World Heritage and History of Hiroshima

Itsukushima Shrine is a famous shrine located on the island of Miyajima within the city limits of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. Itsukushima Shrine was initially built in the year 593, but it was not until the year 1168 that the military leader Taira no Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine into its present magnificent state. The gods enshrined at the shrine are known as the Munakata Sanjojin. (Three Goddesses of Munakata) They are believed to have power over maritime safety, fishing, traffic safety, and business prosperity. In 1996, Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Atomic Bomb Dome.

(Admission Fee)
Adult – ¥300
High School student – ¥200
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥100
(Admission & Treasure House
set)
Adult – ¥500
High School student – ¥300
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥150
※ If you are a student, please
present your passport or
school ID at reception when
purchasing your ticket.

Located just off Miyajimaguchi Pier, etto is a new tourist facility that opened in 2020. Etto derives its name from a Hiroshima dialect word meaning “many,” and as the name suggests, it offers a wide variety of souvenirs and food related to Hiroshima. The facility is divided into two areas: the “Itsukushi Marché” on the first floor, consisting mainly of souvenir stores and eateries, and the “Ogottsuo Dining” restaurant area on the second floor, where you can enjoy Hiroshima’s culinary specialties.

Hiroshima Castle was built in the year 1599 by Hiroshima’s most powerful warrior and leader at the time, Mori Terumoto. The castle featured a five-story Castle Tower, a Honmaru Palace, and a moat that flows like a river. Unfortunately, both the Castle Tower and the Honmaru Palace were destroyed by the atomic bombing in 1945, and only the Castle Tower has been reconstructed. The castle tower now houses the Hiroshima Castle Museum, which exhibits materials related to Hiroshima’s history, the Mori family, local folklore, and natural history.

(Entry fee)
18+ – ¥370
Senior citizen – ¥180
High School student – ¥180
Junior High School student
or under – Free
※ For students and senior
citizens, please present
identification to verify your age
such as your passport, or
school ID, at reception when
purchasing your ticket.

On August 6, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. To this day, the Atomic Bomb Dome conveys the horror of the bomb’s destructive power and the extent of the damage it caused. The Atomic Bomb Dome avoided total destruction, although it was only about 160 meters from the blast’s hypocenter. However, all the people inside the building died instantly, and the beautiful Western-style exterior and interior were utterly destroyed, with only the building’s steel frame remaining intact. In 1996, the Atomic Bomb Dome was registered as a World Heritage Site to be an architectural reminder of the horrors of nuclear weapons.

HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER is a tourist attraction located next to the Atomic Bomb Dome. The north walls of the building are decorated with illustrations of ‘Orizuru’ paper cranes, which symbolize peace. The building also occasionally plays host to seasonal events. The first floor has a café and souvenir shop, and the 12th floor is “ORIZURU SQUARE,” where visitors can try their hand at making paper cranes. On the rooftop, there is an observation deck called “HIROSHIMA HILLS,” where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hiroshima City and spend time relaxing.
The most attractive part of HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER is the spectacular view of Hiroshima from the rooftop observation deck, from which you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the the Wolrd Heritage A-bomb Dome Site, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima Castle, and other parts of the city. The observation deck is covered, so you can enjoy the view even in the rain. Also, at the “ORIZURU SQUARE” on the 12th floor, you can enjoy making ‘Orizuru’ paper cranes. You can then throw your ‘Orizuru’ into the “ORIZURU WALL.”- a distinct glass display filled with paper cranes and the hopes and wishes that accompany them from all around the world!

Okonomi Village is a multi-storied building filled to the brim with vendors selling the exact same product: okonomiyaki and teppanyaki with alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Pretty much every store inside has a history behind it, and while some establishments’ okonomiyaki may taste better than others’, you won’t find a terrible okonomiyaki inside here. Lots of locals swing by during lunch breaks or on the way home from work, and some undoubtedly have found a store in here that they swear by.

From the moment passengers step off the train, tourism is instantly possible as the Mihara Castle Ruins are visible from the platform. Mihara Station forms part of the center of Mihara City, and as such, numerous stores and restaurants of interest are concentrated around here. Drop by one of the okonomiyaki joints in the middle of sightseeing for an exclusive Miharayaki, renowned for adding fresh chicken offal as a topping.

Suishin is a sake manufacturer based in Mihara with a history dating back to 1860. While the technology involved in making sake has evolved, the base recipe and high quality have not changed one bit. Since Suishin is so famous in Hiroshima Prefecture, sometimes they set up a temporary stand in other cities like Hiroshima or Fukuyama and hold sake tasting events.

Known as “Aki’s Little Kyoto,” the Takehara Preserved Historic District is a tourist spot where you can see the old streets of Takehara City, which has prospered since ancient times. Lined with old houses and warehouses that are over several hundred years old the area has been selected as a national important traditional building preservation district. Once you step into the district, you will feel as if you have taken a step back in time to traditional Japan.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Kure Museum (also known as the Iron Whale Museum) is the only museum in Japan that displays an actual full-size submarine above water. The museum has documents on the Maritime Self-Defense Force’s history, which still has its main base in Kure. The museum also has information on the functions of the underwater minesweeping taskforce, whose mission is to find and dispose of mines and other hazardous materials. There is also information on the history and technologies used in submarines and daily activities on board the vessels.

Free admission