Hiroshima Holidays

While much of your time on a Hiroshima holiday will no doubt be spent learning about the events of 6th August 1945 through visits to the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, there’s plenty more to discover in this city. At the Hiroshima Museum of Art, for instance, you can check out works by contemporary Japanese artists as well as modern European painters. Or you could visit Hiroshima Castle, also known as Carp Castle. Although the original building, constructed in the 1590s, was destroyed by the atomic bomb, its main keep was rebuilt and now houses a fascinating museum.

Plus, you can enjoy excellent city views from the top floor. Meanwhile, over in quaint Onomichi, you can spend anywhere between half an hour and an entire day doing the Temple Walk – a two-and-a-half kilometre walking route which connects an impressive 25 temples. Then, of course, there’s the lively downtown area, centred around Hondori Street – a pedestrian arcade filled with shops and restaurants. It’s a great place to pick up some souvenirs and chow down on Hiroshima’s delicious cuisine.

The Peace Memorial Park is likely to be top of your Hiroshima holiday itinerary. Spread across 120,000 square meters in the centre of the city, chances are you’ll stumble across it even if you’re not looking for it. Once a bustling political and commercial district, this part of the city was turned into an open field after the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped here. Four years later, a decision was made not to redevelop the area but to preserve it as a tranquil spot, dedicated to the memories of the bomb’s direct and indirect victims.

A large, leafy space, hugged by rivers on either side and criss-crossed by walkways, the park contains memorials and monuments, museums, and lecture halls. At the northern end of the park stands the A-Bomb Dome – the skeletal ruins of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. This was the closest building to the hypocenter of the nuclear bomb that remained at least partially standing, and it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The park’s other main attractions include the Peace Memorial Museum and the Flame of Peace, which is set to burn until all the world's nuclear weapons have been destroyed.

This small island in Hiroshima Bay is one of Japan’s most popular tourist spots. Officially called Itsukushima – meaning ‘island of worship’ – it’s home to about 2,000 people and is believed to be the place where God dwells. Its most popular attraction is the much-photographed Itsukushima-jinja shrine – an absolute must-see on any Hiroshima holiday. Originally built in the sixth century, the vermillion torii – or shrine gates – stand just offshore and, at high tide, appear to be floating on top of the water.

Once you’ve visited the shrine, and got the customary shot of the gates, spend some time exploring the nearby temples, lazing on the beaches or hiking on Mount Misen. Trek all the way to the summit and you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views across the Inland Sea. While the top attractions can easily be ticked off with a half-day trip from Hiroshima, consider booking into a ryokan and spending the night on Mayajima. Things here become far more peaceful in the evening, once most visitors have left, and you’re left with just the local deer for company.

As with many places in Japan, the best time for a Hiroshima holiday is spring or autumn. That’s because it enjoys a humid subtropical climate, so the summer months are hot and muggy while winter is cold – although not unbearably so. However, April-May and October-November generally have the most pleasant weather. At these times of year, highs are usually in the high teens to low twenties, while evening temperatures rarely drop much below 10°C.

Whichever month you choose to travel, you’ll likely experience some rain on a holiday to Hiroshima – so it’s always wise to pack an umbrella. There tend to be between seven and 12 wet days a month, with winter being the driest season and rainfall peaking in June and July. And if you’re keen to see Japan’s famous cherry blossoms, you’ll need to book your Hiroshima holiday for late March or early April.