One day in Hiroshima

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

      Stand behind the cenotaph to see the flame and the Atomic Bomb Dome framed in one line, then walk the riverbank. Allow 1.5–2 hours.

   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. Allow 30 minutes.

   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

      Go at opening or in the late afternoon; school groups pack the galleries from mid-morning, especially in spring and autumn. Allow 2 hours.

   5. Late afternoon

      Children's Peace Monument

      Fold a paper crane beforehand and leave it at the booths, as many visitors do. Allow 20 minutes.

   6. Evening

      Okonomimura

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

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.

If it rains

• Swap in Hondori Shopping Arcade (Peace Park and Hondori): Use it as a covered route between the Peace Park and Hatchobori on rainy days.
• 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

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–6 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Tram. Hiroden trams run from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku Dome-mae (the Peace Park) in about 15–20 minutes, with a flat fare in the city; line 2 continues to Miyajimaguchi in about an hour.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Hiroshima
• 3 days in Hiroshima

Questions travellers ask