Hiroshima 3-Day Essentials

Activities

1. 09:00 Peace Memorial Museum (sobering) 2-3 hours

   Sobering exhibition of August 6, 1945 — victim testimonies + artifacts. Emotionally heavy. English audio guide ¥400 recommended.

   Cost: ¥200 ($1.40) + ¥400 audio TIP: Open 08:30-18:00 (Aug until 19:00). Emotionally heavy — allow recovery time. Free for kids under 12. Most-important Hiroshima experience.
2. 12:00 Peace Memorial Park walking + A-Bomb Dome + Cenotaph 2 hours

   Peace Memorial Cenotaph (with arch framing A-Bomb Dome) + Flame of Peace + Children's Peace Monument (Sadako + paper cranes) + A-Bomb Dome (UNESCO).

   Cost: Free TIP: Solemn silence custom. Photograph A-Bomb Dome from Aioi Bridge (T-shape original bomb target). Children's crane offerings allow time to read.
3. 14:30 Lunch — Mitchan Sohonten okonomiyaki (1950 birthplace) 1.5 hours

   Canonical Hiroshima okonomiyaki — LAYERED style (NOT mixed like Osaka). Cooked on iron griddle in front of you.

   Cost: ¥1,100-1,800 ($8-13) TIP: Hatchobori main shop atmospheric. Cooked in front of you = entertainment. Eat hot off griddle. Card + cash.
4. 16:30 Hiroshima Castle (rebuilt 1958) 2 hours

   1589 castle destroyed in bombing, rebuilt 1958 concrete reconstruction. 5-story castle + samurai history museum + ninomaru entrance.

   Cost: ¥370 TIP: Cherry blossom in moat photogenic late March. Museum interior + view from top floor.
5. 19:00 Dinner — Kakitei oysters (1947 birthplace) OR Bakudanya tsukemen 2 hours

   Kakitei for canonical oysters set (¥3,800) OR Bakudanya for Hiroshima tsukemen (¥900). Pair with Saijo sake.

   Cost: ¥900-5,500 ($6-40) TIP: Reservation Kakitei Fri-Sat. Bakudanya walk-in. Multiple branches.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Train + Ferry to Miyajima (45 min) 45 min each way

   JR Train Hiroshima Station → Miyajimaguchi Station 25-30 min + JR Ferry 10 min. ¥820 RT (JR Pass covers).

   Cost: ¥820 RT (JR Pass covers) TIP: JR Sanyo Line. Check tide tables — high tide for 'floating' torii, low tide for walking to base.
2. 09:30 Itsukushima Shrine + Floating Torii 1.5 hours

   UNESCO 6th-century Shinto shrine with vermilion torii appearing to float at high tide. Most-photographed Japanese shrine.

   Cost: ¥300 shrine + ¥100 visitor tax TIP: Bow at torii gate. Photograph from outside main hall. Wild Miyajima deer roam everywhere (don't feed). Sunset 19:00-21:00 magical.
3. 11:00 Lunch — Anago Meshi Ueno (1901 birthplace) OR Miyajima oyster shacks 1.5 hours

   Ueno (Miyajimaguchi) for canonical anago meshi (eel rice ¥2,200) OR Miyajima oyster shacks (¥300-500 grilled each).

   Cost: ¥2,200-3,500 OR ¥500-2,000 TIP: Ueno take-away ekiben for picnic on island. Closed Wed. Oyster shacks 10+ along main street.
4. 12:30 Senjokaku Pavilion + Mt. Misen ropeway 3 hours

   1587 Senjokaku Pavilion (unfinished Buddhist hall) + Mt. Misen ropeway 433m + 30-min summit hike to 535m.

   Cost: ¥100 Senjokaku + ¥2,000 ropeway RT TIP: Mt. Misen sacred — original Daisho-in Temple at base. Inland Sea panorama. Wild deer + monkeys at summit.
5. 16:00 Miyajima main street + Momiji manju shopping 1.5 hours

   Miyajima main street — souvenirs + momiji manju (maple leaf cakes) + photos with deer + Itsukushima Shrine from different angles.

   Cost: ¥150-1,500 souvenirs TIP: Buy box of 10 momiji manju for souvenirs. Custard + chocolate variants. Watch live cooking at some shops.
6. 18:30 Sunset over Itsukushima Shrine torii + return 2 hours

   Stay until sunset 19:00-21:00 for magical golden hour photos of floating torii. Ferry + train back to Hiroshima.

   Cost: Included in RT ferry TIP: Last ferry from Miyajima 22:42. Most-iconic Japan photo opportunity.
7. 21:00 Late dinner — Okonomimura (25-30 stalls) 1.5 hours

   Okonomimura 4-floor building has 25-30 okonomiyaki stalls — pick by atmosphere/queue. Try different stall than Day 1.

   Cost: ¥1,100-1,800 TIP: Open until 23:00. Card + cash. Atmospheric Shintenchi area.

Meal Recommendations

Activities

1. 08:30 Option A: JR Train to Saijo sake breweries (30 min east) 5 hours

   Saijo is Japan's most-famous sake brewery district — 7+ breweries within walking distance. JR Sanyo Line ¥570 each way.

   Cost: ¥1,140 RT + ¥300-1,500 tastings each TIP: Walking between breweries 5-15 min each. Sake-tasting at each ¥300-1,500. Allow 4-5h with multiple breweries + lunch.
2. 08:30 Option B: Mazda Museum (factory tour) 1.5 hours

   Mazda Motor Corporation — Wankel rotary engine history + car production demos. Free pre-booked tour.

   Cost: Free (pre-book online) TIP: Pre-book at mazda.com 2-4 weeks ahead. Free admission with reservation. Tours 10:00 + 13:00 weekdays only.
3. 13:00 Lunch — Hiroshima Station depachika OR Saijo brewery lunch 1.5 hours

   Hiroshima Station JR-West Tower depachika for okonomiyaki + tsukemen + anago meshi + take-away ekiben for departure.

   Cost: ¥1,000-2,500 TIP: Best souvenirs + cheap eats. Tax-free counter for ¥5,000+ purchases.
4. 15:00 Final shopping + Hiroshima Castle reroute if time 2 hours

   Last Hiroshima souvenir shopping at Hiroshima Station + Hondori. Or final Hiroshima Castle if not visited.

   Cost: Variable TIP: Momiji manju + Hiroshima oysters (vacuum-sealed) + Saijo sake bottles for souvenirs.
5. 17:30 Departure HIJ airport or Shinkansen to Tokyo/Osaka 1 hour

   JR Train to HIJ 50 min OR Shinkansen Tokyo 4h / Osaka 1h45 (¥19,000 / ¥10,500). Allow 2h before international flight.

   Cost: JR ¥1,440 airport OR ¥10,500-19,000 Shinkansen TIP: Shinkansen straight from Hiroshima Station. JR Pass covers.

Meal Recommendations