 museums worth visiting. It is the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art and the Hiroshima City Manga Library.

Address: Hijiyamakoen, Minami Ward, Hiroshima, 732-0817, Japan
Hours: 5AM–11PM
Phone: +81 82-250-8956

There are also a number of other museums such as Hiroshima Museum of Art (Naka), MAZDA Museum, Hiroshima City Transportation Museum, Hiroshima Children’s Museum …

Miyajima Island & Itsukushima Shrine

Miyajima Island

Located in the Seto Inland Sea region, Miyajima is a small island of 10.5 km long and 3.5 km wide, where you will be greeted by sika deer (Japanese deer) living all over the island. With rich nature, still unspoiled due to not being influenced by humans, Misen primeval forest and Itsukushima Shrine are recognized as world cultural heritage. To go to Miyajima you will take 10 minutes by ferry from Miyajimaguchi Sanbashi.

If you want to eat and shop on the island, go to Omotesando market. That is where cravings will be stimulated by the sweet, aroma of Hiroshima’s famous dishes such as sea eel rice (Anago Meshi), grilled oysters, … and dizziness by souvenir shops close together. Come to Hiroshima, remember to buy Momiji Manju (maple leaf shaped cake) and Miyajima shakushi (rice paddle) as gift. The deer that live on Miyajima Island welcome visitors everywhere.

Itsukushima Shrine

Viewed as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Hiroshima and whole Japan, Itsukushima shrine has become a must-see destination for tourists. Located on Miyajima Island and designed with an unique architecture that seems to float on the water along with the giant red gate of Torri that creates curiosity and appeal. However, because Itsukushima Shrine is a sacred place, there are many customs that you must follow when you come here. For women who are about to give birth, will not allowed to stay on the island, the elderly, sick also are forced to leave the island … because of there is no birth and death on the island is allowed. Moreover, Itsukushima Shrine is also recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage in 1996, thus creating more famous for Miyajima island.

The most famous tourist attraction on Miyajima island is the Itsukusima shrine’s giant Torri gate. This is the most famous Torri gate in Japan. Since ancient times, Miyajima has been seen by the people as a very sacred island. They believed that the island was the embodiment of the sea god. And that Torri gate is the divine sanctuary of this god. The Torri gate is famous not only for many worshipers but also for its unique location. It was built in the middle of the sea. When the tide drops low, visitors can walk to reach the gate.

Address: 1-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan
Area: 431.2 ha
Phone: +81 829-44-2020
Hours: 6:30 am – 6 pm
Admission: 300 yen (500 yen for combined entry with Treasure Hall)

The islands along Shimanami Kaido

With a length of about 70km, Shimanami Kaido is the road connecting Onomichi City of Hiroshima Prefecture with Imabari City of Ehime Prefecture and 6 islands located in the middle. This road is also one of the favorite cycling tracks in Japan. There are about 15 bike rental shops along this road, so it will be interesting if you combine cycling with a trip to visit the islands.

From Onomichi station you can go by car, bus or ferry to Shimanami Kaido.

Hiroshima travel blog: What to eat?

In addition to the famous dishes, during your Hiroshima trip, you should enjoy a few more local specialties below.

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pancake)

It is not only a delicious dish in Japan that many people love, but it is also one of the delicious, attractive dishes in Hiroshima that you must definitely try. With delicious taste, unique processing, the cake is made from a thin layer of flour, above it are chopped cabbage, yakisoba noodles, oysters, squid and cheese. When eating ingredients that are blended together to create a great taste, make sure you will love it.

There are usually two type ways of Okonomiyaki processing, Osaka style and Hiroshima style. Osaka-style is simply prepared by mixing flour with kernel and frying. And Hiroshima-style is more sophisticated, the thin cake base is grilled first, then add kernel, spices and sauce, very similar to the way pizza is made. Whatever style, Okonomiyaki is extremely attractive and can defeat even the most fastidious diners.

