Things To Do In Hiroshima And Miyajima

A visit to Hiroshima naturally focuses on memorials to the atomic bombing of 1945, but that’s not the end of the story. Nearby Miyajima is an island where the nature, temples and shrines will ease your mind after visiting Hiroshima. Here are all the details you need to plan a great trip.

The Atomic Bomb Dome

Hiroshima is a large mainland city in western Japan with a famous and tragic history. A short ferry ride away, the island of Miyajima is a stunningly beautiful island that is home to some lovely shrines and temples. Because they’re only 16km apart, Hiroshima and Miyajima are usually paired together in most people’s itineraries, and that makes good sense. For some ideas on how to do this, See my Hiroshima and Miyajima Itineraries page. For information on traveling around Hiroshima and moving between Hiroshima and Miyajima, see my Getting Around Hiroshima and Miyajima page.

Below is my list of the best sights to see in each place. You can see these sights marked on our Hiroshima Google map.

Things to See and Do In Hiroshima

In and Around Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The Peace Flame in Hiroshima Memorial Park
At the north end of an island formed by two of Hiroshima’s rivers (the Ota River and the Motoyasu River), the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a pleasant green park containing the major memorials to the 1945 atomic bombing. Most people arrive by crossing the Motoyasu-bashi Bridge, which brings you quickly to the reflecting pool and the Cenotaph for A-Bomb Victims (see below for details). Further south you will find the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (see below for details). The other important sights in this park are all listed below as well.

Japanese name: 広島平和記念公園
Japanese address: 中区中島町1
English address: 1 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-504-2390
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 3min walk from Genbaku Dome-mae Tram Stop or 5min walk from Hondori Tram Stop
District: Peace Park Area
Website: none
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on TripAdvisor

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Peace Memorial Park Museum Building: Alesia Hsiao / Shutterstock.com
The most important sight in Hiroshima, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a must-see for those who want to understand the horrors of the atomic bombing and the events that led to it and took place after it. There is no doubt: This is a searing and difficult museum to visit. If you’re traveling with children, think carefully about whether or not they are mature enough to visit this museum. It’s not that the exhibits are excessively gory – it’s more the weight of human suffering caused by the bombing that makes the deepest impression. There are extensive English explanations. Finally, I should point out that this museum is often visited by crowds of Japanese schoolchildren, many of whom behave in a rowdy manner that is entirely inappropriate for such a place. This can distract from a visit but it cannot be helped.

Japanese name: 広島平和記念資料館
Japanese address: 中区中島町1-2
English address: 1-2 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-241-4004
Opening Hours: 8:30am-6:00pm (Mar-Jul, Sep-Nov), 8:30am-7:00pm (Aug), 8:30am-5:00pm (Dec-Feb), closed Dec 29-Jan 1
Nearest Transport: 7min walk from Genbaku Dome-mae Tram Stop or Chuden-mae Tram Stop
District: Peace Park Area
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y50

:: Read reviews of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum on TripAdvisor

Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims

Memorial Monument for Hiroshima
This concrete saddle-shaped monument in the center of the park is designed to symbolize a shelter for all the souls who perished in the atomic bombing. The monument bears an inscription that reads: “Rest in peace, for (they or we) shall not repeat the error.” Japanese grammar allows sentences to be constructed without clearly stated subjects, so the sentence is inherently ambiguous. However you read it, one message is clear: Atomic weapons must not be used again.

Japanese name: 原爆死没者慰霊碑
Japanese address: 中区中島町1
English address: 1 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-242-7831
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 6min walk from Genbaku Dome-mae Tram Stop or Hondori Tram Stop
District: Peace Park Area
Website: none
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Cenotaph for A-bomb Victims on TripAdvisor

Atomic Bomb Dome

The Atomic Bomb Dome
You’ve probably already seen hundreds of photos of this building, which serves as a kind of visual icon of Hiroshima. The building is the remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which was located near the hypocenter of the bomb. Most of the building miraculously survived the bombing and has been left standing as a striking memorial to the bombing. It’s located across the river from the Peace Memorial Park, on the east bank of the Motoyasu-gawa River.

