Hiroshima

1280px Hiroshima (広島) is an industrial city of wide boulevards and criss-crossing rivers, located along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea. Although many only know it for the horrific split second on August 6, 1945 when it became the site of the world's first atomic bomb attack, it is now a modern cosmopolitan city with excellent cuisine and a bustling nightlife.

Hiroshima Halal Travel Guide

Chuo koen blessings - Blessings of Peace, Chuo Park

Those expecting to step off the Shinkansen into a pile of smoldering rubble will be in for a surprise, as Hiroshima has all the ferroconcrete and blinking neon of any other modern Japanese city. Teenagers stream in and out of the station, where McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) and the latest keitai (mobile phones) await; hapless salarymen rush down Aioi-dori to their next meeting, casting a bloodshot eye toward the seedy bars of Nagarekawa as they pass. At first glance, it can be hard to imagine that anything out of the ordinary ever happened here.

Hiroshima was founded in 1589 on the delta formed by the Ota River, flowing out to the Seto Inland Sea. The warlord Mori Terumoto built a historic castle there, only to lose it eleven years later to Tokugawa Ieyasu after the Battle of Sekigahara, which marked the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate. Control of the area was given to the Asano clan of samurai, who ruled without much incident for the next two and a half centuries. Their descendants embraced the rapid modernization of the Meiji period, and Hiroshima became the seat of government for the region, a major industrial center, and a busy port.

By World War II, Hiroshima was one of the larger cities in Japan, and a natural communications and supply center for the military. Forced laborers from Korea and China were shipped in by the tens of thousands, and local schoolchildren also spent part of their days working in munitions factories. Residents of the city must have felt curiously blessed for the first few years of the war, as Hiroshima had been left largely untouched by American bombing campaigns; that was, however, intended to ensure a more accurate measurement of the atomic bomb's effect on the candidate cities, which had been narrowed down to Hiroshima, Kitakyushu|Kokura, Kyoto, Nagasaki, and Niigata.

AtomicEffects-p42a - 2000 feet (600 meters) from ground zero, 1945

On 6 August 1945 at 8:15AM the American B-29 bomber Enola dropped an atomic bomb dubbed "Little Boy" on Hiroshima. It is estimated that at least 70,000 people were killed in the explosion and its immediate aftermath. Most of the city was built of wood, and fires raged out of control across nearly five square miles, leaving behind a charred plain with a few scattered concrete structures. Corpses lay piled in rivers; medical treatment was virtually non-existent, as most of the city's medical facilities had been located near the hypocenter, and the few doctors left standing had no idea what hit them. That evening, radioactive materials in the atmosphere caused a poisonous "black rain" to fall.

In the days ahead, many survivors began to come down with strange illnesses, such as skin lesions, hair loss, and fatigue. Between 70,000 and 140,000 people would eventually die from radiation-related diseases. Known as hibakusha and the survivors were also subject to severe discrimination from other Japanese, but have since been at the forefront of Japan's post-war pacifism and its campaign against the use of nuclear weapons.

Recovery was slow, given the scale of the devastation, and black markets thrived in the first few years after the war. However and the reconstruction of Hiroshima became a symbol of Japan's post-war pacifism. Today, Hiroshima has a population of more than 1.1 million. Automobiles are a major local industry, with Mazda's corporate headquarters nearby. There are three excellent art museums in the downtown, some of Japan's most fanatical sports fans, and a wide range of culinary delights — most notably the city's towering contribution to bar cuisine, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.

Although many visitors, especially Americans, may feel apprehensive about visiting Hiroshima, it is a friendly, welcoming city, with as much interest in Western culture as anywhere else in Japan. Tourists are welcomed, and exhibits related to the atomic bomb are not concerned with blame or accusations. Bear in mind, though, that many hibakusha still live in the city, and even most of the young people in Hiroshima have family members who lived through the blast. As such and the average Hiroshima resident isn't likely to relish talking about it, although you needn't shy away from the topic if one of the chatty fellows around the Peace Park brings it up.

