A lot of travelers wonder if Hiroshima is a must when visiting Japan. The honest answer is yes, and not just because of its history. Hiroshima is one of the easiest places to understand how Japan moves day to day. You can arrive by train, get around without stress and see places that matter without spending the whole day in transit. That combination is what makes a visit completely worth it. Here is what to do in Hiroshima to make the most of your trip.

Key takeaways

Hiroshima pairs deeply meaningful historical sites with calm parks, walkable neighborhoods and an easygoing pace.

Many of the best things to do in Hiroshima focus on remembrance, resilience and how the city rebuilt itself.

Visitors can explore the city center in a short time or add nearby destinations like Miyajima Island for a fuller experience.

Why Hiroshima is one of Japan’s most meaningful destinations

Hiroshima is one of those places that stays with people. The city was devastated by the atomic bombing in 1945, then rebuilt with a clear purpose: to remember what happened here and to advocate for peace. That commitment shows up everywhere, from the memorials at the river’s edge to the way the city treats these sites as living spaces for learning and enrichment.

It’s also an easy city to experience in a short window. Hiroshima has wide, green parks, tree-lined paths along the Motoyasu River and a city center that feels genuinely walkable. Add a streetcar network that connects major neighborhoods and attractions and it becomes a great port stop for cruise guests who want something meaningful without a complicated plan. Many top landmarks are close enough to visit comfortably during a stop on Japan cruises.

The best things to do in Hiroshima

A large grey concrete arch monument frames the distant Genbaku Dome under a blue sky with autumn trees and colorful flowers in the foreground.
Reflect on history at the iconic Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

1. Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Set along the Motoyasu River, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the heart of the city’s commitment to peace. What was once ground zero is now an expansive green space filled with walking paths, open lawns and thoughtfully placed memorials. The park is designed to be quiet and contemplative without feeling closed off, where you can explore at your own pace.

Many of Hiroshima’s most significant landmarks sit within the park, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and several monuments dedicated to victims and survivors. For cruise guests, this is one of the most important stops in the city and an easy place to begin exploring through the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome & Museum shore excursion.

The Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome with its skeletal structure standing amid green lawns and trees under a clear blue sky.
Stand before a powerful reminder of resilience at the Atomic Bomb Dome.

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2. See the Atomic Bomb Dome

Standing just outside Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome is one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks. The skeletal remains of the former Industrial Promotion Hall were left as they stood after the 1945 blast and later preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its position beside the river makes it impossible to miss and difficult to forget.

Seeing the Dome in person adds important context to everything else in the park. It is not a museum or a monument you walk through but a fixed point in the landscape, reminding visitors exactly where history changed. Most guests view it as part of the Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome & Museum excursion, which connects the site to the surrounding memorials and exhibits.

Wide view of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park featuring a central fountain, manicured hedges, stone walkways and the modern museum building beneath a clear blue sky.
Take a quiet moment to reflect at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

3. Explore the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Located within Peace Memorial Park, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum provides essential context for everything visitors see outside. The museum documents the events of August 1945 and the city’s recovery through personal stories, artifacts and carefully curated exhibits that focus on human impact rather than spectacle.

Many guests choose to visit the museum after walking the park, where the exhibits deepen the understanding of Hiroshima’s commitment to peace and disarmament. It is an emotional experience, but one designed to inform and encourage reflection rather than overwhelm. It will be on the same Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome & Museum shore excursion, so you can see these sites together during a cruise stop.

Bronze statue of a child holding an origami crane aloft, standing on a stone base against a vivid blue sky with scattered white clouds.
Look skyward at a symbol of hope rising above Hiroshima.

4. Walk to the Children’s Peace Monument and Cenotaph

Tucked within Peace Memorial Park, the Children’s Peace Monument and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims are among the park’s most powerful stops. The Children’s Peace Monument honors young victims of the bombing and reflects Hiroshima’s ongoing commitment to peace through future generations. Paper cranes often surround the statue, folded by visitors from around the world.

Nearby, the cenotaph frames a direct view of the Atomic Bomb Dome across the river. Beneath its arch is a simple inscription remembering all victims of the bombing, regardless of nationality. These sites are quiet and unhurried and give you a space to pause and reflect as part of a walk through the park or during guided Hiroshima, Japan excursions.

Close view of the vermilion Itsukushima torii gate standing in calm water with soft reflections, distant mountains and dramatic evening clouds in the background.
Let the sea frame one of Japan’s most unforgettable landmarks.

5. Take a ferry to Miyajima Island

Just offshore from Hiroshima, Miyajima Island offers a completely different pace from the city center. Reached by a short ferry ride, the island is known for its forested hills, coastal walking paths and small streets lined with traditional shops and cafés. The transition from city to island feels quick but distinct as you experience the range Hiroshima has to offer.

