Things to do

The List Of 21 Amazing Things To Do in Hiroshima, Japan

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Hiroshima is a city in Japan that balances history, culture, and natural beauty well. Because of its historical significance, especially due to the first atomic bombing, Hiroshima has now grown to be more of a peace symbol and resilience famous all over the world.

Besides its poignant history, Hiroshima is packed with attractions that go from serene parks and inspiring shrines to delicious local cuisine and buzzing shopping districts.

Here is a list of 21 amazing things to do in Hiroshima for your next travel:

1. Spend Some Time At Children's Peace Monument

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The Peace Monument for Children is in Hiroshima, Japan. Here, individuals memorialize the little ones who died as a result of the atomic bomb in 1945.

The sculpture is dedicated to a little girl named Sadako Sasaki, who was well-known to have folded over a thousand paper cranes to obtain her wish for peace before dying of leukemia. It is also known for its other message - hope and resilience.

The work depicts a child holding a golden crane, symbolizing hope for a peaceful tomorrow. Many visitors often leave their colorful paper cranes as tributes at this site. This monument stands as a strong reminder of the devastation war wreaks on innocent lives.

2. Take In The Views From Hiroshima Orizuru Tower

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The Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is one of the places any tourist to Hiroshima should put on the list when visiting the area around Peace Memorial Park.

This building stretches a height of 50m and it has observation deck on its top floor where you get to see beautiful aspects of the city including the park and Atomic Bomb Dome. The top floor is designed with an open roof so people can experience the view of Hiroshima throughout the facility.

Additionally, on the first floor of this tower there is a coffee house where a man can take a sit and rest. This is a lovely matching of sceneries and serenity which is good for the history admirer and the sightseer thus making Orizuru Tower one of the most remarkable things to see in Hiroshima.

3. Relax At Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

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Since 1954, the park has been dedicated to the purpose of commemorating the victims of the 1945 atomic bomb and creating a culture of world peace. This park located at an area of over 120,000 sq.m has been provided with the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum.

The Cenotaph, with its eternal flame, symbolizes hope toward a nuclear-free world. Beautifully thought-out gardens and sculptures include the Children's Peace Monument, making this a reflective space that should not be missed for historical understanding and the continued message of peace and resilience.

4. Tour The Hiroshima Castle

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There are many attractions in Hiroshima and among the most famous there is Hiroshima Castle. This maintained castle which demonstrates the exact look of the 16th century castle lost to the atomic bomb in 1945 bears the freshness of history as well as the charm of being reborn.

Inside it contains a museum displaying the samurai way of life, the castle, and the feuding period of Hiroshima. The top floor has an observation deck with views of the city, a quiet contrast to its historic significance.

Situated with a graceful moat and abundant greenery, the place is perfect for strolling, especially during cherry blossom season. A real combination of history and culture in a picturesque setting.

5. Explore The Atomic Bomb Dome

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The Atomic Bomb Dome of Hiroshima is listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Initially, it was the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall among several buildings that remained relatively liveable after the bombing of Hiroshima.

The specific structure of the dome is expressed in the steel frame and the spherical roof. This edifice represents the strong destruction caused by nuclear weapons; it reminds us of the need for peace among mankind.

Currently, the Atomic Bomb Dome is a commemoration site for the bomb victims. It forms part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, alongside many other monuments and museums meant to promote peace and to educate on the implications of war.

6. Discover The Simose Art Museum

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The Simose Art Museum in Hiroshima, Japan, is an interesting blend of art and architecture. Designed by famous architect Shigeru Ban, it offers a different experience of fine arts and crafts appreciated within an architectural masterpiece.

Its collection, which varies in nature, includes about 500 works of art, carefully curated over half a century by Yumiko Shimose, President of Marui Sangyo Corporation.

Among others, one could admire traditional Hina dolls and modern paintings within a space that felt like a work of art in its own right. If you are thinking of what to see in Hiroshima then this can be a great choice for you.

