⛩️ Western Honshu, Japan
Things to do in Hiroshima & Miyajima
A moving peace city beside an island of floating torii
Hiroshima pairs a profound, moving history with one of Japan’s most beautiful sights. The Peace Memorial Park honours the victims of the 1945 atomic bomb with quiet dignity, while a short hop away the island of Miyajima holds the famous “floating” torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine — together one of the most rewarding trips in western Japan.
Time needed
1–2 days (a long day trip, or an overnight)
Best time
Spring for cherry blossom and autumn for foliage are the loveliest, but it’s a worthwhile, moving visit at any time of year
Region
Western Honshu, Japan
Don’t miss
The Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima’s floating torii
Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, the A-Bomb Dome and the museum are a sober, essential experience. Then take the train and ferry to Miyajima, where the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on the sea at high tide — a classic image of Japan.
Check availability on GetYourGuideTop things to do in Hiroshima & Miyajima
- The Peace Memorial Park, the A-Bomb Dome and the museum.Find tours
- The “floating” Itsukushima torii gate on Miyajima island.Find tours
- The ropeway up Mount Misen for views over the Seto Inland Sea.Find tours
- Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, layered with noodles.Find tours
- The free-roaming deer and quiet temples of Miyajima.Find tours
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How to get to Hiroshima & Miyajima
The shinkansen reaches Hiroshima in about 1.5 hours from Osaka (or roughly 1h40 from Kyoto). Miyajima is a short local train plus a 10-minute ferry from Hiroshima — easy to combine in a day or an overnight.
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Best time to visit
Spring for cherry blossom and autumn for foliage are the loveliest, but it’s a worthwhile, moving visit at any time of year.
Hiroshima & Miyajima tips
- Check the tide times — Miyajima’s torii “floats” at high tide and can be walked up to at low tide (both are worth seeing).
- Allow unhurried time at the Peace Memorial Museum; it’s powerful and deserves it.
- A Japan Rail Pass makes the shinkansen day trip excellent value.
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