3 days in Hiroshima

Day by day

1. Day 1: Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome

   Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, then Okonomimura in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

      Laid out by architect Kenzo Tange on the river island close to the bomb's hypocentre, the park lines up the Cenotaph for the A-bomb victims, the Flame of Peace and the Atomic Bomb Dome along one axis.

   2. Late morning

      Atomic Bomb Dome

      See it twice: in daylight from the riverbank and after dark, when it is lit and the area is quiet.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

      Okonomimura near Hondori, the okonomiyaki floor in Hiroshima Station's building and neighbourhood griddle counters.

   4. Afternoon

      Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

      The museum documents the bombing and its aftermath through victims' belongings, photographs, testimonies and the long effects of radiation, then explains the nuclear age.

   5. Evening

      Okonomimura

      Sit at the counter and eat straight off the griddle with the small spatula, as locals do; add oysters in winter.

2. Day 2: Itsukushima Shrine and Mount Misen

   Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen and Daisho-in Temple, then Carp game at Mazda Stadium in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Itsukushima Shrine

      Check the tide table: come at high tide for the floating view and at low tide to walk to the torii, ideally on the same day.

   2. Late morning

      Mount Misen

      Miyajima's sacred 535 m peak is reached by a two-stage ropeway and a 20–30-minute walk, or on foot in about 1.5–2 hours on the Momijidani, Daisho-in or Omoto trails.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Oysters

      Oyster restaurants downtown, oyster huts in winter and grill stalls on Miyajima's Omotesando.

   4. Afternoon

      Daisho-in Temple

      Spin the sutra-inscribed wheels on the railing as you climb the steps; it is said to bring the same blessing as reading them.

   5. Evening

      Carp game at Mazda Stadium

      Buy tickets ahead for weekend games, and join the seventh-inning balloon release.

3. Day 3: Children's Peace Monument and Hondori Shopping Arcade

   Children's Peace Monument, Hondori Shopping Arcade and Hiroshima Orizuru Tower, then Nagarekawa in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Children's Peace Monument

      This monument honours Sadako Sasaki, who developed leukaemia after the bombing and folded paper cranes hoping to recover, and the thousands of children who died.

   2. Late morning

      Hondori Shopping Arcade

      Use it as a covered route between the Peace Park and Hatchobori on rainy days.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Conger-eel rice

      Restaurants and bento shops around Miyajimaguchi station and on Miyajima.

   4. Afternoon

      Hiroshima Orizuru Tower

      A modern office tower beside the Atomic Bomb Dome with an open-air rooftop observation deck looking straight down on the dome and across the Peace Park.

   5. Evening

      Nagarekawa

      Dense blocks of izakaya, small bars and karaoke east of Hondori.

Before you go

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: At busy times the museum has used timed entry and online tickets to manage crowds; check the official site before your visit.
• Carp game at Mazda Stadium: Carp games often sell out; buy tickets online or at convenience-store machines well before the day.

If it rains

• Swap in Hiroshima Museum of Art (Hakushima and the castle): Combine it with Hiroshima Castle's grounds and Shukkei-en, all within a 10-minute walk.
• Swap in Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art (Hiroshima Station area): Walk through Hijiyama Park's sculpture paths and viewpoint after your visit.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Hiroshima Station area keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Peace Park and Hondori ($$$) suits first-timers, couples, shopping and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 15–18 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.9 hours in December to 14.4 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Hiroshima
• 2 days in Hiroshima

Questions travellers ask