Hiroshima In A Day

Hiroshima in a Day 一日の広島の旅

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial and The A-Bomb Dome
• Hiroshima Carp
• Hiroshima Castle
• Okonomiyaki
• Access
• Japan City Guides

Chris Lau

The A-Bomb Dome, Hiroshima

Hiroshima can be described as a small city with a big heart. It is an enticing blend of both modern and traditional Japan with many memorable tourists sites. The city itself exudes a sense of calm and serenity and visitors will soon come to enjoy this calm atmosphere as they stroll around.

Hiroshima offers tourists a diverse choice of places to visit. Many of the sites are within walking distance of the centre, so tourists will be able to plan their itinerary and enjoy the city at a relaxed pace.

More adventurous travellers can venture out to the heritage island of Miyajima, which is located just off the coast. Hiroshima is a little gem of a city and here are some of the most popular locations to visit.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and The A-Bomb Dome

History and Hiroshima will forever be tied to the events of that fateful August day in 1945. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is surrounded by reminders that peace should always prevail and such is its global significance that the park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

One of the stark reminders is the A-Bomb Dome which, despite having the bomb explode directly above its structure, survived the blast and is now preserved for all generations to come and learn about the destructive nature of war and conflict. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is within the park area and is well worth a visit for an in-depth look at the events in the lead up to and aftermath of that fateful day.

Directions: Visitors can take one of the following streetcars and get off directly as the dome which is Genbaku Domu-mae (A-Bomb Dome). These include the number 2 tram bound for Miyajima-guchi and the number 6 tram bound for Eba.

Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium, Hiroshima
Hiroshima Carp baseball shirts on sale in the club shop

Hiroshima Carp

Japan is baseball crazy and baseball is definitely the most popular team sport in Hiroshima. The citizens all unite behind their home town heroes, the Hiroshima Carp. Why a carp? Well, given Hiroshima's proximity to the sea, carp are one of the seafood specialties sold in some of the city's seafood markets. Fans can watch the Carp at their modern and majestic stadium, the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium which is located in the suburbs of the city though still easily accessible by public transportation.

Discernible sports fans will be able to see how deeply the Carp are embedded into the heart of the city as a majority of bars and restaurants have Carp mementos and memorabilia hanging off a wall or located in the front of the shop. The city lives and breathes their baseball team and a Carp win or loss can affect the mood of the place.

To see a Carp games, fans can head to the Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium via a few different options and simply follow the thousands of other fans heading in the same direction. The carnival-like, family atmosphere is a must for all sports fans and even non-sports fans will become Carp fans by the end of their first game.

Directions: To get there by JR train, fans can head to either JR Hiroshima Station or JR Tenjingawa Station. The stadium is about a ten to fifteen minute walk from either station.

To get to the stadium by streetcar, it is roughly a 10 minute-walk from the Hiroshima City streetcar stop Matoba-cho or conversely, it is about an 11 minute-walk from the Hiroshima City streetcar stop Danbara 1-chome.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle

Standing majestically across the Hiroshima landscape is Hiroshima Castle. Surrounded by nicely maintained gardens, the design and architecture of the castle is a sight to behold. Hiroshima Castle is surrounded by a moat and is deemed one of Japan's top one hundred castles.

Directions: The castle is a ten minute walk from Hiroshima Peace Park.

Okonomiyaki Hiroshima styleOkonomiyaki is Hiroshima's signature dish

Okonomiyaki - A Must Try Cuisine

For all foodies, the one cuisine which is synonymous with Hiroshima is the delicacy known as Okonomiyaki. This dish is quite unique to Hiroshima. It can simply be described in one way as a type of pancake which has a diverse range of ingredients inside it and on the exterior, to give it taste and flavouring. Ingredients can range from cheese to egg to vegetables as well as meat.

The origin of the name "Okonomiyaki" alludes to the 'random' nature of the creation of the dish as Okonomi, meaning "how you like" while yaki meaning "grill."  Downtown Hiroshima has a great number of restaurants which specializes in Okonomiyaki so those with curious taste buds can try the large sample of Okonomiyaki dishes on offer across a whole host of venues.

Hiroshima, quaint yet modern, visitors can embrace the peaceful serenity of this small city which holds onto its traditions yet embraces modernity.

You must try Okonomiyaki in HiroshimaOkonomiyaki

Access - Getting There

Hiroshima Station is served by the Sanyo Shinkansen line to Osaka (2 hours 10 mins), Tokyo (4 hours 30 minutes to five hours), Kyoto, Nagoya and Fukuoka/Hakata.

Other railway lines connecting from Hiroshima are the Sanyo Main Line for Miyajimaguchi, the historic town of Iwakuni and Tokuyama, the Geibi Line for Shiwaguchi and Miyoshi, the commuter Kabe Line for Omachi, Midorii and Kabe and the Kure Line for the port city of Kure, Hiro, and Takehara.

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