Japanese name: 原爆ドーム
Japanese address: 中区大手町1-10
English address: 1-10 Ote-machi, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-504-2393
Opening Hours: 24h (seeing from the outside of the fence)
Nearest Transport: In front of Genbaku Dome-mae Tram Stop
District: Peace Park Area
Website: Official webpage (English)
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Atomic Bomb Dome on TripAdvisor

Children’s Peace Monument

Children’s Peace Monument: Phurinee Chinakathum / Shutterstock.com
Perhaps the most touching monument in the Peace Park is the Children’s Peace Monument. The memorial consists of a statue of a child with her arms outstretched to the sky, with a crane above her. The monument is based on the story of a girl, Sasaki Sadako, who was stricken with radiation sickness after the bombing. She attempted to fold 1,000 origami cranes in hopes of getting well (it is believed in Japan that if one successfully folds 1,000 origami cranes, their wish will come true). Sadly, she passed away just shy of her goal. In memory of her, people from around the world have folded strings of origami cranes and they are offered all around this monument.

Japanese name: 原爆の子の像
Japanese address: 中区中島町1
English address: 1 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-242-7831
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 4min walk from Genbaku Dome-mae Tram Stop or 5min walk from Hondori Tram Stop
District: Peace Park Area
Website: none
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Children’s Peace Monument on TripAdvisor

Other Attractions in Hiroshima

Shukkei-en Garden

Shukkeien Japanese garden
Located northeast of Downtown Hiroshima, not far from Hiroshima Station, Shukkei-en Garden is a fine stroll garden that dates back to the early Edo Period (around 1620). There’s a lovely pond in the garden and it is a fine place for a stroll and a pleasant counterpoint to the searing memorials of the Peace Park.

Japanese name: 縮景園
Japanese address: 中区上幟町2-11
English address: 2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku
Telephone number: 082-221-3620
Opening Hours: 9:00am-6:00pm (Apr-Sep), 9:00am-5:00pm (Oct-Mar)
Nearest Transport: 2min walk from Shukkeien-mae Tram Stop
District: Downtown Hiroshima
Website: Official Website
Admission: Y260

:: Read reviews of the Shukkei-en Garden on TripAdvisor

Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art

Museum of Contemporary Art © maitreyoda
Located in a park about 1km south of Hiroshima Station, this modern art museum holds some surprisingly interesting shows. Check the museum’s English website to see what’s on before making the trip there.

Japanese name: 広島市現代美術館
Japanese address: 南区比治山公園1-1
English address: 1-1 Hijiyamakoen, Minami-ku
Telephone number: 082-264-1121
Opening Hours: 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Monday and Dec 27-Jan 1
Nearest Transport: 8min walk from Hijiyama-shita Tram Stop
District: Downtown Hiroshima
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y370

:: Read reviews of the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art on TripAdvisor

Things to See and Do On Miyajima

Itsukushima-jinja Shrine

The central Shinto shrine on Miyajima, Itsukushima-jinja Shrine, is best known for its “floating torii” (shrine gate). This gate appears in countless photographs of Miyajima and has also come to be a symbol of the entire country of Japan. Said to date back to the 6th century, the present gate is based on one built in the 12th century by an early warlord. The reason for a floating torii is that the entire island was considered sacred and the gate served as a symbolic gateway to the island itself. Note that at low tide the gate will be surrounded by mud – in order to get the classic shot of the gate actually “floating,” you’ll need to be there around high tide.

