In January, my family and I decided to take a short trip to Hiroshima.
Living in Japan, we’ve had the chance to explore many places, but Hiroshima was somewhere we’d always wanted to visit because of its unique history and culture.
Plus, my daughter wanted to go there as she loves World Heritage sites, and there are a few in the area.
If you’re planning a trip, here’s how we organised our visit.
This itinerary is ideal for anyone wanting to experience Hiroshima’s history, scenery, and cuisine without feeling rushed.
So, we booked a hotel and Shinaknsen combination and enjoyed a few days looking around.
This allowed us to spend a full day exploring the city and one day on the beautiful Miyajima Island.
Two days in Hiroshima is more than enough, though I realised that living here for 25 years puts me at an advantage.
I’ve created a simple 2 day Hiroshima itinerary for anyone who wants to visit the area.
This includes what to do, how to get around, where to stay, and what to eat.
When to Visit Hiroshima
Hiroshima is a great place to visit year-round.
Winters (December to February) are chilly but pleasant, and the crowds are much smaller compared to spring or summer.
Visiting in January meant cooler temperatures.
And it was peaceful, with no long queues for popular sites.
Spring (March and April) is famous for cherry blossoms, but it’s also the busiest time of year.
If you prefer fewer crowds, I’d avoid this period.
Autumn is another excellent choice, with beautiful colours and mild weather.
Summers can be quite humid, so be prepared for that if you’re visiting between June and August.
Getting Around Hiroshima
We found the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus incredibly convenient.
This service connects all the major attractions and is included in the JR Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass, which you might want to look into if you are an overseas tourist.
Alternatively, Hiroshima’s tram network is reliable and affordable, so it’s a great backup option.
Why Hiroshima?
Hiroshima is the capital city of Hiroshima prefecture, which is in the Chubu region of Japan.
It’s full of history and has a peaceful atmosphere.
The city also has great food and is close to Miyajima Island, which has a beautiful shrine and friendly deer.
It’s a mix of culture, history, and natural beauty, so there’s something for everyone.
Where to stay
The Prince Hotel in Hiroshima is a solid spot if you’re after great views and a comfy stay.
It’s right by the Seto Inland Sea, so you get those fantastic water views from many rooms.
Perfect for a chilled-out vibe.
It’s also super handy for exploring nearby places like Miyajima Island, as they have a ferry station.
You can get tickets on the ground floor, and they will take you to and from the island.,
The restaurants at the hotel, though, are way over-priced.
The only reasonable one was called kakkun, just outside the front entrance.
They only have 4 tables, though.
This was not a problem for us in January, but it might be if you go at a more popular time of year.
All in all, it’s a nice mix of convenience and a bit of relaxation.
Getting There
There is a free shuttle bus from the North exit of Hiroshima station straight to the hotel.
Wait next to bays 8 or 9, and you’ll see the bus when it arrives.
The trip takes about 30 minutes.
So, as for the 2-day itinerary, I recommend you start by getting the ferry to Miyajima early in the morning and staying there the whole day.
The last ferry back is at about 5:30 PM
Day One: Visit Miyajima
This was our favourite part of the whole trip.
I’d been there before, but for my kids, this was the first time.
We hopped on the ferry from our hotel, and in about 25 minutes, we arrived.
Once you get off the ferry, you simply turn right and come to a small roundabout.
There is only one path to go, so you cannot get lost.
There are still signs telling you which way to go.
As we got round the corner, one of the first things we noticed was this convenience store.
The design fits the aesthetic of the island.
We were hungry, and next door, there was a restaurant selling one of Hiroshima’s specialities.
Fried oysters!
They were delicious.
However, in hindsight, we should have held off for a bit, and if you walk around the corner, you’ll see lots of food stalls selling all sorts.
That would be your best bet, especially if you are a solo traveller or on a budget.
Itsukushima Shrine
Undoubtedly, it is the island’s main attraction and a world heritage site.
Itsukushima Shrine is a red Torii gate located just offshore.
At low tide, you can walk out to the gate, but during high tide, it appears to float on the water.
You can get a lot of good photos from various spots as you wander around.
