Hiroshima & Miyajima: History, Shrines, and Seaside Views

We chose to visit Hiroshima because we were interested in learning more about its history as the first city to experience an atomic bombing. While that was a big part of what drew us here, the city itself turned out to be really lovely — clean, modern, and easy to explore, with plenty of great food options. It also makes an excellent base for visiting Miyajima Island, with reliable and straightforward transport links to get there.

Where we stayed

In Hiroshima, we stayed at Hotel Mystays Hiroshima Peace Park. We really enjoyed this hotel and found the location perfect- close to all the main attractions and well-connected by public transport. The hotel is quite large, and from the higher floors you get a lovely view of the river, which we were lucky enough to have. The bed was comfortable (though the duvet was a little itchy), the bathroom was good, and the staff were very friendly. The room was slightly smaller than others we’d stayed in across Japan, but it didn’t bother us — there was still enough space to move around comfortably.

Day 1- Exploring Hiroshima

We arrived in Hiroshima by train from Osaka and took a bus straight to our hotel to drop off our bags. For lunch, we picked up some onigiri from Onigiri Nitaya, which was simple but tasty.

Afterwards, we walked to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Where we got our tickets and also rented an audio guide for a small extra fee. The museum is incredibly powerful- it details the events surrounding the atomic bombing, its immediate impact, and the aftermath. It’s heartbreaking to hear the personal stories and see the exhibits, but it’s very informative and thoughtfully presented. Most of the displays have English translations, and I actually preferred reading them over listening to the audio guide.

From there, we walked through the Peace Memorial Park. The gardens are beautifully maintained and provide a calm, reflective space — a nice place to rest in the shade for a while. We continued on to the Atomic Bomb Dome, where part

s of the original building remain standing as a powerful reminder of what happened.

After that, we made our way to Hiroshima Castle, stopping briefly at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima, the city’s football stadium. It was free to peek inside and see the pitch, which was a fun detour. We didn’t go inside the castle itself but took some photos of the exterior before heading back to the hotel to check in.

That evening, we relaxed for a bit before heading out for dinner. Our first stop was Okonomimura, but after realising it was cash-only, we went to find an ATM. On our way back, we came across a place called TOKYU, a cosy katsu curry spot that looked inviting- so we decided to try it instead. It turned out to be a great choice! The food was tasty and affordable, with a good range of katsu dishes. The décor was simple but quirky, and the atmosphere was relaxed and welcoming.

After dinner, we went for a short walk around the area and popped into Don Quijote for some drinks, snacks, and a few fun finds before heading back to the hotel for the night.

Day Two – Miyajima Island

The next morning, we took care of a few admin bits, then set off to Miyajima Island around 11 a.m. The journey took about an hour, including a quick lunch stop at 7-Eleven before catching the short ferry over to the island.

Once there, we walked along the main shopping street towards Itsukushima Shrine and the famous floating torii gate. It was low tide, so we were able to walk quite close and take some great photos. We didn’t go inside the paid shrine area but enjoyed exploring the grounds and nearby shrines.

Next, we made our way to the Miyajima Ropeway. Instead of taking the free shuttle bus, we walked through the forest trail to the base, which was a lovely (though warm) walk. The first cable car was hot and crowded, but the second one was a bit cooler and offered amazing views. From the top, the scenery was stunning — you can see the surrounding islands and, if you’re up for it, hike further up to a higher viewpoint, which we did despite the heat.

On the way back down, we stopped for a warm Momiji Manju, a maple-leaf-shaped cake that was nice, though it reminded me a bit of a soft sponge. Then we caught the ferry and tram back to Hiroshima.

That evening, we went for okonomiyaki at Hiroshima Okonomi Yokocho. It was fine but nothing particularly special. Afterwards, we tried a beer at Hiroshima Neighborly Brewing, though I wasn’t a big fan of the brews there either. We then returned to the hotel and relaxed for the rest of the night.

The next morning, we checked out, grabbed our bags, and caught the train to Okayama, ready for the next leg of our Japan trip.