Hiroshima City Guide 広島

About Hiroshima

Hiroshima is unfortunately known worldwide because of what happened there in 1945. It was said that the city would be uninhabitable and that the bomb obliterated everything in its path for several kilometres. Even though the city was indeed destroyed, it rose up from the ashes and great efforts were made to rebuild the city. It is now a lovely city of around 1M inhabitants and a major cultural centre in Japan as well as being an important port city for the country. Some buildings were not reconstructed as to leave something to remind ourselves of what happened.

Facts About Hiroshima

In Japan there is a legend that if you fold 1000 paper cranes you will be granted a wish. It became the symbol of peace 10 years after the bombing, with a 12-year-old girl named Sadako who was diagnosed with leukemia from the radiation she suffered from the atomic bomb. When she started getting sick and it spread at a rapid pace, her father told her about the 1 000 paper cranes. She started immediately and did 1644 cranes with the help of her family and friends before dying. After her death they continued folding until it reached 2000 for her to be buried with 1000 paper cranes. They collected money to build a statue of her holding a golden crane. This is how it became a symbol of peace and children from all over the country send their cranes to the Peace Memorial Museum.

Main Districts

Fukuro-Machi / Naka-Machi: Those districts are perfect for a shopping afternoon, but this is also where the Peace Memorial Park is located.
Kamiyacho: Known as the shopping district with major shopping centers.
Nagerakawa / Hondori: This is an entertainment area; with its neon lights and numerous bars you will be sure to have a great night.

Top Attractions

Sadako Memorial: Sadako statue of her holding a paper crane.
Shukkeien Garden is composed of miniature landscapes such as forests, valleys and mountains – but it also features traditional Japanese Gardens.
Hiroshima Castle: It was obviously destroyed by the atomic bomb but rebuilt later on. It is 5 stories tall and surrounded by moats. You will also find a shrine inside and a panoramic view of the city on the top floor. It was the physical and economical center of the city and an important sea of power in Western Japan.
Mitaki-Dera Temple: Literally means Waterfall Temple, that is because it has no more than 3 waterfalls withing its grounds. This temple is home to more than 300 standing stone Buddha statues and a 2-story red Pagoda. Located on the mountain side it is famous for cherry blossoms and autumn leaves viewings.

Best Places to Go Out

Miyajima: Miyajima is an island near Hiroshima and it considered one of the best places in Hiroshima. You can access it by taking a train and then a boat. This island has a beautiful green forest and several well-preserved shrines and temples as well as deers roaming the place peacefully, walking on the beach or sleeping in the grass. However, Miyajima is mostly known for its floating Itsushima shrine and Big Torii in the middle of the water. Perfect for a sunset picture.
Nagerakawa / Hondori: This is an entertainment area; with its neon lights and numerous bars you will be sure to have a great night.

Best Culture Spots

Atomic Bomb Dome: The dome is located on the outskirt of the Peace Memorial Park. It is the most famous building that was left untouched after the bombing. The Dome is supposed to show the destruction that a nuclear weapon can yield but also it is a reminder and a symbol of peace.
Peace Memorial Park: Formed of The Museum and its park. It is a great place to fully understand how the bomb affected the city and its inhabitants, however it is not for the faint-hearted.

What to Eat

Oysters: The area of Hiroshima is producing 2/3 of all the oysters in Japan. You can eat them in various ways such as raw, deep fried, baked. But one that is popular in Hiroshima would be Kaki no Dotenabe, which is a hot pot of oysters in a earthenware pot with miso bean paste, tofu, vegetables and broth.
Nomiji Manju: Small cake in the shape of a maple leaf (which is the symbol of Hiroshima). Usually filled with sweet red beans, there can also be flavoured with matcha, chocolate, cream cheese.
Anago-Meshi: Anago is conger eel and this dish is basically rice with charcoal roasted anago on top with soy sauce drizzled over it. This is a specialty of Hiroshima but more precisely from Miyajima.
Tsukemen: This noodle dish can also be called soupless ramen since the noodle are served without its usual broth. Here the broth is served apart from the noodles and is a concentrated dipping sauce which is hot and spicy.