Though often overshadowed by its poignant past, Japan’s Hiroshima prefecture has a tradition of surprising its adventurous visitors with a wealth of cultural riches, pulsing city energy and breathtaking natural wonders — making it a city truly worth rediscovering time and time again.
One of its most iconic but oft overlooked landmarks is Hiroshima Castle, a magnificent fortress that dates back to the 16th century. Also known as the “Carp Castle,” it was built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, a powerful daimyo (feudal lord) during the Warring States period of Japanese history. While the castle was severely damaged during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945, it has since been restored to its former glory. One of the highlights of visiting Hiroshima Castle is climbing to the top of the main tower, which offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding landscape.
A few minutes’ walk from the castle, you will also find Shukkei-en Garden, a hidden gem that is not to be missed. The park, which dates back to the 17th century, is a beautiful example of a traditional Japanese garden, featuring a central pond and lush greenery. Among its many picturesque attractions is its carp pond, which is home to a large number of colorful koi fish. In Japan, koi are seen as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. The park’s carp are well cared-for and can often be seen swimming close to the surface of the water, waiting for visitors to feed them. In addition to the carp pond, Shukkei-en Garden features a variety of other attractions, including a tea house, a bamboo grove and even a small museum.
Continue your journey by hopping aboard a ferry to Miyajima, located just a short ride from the city of Hiroshima. The island is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most photographed locations in the country.
The shrine is famous for its massive torii gate, which appears to float on the water at high tide. The gate, which stands at 16 meters tall, is one of the largest in Japan and has just recently been given a fresh, new coat of brilliant red paint. Visitors can walk out to the gate at low tide and explore the area around it.
The 6th century Itsukushima Shrine is also a stunning example of traditional Japanese architecture, with its red pillars and sweeping rooflines. In addition to the shrine, Miyajima is also home to a variety of other attractions, including several other temples and shrines, a large park with hiking trails and a friendly population of deer that roam the streets.
If all this hiking leaves you hungry, try out the prefecture’s famed comfort food — okonomiyaki. This savory pancake-like dish is made with a batter of flour, egg and dashi (a type of broth), and is loaded with toppings like cabbage, meat, seafood and other vegetables. What sets Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki apart from other variations of the dish in the rest of Japan is the way it is prepared. Rather than mixing all the ingredients together, the Hiroshima variety favors a layered approach to toppings, starting with the batter and fried noodles and building up to the toppings. This creates a delicious and unique texture that is crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. While okonomiyaki restaurants can be found all over Hiroshima, each one has its own signature twist on the classic recipe, and some even let you cook the dish yourself on a griddle at your table.
If a hearty dinner isn’t last on your day’s itinerary, visitors will appreciate that Hiroshima is also home to some radiant nightlife, as well as some of the finest sake in all of Japan. Hiroshima has a long history of sake production, and many of the prefecture’s 48 breweries have been in operation for centuries. One of the best ways to experience its historic sake culture is to visit a kaku-uchi, which is a sake shop and bar combination. These establishments offer a wide variety of sake, both from Hiroshima and other regions of Japan, and are the perfect place to sample different types of sake and learn about the brewing process directly from the professionals of the trade.
If you’re looking for a city that’s easy to navigate that won’t break the bank, look no further than Hiroshima and its renowned streetcars. You’ll be taking a ride back in time, so to speak, as not only have these streetcars been a staple of the city’s infrastructure since the early 1900s, but many of the original car models are still in operation today — two of which include those that survived the A-bomb in 1945 and continue to transport commuters and visitors day in and day out. Many of the streetcars are designed with traditional Japanese motifs and the conductors often wear vintage uniforms, creating a charming and nostalgic atmosphere on board as one takes in the city scenery. Meanwhile, visitors can purchase a one-day pass for unlimited rides on the streetcar network, allowing them to explore different parts of the city at their own pace.
Outside the city, Setonaikai National Park is an obvious stop for the seasoned traveler. This national park is one of the country’s largest and most diverse, covering an area of more than 9,000 square kilometers (about 3,500 square miles) and encompassing hundreds of islands and coastal regions along the Seto Inland Sea. In addition to its many idyllic islands, Setonaikai National Park also boasts several historic villages that offer a glimpse into traditional Japanese life and its rich history of pirates and powerful merchant clans.
For a change of scenery that’s a bit off the beaten path, take a trip to a Hiroshima olive grove on the coast. Although olive trees are not native to Japan, the Hiroshima prefecture’s unique climate and geography have made it possible to grow olives and produce some of the world’s finest olive oil, some even winning international awards in Europe. Because the olives are grown in a cooler climate than most traditional olive-growing regions, they ripen more slowly, which gives them a distinctively light and herbaceous taste. They can be sampled at local shops and restaurants, or even straight from the groves themselves via guided tours and tastings.
For those in need of some exercise to burn off the extra calories, the Sandankyo Gorge is one of the most popular hiking destinations in Hiroshima, offering several trails of varying difficulty that wind through the gorge and its surrounding forests. The trails come with breathtaking views of the gorge and its natural beauty — a narrow valley that has been carved out by the Shibaki river over millions of years.
One of the most popular attractions in the Sandankyo Gorge is its boat tour, which takes visitors on a leisurely ride past the rocky cliffs and towering trees. Visitors to the Sandankyo Gorge should be prepared for a moderate hike, as they will need to conquer steep inclines and rocky terrain. However, the stunning views and natural beauty of the gorge are their own reward for anyone who loves the outdoors.
For those favoring a more leisurely hike, Sera Kogen Farm also offers visitors a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in the tranquility of nature.
Located in the northwestern corner of Hiroshima Prefecture (but not too far from the city’s airport), Sera Kogen Farm is a vast expanse of rolling hills and meadows that covers over 700 hectares (of 1,700 acres) of land. In the spring, the park is ablaze with the vibrant colors of cherry blossoms, azaleas and other spring flowers. In the summer, visitors can enjoy the cool shade of the park’s towering trees and the gentle murmur of its many streams and waterfalls. In the fall, the park is a riot of color once the leaves of the maples and other trees turn brilliant shades of red, orange and gold. (Olivier Fabre/AP/HIROSHIMA TOURISM ASSOCIATION)