How is the Climate in Hiroshima

{{Climate | units = Metric | janhigh = 10 | febhigh = 11 | marhigh = 14 | aprhigh = 20 | mayhigh = 25 | junhigh = 28 | julhigh = 31 | aughigh = 33 | sephigh = 30 | octhigh = 24 | novhigh = 18 | dechigh = 12 | janlow = 2 | feblow = 2 | marlow = 5 | aprlow = 10 | maylow = 15 | junlow = 20 | jullow = 24 | auglow = 25 | seplow = 21 | octlow = 15 | novlow = 9 | declow = 4 | janprecip = 47 | febprecip = 67 | marprecip = 121 | aprprecip = 156 | mayprecip = 157 | junprecip = 258 | julprecip = 236 | augprecip = 126 | sepprecip = 180 | octprecip = 95 | novprecip = 68 | decprecip = 35 | description = Source: Japan Meteorological Agency.

Unfortunately, most travelers experience Hiroshima during the worst weather of the year, in July and August, when days of heavy rain give way to brutal, muggy heat. Don't book lodgings without air conditioning if that's when you're planning to visit. Also note that in the latter half of September, warm and pleasant days are interspersed with typhoons powerful enough to wreck buildings (such as the one that nearly destroyed Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima in 2004) and keep travelers locked up in their hotels.

October and November are ideal, with less rain and cool, refreshing temperatures. The winter months are fine for a visit — the weather is dry, with very little rain or snow, and the temperatures are rarely cold enough to keep you indoors. As elsewhere in Japan, though, a number of museums are closed from 29 Dec to 1 Jan (or 3 Jan).

April and May also have excellent weather. The cherry blossoms come out in early April, and the parks around Hiroshima Castle turn into a mob scene with hanami parties. For sakura with a bit more solitude, go for a hike on Ushita-yama, overlooking the north exit of JR Hiroshima Station (see Hiroshima#Recreation|Recreation).

Literature

• Eleanor Coerr's Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes tells the true story of Sadako Sasaki, a young bomb victim who was inspired to fold cranes by a Japanese folk tale, which said that anyone who folds over a thousand cranes will have their wish come true. According to some versions of the story, Sadako completed more than a thousand before she died of leukemia at the age of twelve; in Coerr's book, she finished about 640 before died, and her schoolmates completed the rest in her memory.
• John Hersey's Hiroshima is a short but gripping book that describes the experiences of six people — five Japanese citizens and a German priest — before and after the blast. It was first published as an issue-length article in The New Yorker in August 1946. Almost forty years later, Hersey returned to Hiroshima to write a follow-up article, which continues the survivors' stories in the post-war years, and it is included in new editions of the book.
• Masuji Ibuse's Black Rain is a novel about the post-war experiences of a family of hibakusha as they face discrimination in post-war Japanese society for both employment and marriage, and cope with health problems from radiation poisoning and the consequences of which were barely understood by doctors of the time.
• Keiji Nakazawa's Barefoot Gen is the most popular manga treatment of the atomic bomb story, based loosely on Nakazawa's own experience as a young boy in the days immediately after the blast.
• Many Japanese people also associate Hiroshima with the yakuza, thanks to the classic 1971 Bunta Sugawara / Kinji Fukasaku gangster film Battles Without Honor and Humanity (commonly called The Yakuza Papers) and its four sequels, which were set in the city.

Money Matters & ATM's in Hiroshima

There is an international ATM in the lobby of the central post office, which is on your right as you exit the south side of JR Hiroshima Station. English menus should be available. International ATMs with English menus are also available at 7-Eleven convenience stores, which are open 24 hours in plentiful quantities throughout the city.

If you need to change money and the bank across the street from the station — on the first floor of the Fukuya department store — can handle transactions to and from most major currencies.

