Skip to content

Travel guides

Hiroshima travel guide

Hiroshima spreads across a river delta on the Seto Inland Sea. JR Hiroshima Station lies on the eastern edge of the centre, about a 25-minute walk from Peace Memorial Park, and trams link the two. Station-area addresses fall in Minami ward, while the park, the Hondōri arcade and the main nightlife streets are in Naka ward.

By Hotel Unfiltered · Copy reviewed

Getting there and choosing your base

  • Hiroshima Airport (HIJ): Outside the city with no rail link. Airport buses run only to JR Hiroshima Station and the Hiroshima Bus Center, so a hotel near one of those stops avoids a further transfer.
  • JR Hiroshima Station: A Sanyo Shinkansen stop. Shinkansen passengers arrive on the north side, while trams, city buses and taxis leave from the south exit, which faces the centre.
  • Ujina port: Ferries to Matsuyama on Shikoku, some via Kure, use the Ujina passenger terminal, which is also a tram terminus. Any hotel on a tram line will do for an early sailing.

Areas to consider

Station area (Minami ward)

Suits early trains and day trips to Miyajima on the JR line. Hotels on the shinkansen (north) side are further from the tram stops on the south side, so check which exit is closer.

Peace Park and Hondōri (Naka ward)

Suits sightseeing on foot, with the museum, Shukkeien garden and the covered arcade nearby. The Peace Memorial Ceremony is held here every 6 August, and nearby rooms are booked long before that date.

Nagarekawa and Yagenbori

Suits those who want bars and late dining a short walk away. This is the city's main nightlife and adult-entertainment area; ask for a high floor and read recent comments on weekend noise.

Miyajima

Suits an overnight stay near Itsukushima Shrine after the day visitors have gone. The island is reached by train or tram to Miyajima-guchi and then a short ferry, so ask how luggage gets from the pier to the inn.

When to go

July and August are hot and humid with spells of heavy rain, and typhoons can arrive in the second half of September. The Flower Festival on the first weekend of May overlaps Golden Week, and 6 August brings large numbers to the Peace Park. Spring and autumn are the more comfortable times to visit.

Before choosing a room

  • Air conditioning is essential for a summer visit; do not book a room without it in July or August.
  • If you are arriving by car, confirm the hotel has parking, because not all do and public car parks are expensive and hard to find.
  • For a Miyajima inn, check whether dinner is included and when it is served before planning an evening on the island.

Sources and planning resources

Facts checked on . Transport services, taxes and hotel offers can change. Confirm the details for your trip before booking.

Find a stay in Hiroshima

Set your dates and compare the room offers available for your trip.

Explore hotels

More guides for Japan

All Japan guides →