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The old town of Hiroshima, Japan
asia

HiroshimaTravel Guide

Japan4 stories

A city of profound memory and remarkable rebirth on Japan's Seto Inland Sea, gateway to the floating torii of Miyajima.

Is Hiroshima right for you?

When to come

Spring and autumn

Around 33°C by day in August, 10°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

We publish a multi-day route for this one.

When to go
January: around 10 degrees by day, 2 at night, 46 millimetres of rain, some rain.
February: around 11 degrees by day, 2 at night, 64 millimetres of rain, some rain.
March: around 15 degrees by day, 5 at night, 118 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
April: around 20 degrees by day, 10 at night, 141 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
May: around 24 degrees by day, 15 at night, 170 millimetres of rain, very wet. We recommend this month.
June: around 27 degrees by day, 20 at night, 227 millimetres of rain, very wet.
July: around 31 degrees by day, 24 at night, 280 millimetres of rain, very wet.
August: around 33 degrees by day, 25 at night, 131 millimetres of rain, wet.
September: around 29 degrees by day, 21 at night, 163 millimetres of rain, very wet.
October: around 24 degrees by day, 15 at night, 109 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
November: around 18 degrees by day, 9 at night, 69 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
December: around 12 degrees by day, 4 at night, 54 millimetres of rain, some rain.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Spring and autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Hiroshima, 1991-2020 normals.

Where this comes from

Japan Meteorological Agency

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
  • Fukuoka210 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, April, May

  • Osaka280 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, April, May · a different price level (mixed)

  • Nara310 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, April, May

  • Kyoto310 km

    a short hop — comfortable overland · both good in March, April, November

Plan itWhere to stay in Hiroshimaad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Hiroshima

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Hiroshima

The skeletal dome and gutted brick shell of the Atomic Bomb Dome floodlit at night in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, its light laid in long ribbons across the black water of the Motoyasu river
01
The List

Hiroshima, Ranked: The Experiences You Cannot Miss

From the Peace Memorial Park to the floating torii of Miyajima and the city's beloved layered okonomiyaki — the essential Hiroshima experiences, in order.

Japan · 2 min
The floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Hiroshima Bay
02
Itineraries

Begin at Half Past Seven: Four Days in Hiroshima, in Order

The Peace Memorial Museum opens before most travellers are awake, and that single fact should decide the shape of everything that follows.

Japan · 11 min
Okonomiyaki savoury pancakes cooking on a hot teppan griddle, glossed with sauce and drizzled with mayonnaise
03
Food

Breakfast to Midnight: Eating Your Way Through Hiroshima

Layered okonomiyaki on a smoking griddle, bay oysters, maple-leaf cakes and late noodles — a full day of eating in Japan's great western food city.

Japan · 2 min
The five-storey wooden keep of Hiroshima Castle rising above green trees under a moody sky
04
Hidden Gems

The Backstreets and Local Haunts of Hiroshima

Past dusk, Hiroshima stops being a day trip: river paths, griddle-smoke alleys, temple valleys two stops out, and a night quarter of counter bars five minutes from the bullet train.

Japan · 13 min
Our picks

What we'd do in Hiroshima

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for Japan

Money

Japanese yen (JPY)

Language

Japanese; transport signage is well translated but spoken English is limited

Power

Type A/B, 100V — 50Hz in eastern Japan, 60Hz in the west

Getting around

A Suica, PASMO or ICOCA card covers trains, subways and buses nationwide, and the Shinkansen links the cities; since March 2026 many Tokyo-area operators also accept a contactless bank card at the gate.

Tipping

Not practised — leaving money can confuse or embarrass staff, and good service is simply part of the price.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink everywhere.

Driving

Left-hand side; a 1949 International Driving Permit is required alongside your national licence.

Emergency

110 (police), 119 (fire and ambulance)

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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