If you want, there is an option to walk along a covered corridor built on the water.
There are ample chances to pray and, if you want, buy souvenirs and little religious things like omamori or ofuda (fortune slips, but all in Japanese) as you walk around.
If you want to pray at any of the shrines, a 5 yen coin is the one to throw in before you do so.
Once you reach the end of the corridor, you are back on land and you get more chances to spend money, lol.
There are also a few restaurants dotted about.
Once you’ve taken some photos and had a look, you could then take a short walk to Mount Misen ropeway.
It’s an easy walk, but uphill.
And there are locals encouraging you to buy a bus ticket.
We ignored it and walked to the ropeway entrance.
Mount Misen Ropeway
For the more adventurous, hiking up Mount Misen is an unforgettable experience.
The views from the top are breathtaking, with the Seto Inland Sea stretching out before you.
If hiking isn’t your thing, the ropeway takes you most of the way up.
Just be careful, though, as the last car down is at 4:30, and if you miss it, you need to walk down.
We took the ropeway up and down, as we did not want to miss our ferry back.
Time spent: 1 hour
Day Two: Hiroshima Peace Park and the Genbaku Dome
No trip to Hiroshima is complete without checking out the Peace Memorial Park and Dome.
When the bomb was dropped on August 9th, 1945, it destroyed most of the city.
The dome in the picture below was one of the few structures left standing.
The Genbaku dome is still surrounded by rubble.
There is an archive to visit (free) in the park and a reasonably big museum, which costs a few hundred yen to enter.
It is incredibly moving and very graphic, too.
So be warned if you are visiting with a family.
There is an English audio guide at an extra cost, but you can get around without it, and the signs and information next to the pictures and artefacts are in Japanese and English.
All in all, I would give this half the second day and then walk down to Hondori Street.
Google Maps is your friend for directions.
Shopping
Hondori Street is a well-known covered shopping arcade, as shown below.
If it’s raining, this is a great way to stay dry.
But it is not a good way to save money 🙂
We walked from here to the Hiroshima Orizuru Tower to grab some lunch.
Do not pay to go to the top, though.
It’s not that high and way overpriced.
Local Food
Pretty much all regions of Japan are famous for certain dishes, and Hiroshima is no different.
The most famous dish that I recommend you try is called Hiroshima Yaki.
It’s a savoury pancake layered where the ingredients are mixed together before cooking.
- Layered Cooking: Hiroshima Yaki involves layering ingredients instead of mixing them.
- The base is a thin pancake-like batter.
- It is followed by a generous portion of shredded cabbage, then toppings like sliced pork, seafood, or vegetables.
- Noodles: A unique characteristic of Hiroshima Yaki is the addition of fried noodles (either yakisoba or udon), making it heartier than Osaka-style okonomiyaki.
- Egg Layer: A fried egg is often placed on top as the final layer.
- Toppings: The dish is finished with a drizzle of okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise, seaweed flakes (aonori), and dried bonito flakes (katsuobushi).
We had it at a restaurant called Mitchan Sohonten in the Hiroshima ORIZURU Tower.
Highly recommended.
Many people refer to this as Okonomiyaki, which is wrong.
There are some similarities, but it’s not the same!
From here, you can catch a tram (streetcar) to the last stop, Hiroshioma station.
You can pay cash on leaving the tram.
It’s 220 yen per adult and half price for kids.
Leaving Hiroshima
The last part of our Hiroshima 2-Day itinerary is leaving the area.
For most people that will mean from Hiroshima station.
Give yourself an hour or two to stock up on local souvenirs.
Things like Momini Manju or Setouchi lemon snacks.
And grab an ekiben for the Shinkansen ride.
An ekiben means station bento, and eating on the Shinkansen is fine, just not on smaller trains.
Final Thoughts
Hiroshima is a city that balances its tragic history with an inspiring sense of hope and resilience.
Coupled with the beauty of Miyajima Island, it’s a destination that offers something for everyone.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d say two days is perfect to take it all in without feeling rushed.
It was an unforgettable trip for our family, and I hope this Hiroshima 2 day itinerary helps you enjoy it as much as we did!