7. Enjoy A Visit To Hiroshima Botanical Garden

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Hiroshima Botanical Garden is one of the Parks with an area of 18.3 hectares with a location in Hiroshima, Japan, and has a variety of plants. Among the seasonal flowers, tropical greenhouse, and captivating orchid exhibit, visitors can see many more wonders.

Within it, there is a cactus greenhouse, fuchsia greenhouse, begonia greenhouse, and tropical water lily greenhouse. There is also a cultivation greenhouse, exhibition museum, lawn plaza, cascade, flower evolution garden, and a tree observation garden.

The garden has about 10,000 plant varieties totaling 203,000 plants, and this makes it an ideal place for quiet relaxation by nature lovers to marvel at the beauties of varied plant species.

8. Check Out The Yamato Museum

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The Yamato Museum, Kure, Japan, is one of those places to be visited mainly by people who like navy history and engineering marvels. It is in this museum that the Yamato, the pride of the Imperial Japanese Navy, was introduced as a giant model.

Exhibits show Kure's shipbuilding heritage, wartime innovations, and cultural interpretations of maritime developments. Interestingly, original artifacts are displayed to exemplify just how advanced technology was in those times, such as torpedoes and parts of ships.

9. Admire The Iconic Itsukushima Jinja

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Itsukushima Jinja is a revered 16th-century Shinto shrine in Hatsukaichi, Japan. It is extremely famous for its torii gate, which is well-known to appear as if it is floating on the water when the tide is high, making it a breathtaking and mystic view.

The shrine is devoted to the goddess of sea and storms, and the historic structure is built over the water, offering a serene atmosphere.

The grounds are laid out amazingly for a stroll, there are great views of the Seto Inland Sea, and nature is deeply moving with its spirituality in this UNESCO World Heritage site.

10. Appreciate The Art At Hiroshima Museum Of Art

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The Hiroshima Museum of Art is a facility one cannot miss if he or she is an art lover. This museum perfectly combines the masterworks of European impressionists with modern Japanese art in an unparalleled cultural experience.

The collection includes works by famous artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh, along with Japanese painter Ryusei Kishida. The elegant design of the museum blends well with its works, and a courtyard self-contained within offers a quiet retreat.

From Impressionist classics to the magic of Japanese modernism, this museum offers a richly enlightening journey through the history of art and hence stands out in Hiroshima's cultural topography.

11. Check Out The Asa Zoo

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Asa Zoo is an appealing animal park in Hiroshima, Japan that entitles visitors to experience various animals. This zoo includes lions, tigers, elephants, reptiles, and exotic birds within their environment simulation, which is an imitation of their natural habitats.

It is a learning center and a place that is appropriate for families, enabling you to get a chance to see animals at close range in themed environments.

It is an ideal place for people to indulge in wildlife and spend nice moments while appreciating a day out in nature, this is because the zoo embraces the conservation of animal species as well as their welfare.

12. Check Out The Assumption Of Mary Cathedral

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The Assumption of Mary Cathedral in Hiroshima City Japan is a large contemporary structure that has become some sort of embodiment of hope. The cathedral has a high architecture and many ornate stained glass windows and is highly meditative both inside and out.

This Catholic church is an awesome place of worship, attracting people not only for spiritual reasons but also to serve as a reminder of the strength of Hiroshima after the war devastation.

Architecturally beautiful and filled with a tranquil atmosphere, it is a place that locals and tourists can enjoy for its mixture of faith, art, and history.

13. Take A Journey Through Ebayama Museum Of Meteorology

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The Ebayama Meteorology Museum in Hiroshima offers a more active appreciation of weather and forecasting. This museum lets visitors find out about meteorology through interactive exhibits that show the science behind the weather, climate phenomena, and the technology of forecasting.

Visitors can observe typhoon displays, rain systems, and the history of Hiroshima's weather while participating in hands-on activities such as operating meteorological instruments. A visit here is both educational and fun, making it ideal for families and science enthusiasts.

The museum offers an opportunity to learn about the nature of forces at work within the environment, as well as tools for their prediction.