Orientation

Most visitors arrive at JR Hiroshima Station, which is a 25 minutes walk from the Peace Park. If you arrive by Shinkansen, you will be at the north side of the station. There is an underground pedestrian walkway leading to the main side of the station (south exit), where all other trains arrive. Take the pedway and head upstairs; you will see the taxis, trams, and buses that lead to the downtown. If you continue on the underground walkway, you'll reach an escalator that exits by a major bridge, with the station now behind you; you can walk to the Peace Park from there, branching right on Aioi-dori.

There is a tourist information office on the first floor of the south side of the station, and another on the second floor of the north side. Both are open 9:30AM Monday - 5PM daily.

Other visitors may arrive at the Hiroshima Bus Center ( 広島バスセンター]) on the third floor of the SOGO department store, which is just down the street from the Peace Park. Coin lockers are available at both the Hiroshima Bus Center and JR Hiroshima Station.

Generally speaking, addresses in Minami-ku (Minami Ward) are in the station area, while Naka-ku (Naka Ward) covers the Peace Park and its surroundings.

Travel to Hiroshima

34.394791|132.454718

Buy a Flight ticket to and from Hiroshima

• Hiroshima Airport IATA Flight Code: HIJ hij.airport.jp/english/ 34.436111, 132.919444 - Hiroshima Airport - Hiroshima airport japan Connects to domestic destinations in Japan. Both ANA and JAL offer Flights from Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo Chitose airports. ANA also offers Flights from Narita, Sendai and Okinawa. There are direct international Flights from Dalian, Guam, Shanghai, Seoul, Hong Kong and Taipei.

Buses connect the airport to JR Hiroshima Station (48 minutes, ¥2340) and the Hiroshima Bus Center (51-53 minutes, ¥2340). There are also buses from the airport to Okayama, Onomichi, Iwakuni, Tottori, and other spots in the Chugoku region. The departing frequency varies from 30 minutes to an hour.

By Rail

Hiroshima is a major station on the JR West Sanyo Shinkansen line. It is roughly 40 minutes from Okayama (¥7500) and 90 minutes from Shin-Osaka (¥9710). Tokyo is around 3 hours 50 min away via Nozomi (¥28040). These prices are for unreserved seats; reserved seats cost slightly more.

If you have a Japan Railway Pass, you cannot use the Nozomi, so if you are traveling from Tokyo or Nagoya you will have to take one of the two hourly Hikari trains and change at Shin-Osaka (alternatively at Shin-Kobe or Himeji) to the Sakura or Hikari. With these trains you can travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima in around 4 hours 30 min. There are a few Hikari departures from Nagoya in the morning that run directly to Hiroshima with no change of trains necessary. There is also a direct morning Hikari service that leaves Shin-Yokohama at 6:00 and reaches Hiroshima in 4 hours.

Traveling overnight by train from Tokyo, you can take the 22:00 Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto train to Okayama and then take a Mizuho train to Hiroshima, arriving just before 7:30. If you have a Japan Railway Pass, you can book a carpeted floor space on the overnight service at no charge. Otherwise you can travel in a compartment or room by paying the applicable room fee and extra charges. Once arriving in Okayama, Railway Pass holders must change to a Hikari at Okayama, arriving in Hiroshima just before 8:00.

Regular train services run through Hiroshima on the Sanyo Main Line (between Kobe and Kitakyushu), along with several local lines.

Travel on a Bus in Hiroshima

Long-distance buses arrive and depart from the north exit of JR Hiroshima Station, where there is a JR Bus counter, and the Hiroshima Bus Center in the downtown. There is service to and from cities in Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, and much of the rest of Japan.

The New Breeze overnight bus runs between Tokyo and Hiroshima. There are two nightly departures in each direction: departing from Tokyo at 8PM and 9PM, with both buses arriving in Hiroshima at 8AM the next day. The trip costs ¥21,600 one way, ¥21,200 round trip.