Many visitors pair Miyajima with time in Hiroshima’s memorial parks to have a balanced day that moves from reflection to nature and culture. The island is easy to visit during a port stop and is featured on the Miyajima & Itsukushima Shrine shore excursion, which handles transportation and timing for cruise guests.

Traditional shrine building painted in vivid orange standing on stilts above calm water, with forested hills and a pagoda rising in the background.
Step into centuries of tradition at the waters edge on Miyajima.

6. Visit Itsukushima Shrine

Set along the shoreline of Miyajima Island, Itsukushima Shrine is one of Japan’s most recognizable landmarks. The shrine is best known for its towering torii gate, which appears to float on the water during high tide and can be walked up to when the tide recedes. This shifting view is part of what makes the site so memorable.

The shrine complex itself is built on piers over the bay, with covered walkways and vermilion halls that reflect beautifully on the water. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Itsukushima Shrine blends spiritual tradition with natural scenery and is a highlight of the Miyajima & Itsukushima Shrine shore excursion.

Vintage green and cream streetcar traveling along city tracks, surrounded by urban buildings, overhead power lines and everyday street life in Hiroshima.
Ride like a local on Hiroshima’s iconic streetcar.

7. Ride Hiroshima’s streetcars and explore the city

Hiroshima’s streetcar system is part of everyday life and one of the easiest ways for visitors to get around. Operated by Hiroshima Electric Railway, the trams connect the train station, Peace Memorial Park, downtown neighborhoods and waterfront areas. Cars arrive frequently and routes are clearly marked, making navigation straightforward even on a short visit.

Riding the streetcars offers a ground-level view of the city as it moves from memorial spaces to shopping streets and residential districts. It’s a practical way to cover more ground without feeling rushed and a great introduction to how Hiroshima functions day to day. Many guests experience this firsthand on the Hiroshima by Tram & Foot shore excursion, which combines public transit with guided walking.

Hiroshima Castle perched above a stone base and surrounding moat, framed by blooming cherry trees, spring greenery and a clear blue sky.
Stroll beneath cherry blossoms with Hiroshima Castle rising ahead.

8. Discover Hiroshima Castle

Set just north of the city center, Hiroshima Castle offers a look at the region’s feudal past. The original castle dates back to the late sixteenth century and was destroyed in 1945, then carefully reconstructed as a symbol of the city’s recovery. Today, the black-and-white keep rises above a wide moat and shaded parkland that locals use for walks and seasonal events.

Inside, the castle houses a small museum focused on Hiroshima’s samurai history and castle town era. From the top floor, visitors can take in views across the city toward Peace Memorial Park, connecting Hiroshima’s earlier history with its modern identity.

The arched wooden Kintai Bridge spanning a calm river, with stone pillars, cherry blossoms in bloom and forested hills rising behind it.
Cross a masterpiece of craftsmanship framed by spring blossoms.

9. Take a day trip to Iwakuni

About an hour from Hiroshima, Iwakuni offers a quieter look at traditional architecture and riverside scenery. The town is best known for the Kintai Bridge, a five-arched wooden bridge that spans the Nishiki River. Originally built in the seventeenth century, the bridge is admired for its craftsmanship and seasonal views, especially during spring and fall.

A ropeway climbs the hillside to Iwakuni Castle, where exhibits cover local history and the observation deck looks out over the river valley. For cruise guests, this makes for an easy cultural contrast to Hiroshima’s city center and is featured on the Iwakuni Castle & Historical Wooden Arch Bridge shore excursion.

Close-up of a slice of Hiroshima style okonomiyaki lifted on a spatula, layered with noodles, cabbage and toppings drizzled in savory sauce and mayonnaise.
Dig into Hiroshima style okonomiyaki stacked high with flavor.

10. Try local Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is a must-try when spending time in the city. Unlike versions found elsewhere in Japan, Hiroshima’s take layers the ingredients rather than mixing them together, stacking batter, cabbage, noodles, egg and savory sauce on a hot griddle. The result is hearty, crisp-edged and distinctly regional.

Many restaurants prepare the dish right in front of guests, turning the meal into part of the experience. Downtown areas like Okonomimura are known for clusters of small counters where chefs specialize in their own variations. After a day of sightseeing, this local favorite offers a relaxed way to end an evening in Hiroshima.

Planning your visit to Hiroshima

Hiroshima is well-suited to a cruise stop, with key landmarks close enough to experience without rushing. Sites like Peace Memorial Park, the museum district and downtown areas can be visited in a single day, while destinations such as Miyajima Island fit neatly into the schedule with planned transportation.

Shore excursions simplify the experience by coordinating timing and travel in advance. That structure helps guests make the most of their time ashore while still allowing time to absorb the city rather than move through it too quickly. Explore cruises to Hiroshima today.

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