Japanese name: 厳島神社
Japanese address: 廿日市市宮島町1-1
English address: 1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi
Telephone number: 0829-44-2020
Opening Hours: 6:30am-5:30pm (Jan-Feb, Oct 15-Nov), 6:30am-6:00pm (Mar-Oct 14), 6:30am-5:00pm (Dec)
Nearest Transport: 10min walk from Miyajima-sanbashi Pier
District: Miyajima
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y300 (you can explore part of the grounds for free)

:: Read reviews of the Itsukushima-jinja Shrine on TripAdvisor

Daisho-in Temple

Mount Misen near Miyajima Island
Located about 500m south of the pier, the superb Buddhist temple of Daisho-in overlooks the main village of Miyajima. This is a Shingon, or Esoteric Buddhist, temple, so it’s filled with the entire range of Buddhist images. Take your time to explore all the halls here and admire all the images.

Japanese name: 大聖院
Japanese address: 廿日市市宮島町210
English address: 210 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi
Telephone number: 0829-44-0111
Opening Hours: 8:00am-5:00pm
Nearest Transport: 30min walk from Miyajima-sanbashi Pier
District: Miyajima
Website: Official Website
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Daisho-in Temple on TripAdvisor

Momiji-dani-koen Park

Momiji-dani Park on Miyajima island
On a hill behind Itsukushima-jinja, this pleasant park is named for the superb maple trees that burst into fiery reds and yellows in the October/November fall foliage season. It is connected to Daisho-in by a lovely walking path (look for the signs).

Japanese name: 紅葉谷公園
Japanese address: 廿日市市宮島町
English address: Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi
Telephone number: none
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 20min walk from Miyajima-sanbashi Pier
District: Miyajima
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Momiji-dani-koen Park on TripAdvisor

Mount Misen

Seto Inland Sea from Mount Misen Summit, Miyajima
The main peak of Miyajima Island is 535m Mount Misen, the summit of which is about 2km southwest of the village. The Miyajima ropeway (see below) gets you most of the way to the top. From the top station of the ropeway, it’s a 30-minute walk to the summit. Near the summit, there are some small temples and shrines.

Japanese name: 弥山
Japanese address: 廿日市市宮島町
English address: Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi
Telephone number: none
Opening Hours: 24h
Nearest Transport: 40min walk from Shishiiwa Station, Miyajima Ropeway
District: Miyajima
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: free

:: Read reviews of the Mt. Misen on TripAdvisor

Miyajima Ropeway

Mount Misen of Miyajima Island: Pabkov / Shutterstock.com
Unless you’re really up for a sweaty hike, the best way to the top of Mt. Misen is the Miyajima Ropeway (cable car), which gets you near the top in about 15 minutes. From the top station, you can walk to the actual summit in about 30 minutes. If you don’t feel like walking that far, there’s a closer lookout only 5 minutes away. After exploring the area around the peak, you can take the ropeway back down or walk down to the village in about an hour. Here is a full English-language Miyajima Ropeway Guide

Japanese name: 宮島ロープウエー
Japanese address: 廿日市市宮島町紅葉谷公園
English address: Momijidani-koen, Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi
Telephone number: 0829-44-0316
Opening Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm (Dec-Feb), 9:00am-5:30pm (Mar-Oct), 9:00am-5:30pm (Nov)
Nearest Transport: 25min walk from Miyajima-sanbashi Pier
District: Miyajima
Website: Official Website (English)
Admission: Y1,000/1,800 (one-way/roundtrip)

:: Read reviews of the Miyajima Ropeway on TripAdvisor

Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel Guide:

• Hiroshima and Miyajima Travel Guide Overview
• Things To Do In Hiroshima and Miyajima
• Hiroshima and Miyajima Walking Tour
• Best Places To Eat In Hiroshima And Miyajima
• Hiroshima And Miyajima Itineraries
• Hiroshima And Miyajima Cherry Blossoms
• Hiroshima And Miyajima Fall Foliage
• Hiroshima And Miyajima Districts
• Best Ryokan In Hiroshima And Miyajima
• Best Hotels In Hiroshima And Miyajima
• How To Get To Hiroshima and Miyajima
• Getting Around Hiroshima and Miyajima
• When To Go To Hiroshima and Miyajima

Other Japan Travel Guides: