Why Should I Visit Hiroshima?
Why Should I Visit Hiroshima?
When you hear the name Hiroshima, the first thing you will probably think about is the atomic bomb that was dropped here in 1945. And indeed, one of the absolute must-visits in Hiroshima is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. But there are so many other reasons to visit one of the westernmost prefectures of Japan. Let us answer the question of why should I visit Hiroshima for you!
Legacy of 1945
Hiroshima is located a bit away from tourist main stays Tokyo and Kyoto. But with the very fast shinkansen bullet train and a well thought out itinerary, it is easy to include Hiroshima and its surroundings in your Japan trip. As 1945 had a large impact on the development of Japan, paying a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is illuminating.
There is a park around the museum with several other places of interest that are connected to the atomic bomb. The most unforgettable one is the Atomic Bomb Dome, which is a building that partly survived the impact in spite of being almost directly under the bomb’s ground zero.
Other attractions in Hiroshima city
You can’t really get around the fact that for most international tourists, the sites related to 1945 are the main attraction of Hiroshima city. But this doesn’t mean that there are no other interesting attractions in Hiroshima! One of the best part of going to Hiroshima is that you can eat some of the best and most original Okonomiyaki in an atmospheric building completely dedicated to the delicacy, Ononomimura. After that, you can walk the calories off in the wonderfully peaceful surroundings of the Shukkei-en garden, a traditional Japanese landscape garden. As far as observation decks go, Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is a beautiful one with not only a great view of the whole city, but with some interesting activities as well including a slide back down if you want.
The complex of Mitaki temple is rich in greenery and very pleasant to walk through. Especially during the autumn the surroundings are breathtaking. If you enjoy art you may want to add the Hiroshima Museum of Art to your itinerary, which houses Japanese and famous foreign art in a beautiful building. Do you want to learn more about the city’s older history? Then Hiroshima Castle will be right up your alley. Although it had to be rebuilt after the war, there is an interesting exhibition inside where you can learn more about the samurai culture.
Miyajima
This island is a must-see if you’re in Hiroshima, even if only for the majestic view of the ‘floating torii gate‘ of the main Itsukushima shrine on the island. On the island itself you can do a beautiful hike up Mt Misen, and at the foot of the mountain there is a picturesque village with small traditional shops and eateries. As an added bonus, you can see free-ranging deer here just like in Nara!
Rabbit Island
Who doesn’t like cute fluffy bunnies? The more the merrier when it comes to rabbits, and on Rabbit Island in Hiroshima Prefecture this is taken to the extreme. While the history of how the ancestors of the rabbits arrived on this island which is actually named Okunoshima is quite sad, their progeny was set free after the war was over and reproduced happily. It takes a bit of effort to get here, but if you like animals it is worth the trip.
Onomichi
Onomichi is one of those towns that seems to have been skipped a bit by the most modern times, and it is located in a very pretty area. Facing the bay, the town has many gently sloping hills and plenty of trees, making it an ideal place for a relaxing bicycle ride with an e-bike. Onomichi is also part of the Shimanami Kaido road which is famous for awesome cycling routes.
Tours in Hiroshima
We offer 3 tours in Hiroshima; a Hiroshima city tour, a Miyajima tour, and a tour that combines the best of Hiroshima city and Miyajima. If you only have a short time in the city and want to make the most of it, doing a private tour is a great way to make sure of that! You will also get plenty of interesting background information from an experienced local guide.