14. Marvel At The Bell Of Peace

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The Peace Bell in Hiroshima is a great example of a huge wish for all people in the world to have peace and no nuclear weapons. It welcomes its guests in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park with the message of the terribleness of war and the action for the creation of a world free from atomic weapons.

It is a spiritual and cultural attempt for the awakening of peace and solidarity among nations. Visitors are invited to ring the bell in a call for lasting peace; hence, it is a worthy experience to pay respect to the memories of people who suffered in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

15. Wander Around Hiroshima Gate Park

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Hiroshima Gate Park is one of the city parks in Hiroshima Japan. Here, one of the amenities, one can sit, for instance, on the benches, and picnic tables while children can climb the structure such as play spinners or slides.

It is a place where one can go to relax amidst nature, sit, and enjoy the surrounding environment. More than that, it's a place filled with energy and joy, epitomizing the spirit to support Hiroshima's future.

The park fosters a sense of community and shared joy, encouraging visitors to contribute to the city's growing charm and spirit.

16. Step Inside Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima

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It would be exhilarating for those interested in baseball and especially the sporting culture to make a trip to Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. This modern stadium can hold 32,000 people and is always charged throughout the games.

Normally, it is open for tourists and visitors on days when there are no games to be played, and included areas that are restricted are the dugouts and lockers. The design of the stadium provides a good vantage point for every seat.

When one can grab it with a live game or on a tour, it is a great and interesting way to observe Japan's baseball.

17. Savor At Okonomimura

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Okonomimura, in Hiroshima, is like a dream that has come true for food lovers. This multi-story building houses a huge food hall in Shintenchi with numerous stalls selling delicious okonomiyaki, Japanese savory pancakes with a variety of fillings.

It's a street food stall indoors, authentic and vibrant, offering a real experience. And the teppan restaurants cook the pancakes in front of your eyes; that is half the fun and makes for an interactive meal.

Okonomimura is the place to relish Hiroshima's noted okonomiyaki in a lively atmosphere that is casual and offers enough variety to satisfy every taste.

18. Learn At The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

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The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum of Hiroshima is in honor of the facts that occurred from the atomic bombing in the Second World War. It has exhibits, artifacts, and talks that reveal the tragedy of the bomb.

Here, visitors come to see things that belonged to victims, photographs, and detailed materials illustrating the immense human and environmental cost of this event. The mission of the museum is education on the horrors of nuclear war and the advocacy of peace and abolition of nuclear weapons.

Therefore, this museum is one of the best in Hiroshima attractions.

19. Uncover The Beauty Of Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine

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Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine is an impressive religious building of Shinto observance positioned in Hiroshima, Japan. With these ornamental gates and the beautiful pagodas alongside this grave, this tour gives a befitting view of Japan's cultural and spiritual history of the 17th century.

This temple is for Tokugawa Ieyasu the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate and there are many natures around making the environment very serene. Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine is a historical and cultural site and therefore should be among the top things to do Hiroshima Japan.

20. See The Flame Of Peace

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The Flame of Peace is one of the cultural items in Hiroshima which is remembered today in memory of the lives that the atomic bomb took in 1945. This sculpture is of two hands, one with a flame in between wearing a scarf representing hope and world peace without nuclear energy.

The flame will remind people always about the disasters of war and how much peace means to the world. Visitors often pay tribute to the victims while contemplating the tragedy that occurred at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and it also joins the ranks of such powerful remembrance and contemplation sites.

21. Stroll Through The Shukkeien Garden

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The peaceful Shukkeien Garden gives one a hint of classic Japanese landscaping. With its beautiful landscaping, dating back to the 16th century, this garden wraps around the serenity of a koi pond, arched bridges, and lush greenery, with flowering trees that change throughout the year.

Here, curvy paths twist around small mountains, forests, and valleys creates a balance and peace. In addition, one can also sit back in a tea house and have a view at the beautiful sight.

Shukkeien Garden is one of the examples of harmony and power, which is great for a stroll or even just meditation amidst the dense populated Hiroshima.