Momiji Manju

Momiji Manju (Momiji means maple leaf) is a famous pastry dish in Hiroshima shaped like a maple leaf and filled with red bean paste inside and is extremely popular with domestic and international tourists. The cake will be made on special occasions or to welcome honoured guests to home. Sitting and biting a piece of cake and chatting with friends and relatives is great moments. The kernel of cake is made usually from red bean, but nowadays, they have made from more kinds of kernels with different flavors to meet the needs of customers such as cheese, green beans, milk, chocolate …

Tsukemen Ramen

If you want to explore Hiroshima cuisine, let’s try Tsukemen noodles. With ingredients such as pork, boiled eggs, cucumbers … The noodles are made almost like cold noodles, when you eat dipping into spicy sauce, create a super delicious taste.

Oysters

Oysters is super delicious food that you should not miss when traveling to Hiroshima. Because this is where the largest oyster production in the country, accounting for 70%. Therefore, in restaurants, hotels or on Hiroshima streets you will easily see many shops selling dishes from oysters such as raw oysters dip into wasabi, grilled oysters, fried oysters …

Hiroshima blog: What and where to buy?

Here are some of Hiroshima’s specialty cakes that you can buy as gifts.

Custard Cake

A delicious cream cake with egg yolk and fresh cream inside. The company that produced it was Hattendo for 220 yen / piece. In addition, there are custard cakes with 7 different types such as custard, chestnut, mango, strawberry, red bean butter, chocolate, green tea.

Momiji Manju

Momiji is maple leaf, manju is dumplings, so momiji manju can be understood as dumplings shaped in maple leaves. It is known as the famous product of Itsukushima (Miyajima) of Hiroshima and is the representative of Hiroshima’s pastry in Japan. You can buy it at Nishikido shop with price of 770 yen/box/6 pieces.

Gosaku Manju

Gosaku Manjuu cake of “Heiando Umetsubo” shop is a pastry kind of thin crust and thick red bean paste filled inside. In addition, the middle is the baked walnut is placed at the top of the cake kernel. The price of 972 yen/box/5 pieces.

Hassaku Daifuku

Hassaku is a citrus fruit like oranges and tangerines. Hassaku daifuku is made using white beans and glutinous rice flour wrapped outside Hassaku of Hiroshima. Although Hassaku has a unique bitter taste, but it blends in with the sweetness of white beans and the glutinous rice crust. Buy at: http://0845.boo.jp/hassaku/index.html

Batakeki

Butter cake is a kind of scones using butter. For the people of Hiroshima, butter cakes are not too special but are loved because it is a suitable cake for the family and also called “cake for everyone”. The rustic flavor and long preservation time are what make this cake popular for a long time. Buy at: Nagasakido (Address: 3-24,Naka-machi,Naka-ku,Hiroshima-shi,Hiroshima; Url: http://nagasakido.net/).

Below are some best places for shopping in Hiroshima you can refer to.

Hondori

The most famous tourist place of Hiroshima is Hondori. Here, visitors can see the items are sold extremely diverse and rich. Hondori is really an ideal shopping place for those who have a passion for fashion when it has a full range of products from clothes, jewelry, accessories … Famous brands are also present at this place is convenient for visitors. And here, visitors can choose for themselves and their loved ones meaningful gifts.

Address: Hondori street, Naka, Hiroshima

The Rest House

Because the Rest House is a shopping spot right next to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, it is very convenient for sightseeing and shopping. Along with Hiroshima Peace Park, this place was previously devastated by the atomic bomb. Later The Rest House has been restored and developed again, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions and shopping spots in Hiroshima that tourists should not miss.

Address: 1-1 Nakajimacho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0811, Japan
Hours: 8:30AM–5PM
Phone: +81 82-247-6738

Nagasaki-ya

Nagasaki-ya is one of the best places to buy souvenirs in Hiroshima that tourists should visit. Here, visitors can easily find extremely unique souvenir products made by the hands of the Hiroshima people, so it is very meaningful to make gifts or make memories. In addition to shopping, there is also deliciously-loved Hiroshima Momiji manju cake. So why skip a famous shopping place like that. And this can also be considered a place to end the journey of visitors.

