The cosmopolitan, modern city of Hiroshima, located in the western Chugoku region, is the financial capital of west Japan. It boasts a bustling nightlife with hundreds of outlets for eating and entertainment, while its wide avenues and intertwining rivers make it a charming city to spend time in. Best known for that tragic day in 1945; these days, Hiroshima is not just attracting those who come to pay their respects.
The reason Hiroshima is a place known around the globe is well-known. Since that devastating moment in history, the city has been rebuilt and is today a remarkable center of activity. Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park and museum are among the city’s main attractions, but more and more people are coming for its cosmopolitan offerings and close proximity to some of Japan’s most scenic destinations.
The city center is packed full of shopping opportunities, including department stores such as Fukuya, while the covered shopping area of Hon Dori is lined with boutiques and clothing outlets. Hiroshima Castle is a beautiful example of 16th century architecture with informative displays of traditional relics, armour and the history of the city as well as landscaped gardens for a relaxing stroll. The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art houses fantastic exhibitions of modern works, mostly by Japanese artists.
Highlights
Shukkei-en Gardens: this is a small yet beautiful traditional Japanese garden, perfect for a relaxing afternoon stroll.
Central Park Family Pool: this is the spot to cool off from the hot Hiroshima summer sun, with swimming and play areas and a number of fun water slides.
Fudoin Temple: remarkably, this temple withstood the atomic bomb and is today widely visited for its stunning Main Hall made of gold.
Glass no Sata: a museum of glassworks which also houses a shop and runs workshops on glass blowing. For an educational and fun day out with a difference, you will be surprised at what you can produce in only 20 minutes.
Hiroshima Castle: the modern reconstruction of the original, which was built in 1589, is worth a visit for its long standing historic value.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: built to commemorate the atomic bomb dropped in 1945 and home to the Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage site which partially survived the bombing.
Hiroshima Museum of Art: houses an outstanding collection of works by great artists such as van Gogh, Renoir, Cezanne and Picasso.