Address: 6-8 Hondori, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0035, Japan
Hours: 9:30AM–7PM
Closed: January 1st, 2nd and 3rd
Phone: +81 82-247-2275

Suggested Hiroshima itinerary 2 days: How to spend 2 days in Hiroshima perfectly?

Here is my 2-day Hiroshima travel itinerary, you can refer to and make for yourself a more suitable itinerary.

Day 1

I went to Hiroshima station in the early afternoon so I went to the guesthouse to check-in and went to lunch nearby. Then walk to Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a peaceful memorial park that recreates the historical images of the US atomic bombing in Hiroshima. This park is very beautiful and peaceful, the museum has many interesting things to see and understand more about history so I spend time in this area until 5-6 pm.

Then we walked to Okonomimura village, where many shops serve the famous Hiroshima-style Okonomiyaki. On the way to go there, I also went to shotengai shopping malls and wander there for a while.

After wandering for a while, we finally arrived and we were starving, so we chose a pretty crowded eatery and ordered. Eating here was directly watching the chef make okonomiyaki from start to finish, very interesting.

And this is the finished product. Look like this but it’s really big. It is very delicious but it is very full, after eating, feels difficult to breathe :)) (It’s only about 1000 yen, quite cheap).

When we finished eating, it was almost 9 PM, so we wandered around and walked back to the guesthouse, strolling around, watching the streets of Hiroshima in the evening. Return to the guesthouse to take a shower and sleep well.

Day 2

Get up and eating, check out and go to Hiroshima station to getting to Miyajima island. Miyajima is one of the three most beautiful landmarks in Japan and is only half an hour away from JR Hiroshima Station. From Hiroshima Station take the JR Sanyo Honsen Line to Miyajimaguchi Station and from Miyajimaguchi Station take a 10-minute ferry ride to reach the island.

The day we went, the sky was pretty, so the view of the island was great. The sky and water are very clear and blue, creating a peaceful and refreshing feeling. Arriving at the island at around 10am, we started walking around the island, playing with deers on the island and visiting the Torii gate of the famous Itsukushima floating shrine.

After walking and sightseeing around the island, we take the cable car up Mount Misen. The cable car stop at Shishiiwa station and we participated in a momiji manju cake make class right here for 300 yen (momiji cake is a famous cake here, usually bought as gift). We were instructed directly how to pour the dough into the mold and bake it, quite interesting.

After that we have lunch here to get the power to climb up to Mount Misen. It takes more than 20 minutes from Shishiiwa Station to reach the top of the mountain (with my crawling speed, lol). When climbing the weather is quite hot and a bit tired but up to the place, seeing the scene is not tired, so beautiful.

After watching scenery and taking photos, we started the journey down to go back. This time at about 4pm, the tide started flooding the Torii gate at the Itsukushima shrine. We wandered on the island and took a ferry to return. Arriving at Hiroshima station, it’s about 5 pm. We took the train from Hiroshima station to Osaka station as we did (but opposite direction). Arriving at home is more than 11pm, a bit tired but happy and content.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in, from and to Hiroshima you can refer to

• Hiroshima & Miyajima Group Day Trip from Osaka
• Hiroshima and Miyajima Day Tour from Osaka, Kyoto, or Hiroshima
• Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass
• Hiroshima Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-Off Bus Pass
• JR Kansai-Hiroshima Area Pass (5 Days)
• [Sale] 5-Day JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass with Hiroshima Sightseeing Bus Tour Combo Package
• 4G Prepaid Sim Card (JP Airports Pick Up) for Japan
• 4G WiFi (Japan Pick Up) for Japan
• JR Pass for Whole Japan (7, 14, or 21 Days)

Are you looking for more Japan travel guide and top things to do in Japan: Tours, activities, attractions and other things? Let’s check it out here.