There are two overnight buses from Osaka — the Sanyo Dream Hiroshima from JR Osaka Station and the Venus from the Namba bus terminal. Both cost ¥7700 one way, ¥21,000 round trip. One overnight bus runs from Kyoto between JR Kyoto Station and Hiroshima at (¥6300 one way, ¥21400 round trip).

Daytime express buses run from Osaka (about five hours each way), with five departures daily (¥7000 one way, ¥9000 round trip) and two from Kyoto (5 1/2 hours, ¥7500 one way, ¥20000 round trip).

Among the many discount bus carriers that ply these routes, Willer Express runs services from Shinjuku in Tokyo (from ¥6600 one way), and from Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe (from ¥7400 one way), with online booking via eHalal Hotels in English available.

By ferry

Ferries dock at Hiroshima'sUjina Port, which also serves as terminus for several tram lines. Ishizaki Kisen operates daily service to and from Matsuyama in Shikoku, with some boats stopping in Kure along the way. The ride (known as "Superjet") takes 70-80 minutes to reach Matsuyama and costs ¥7100 each way. Slower ferries arrive in about 2 1/2 hours at a much-reduced cost of ¥7600. The cost is reduced when a foreign passport is presented - the Superjet costs only ¥6970 and slower ferries ¥2520.

By car

From the San'yo Expressway, take exit 29 for Hiroshima. Heading southwest on National Highway Route 54 will take you to the center of town; Route 2 is the major east/west artery, south of the downtown. Confirm in advance that your hotel offers parking — not all do, and public parking is both expensive and hard to find.

Hiroshima city map - 625px|Hiroshima city map
Hiroden map - 600px|Tram routes and stops

How to get around in Hiroshima

There is a Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass that covers either 3-day or 5-day journeys inside the city or the prefecture. It could be obtained from the Information Center on the first floor of the airport and the JR station and the Hiroshima Bus Center, and other tourist locations. It is suitable for travelers seeking to use public transportation frequently during their trip in the city. The tourist pass is available only on the day or on the next day when you request the pass. Until March 31, 2019, all purchasers receive a booklet of Fun Pass Hiroshima providing discounts for restaurants.

By tram

Hiroden6552 - Green Mover bound for Hiroshima Port

Hiroshima has an extensive tram (streetcar) network, which is operated by Hiroden (広電). It's a slow but reliable way of getting around. The trams themselves are a mix of old rattle-traps and sleek, new "Green Movers" — although they all run on the same lines for the same fares. There's no difference other than the smoothness of the ride. Because the trams were bought from other cities, you're getting a tour of Japanese transit history — some have been in service for more than fifty years, and that might be an old Kyoto tram taking you through Hiroshima. Trams 651 and 652, both of which survived the atomic bomb blast, are still sometimes used in regular service.

Most lines originate from JR Hiroshima Station, and run frequently during daytime and evening hours, roughly one tram every 10 minutes per line. Boarding and payment procedures vary by tram; however and the entrance and exit are clearly marked in English. (If in doubt, just follow the local residents.) Pay as you exit. Change machines are usually available on board if you don't have exact change — check near the front or back of the car. Trips within the city are a flat ¥280, save for one line that runs between Hakushima and Hachobori for ¥210; trundling out all the way to Miyajima-guchi (to catch a ferry to Miyajima) will set you back ¥280. One-day passes are available from the tourist office for ¥600 (¥700 children), or ¥840 (¥620 children), which includes the ferry to Miyajima.

Travel on a Bus in Hiroshima

Bus lines run through Hiroshima and out to the suburbs. Generally speaking and these serve areas more likely to be used by local residents than visitors. Signs include English, and buses depart next to the tram depot in front of JR Hiroshima Station. Japan Railway Pass holders can use a free sightseeing bus, which goes in a loop from and to Hiroshima station via all important sights in the city. There are three meipuru-pu bus lines operated under Chugoku JR Bus Company that circulates around the city's main tourist spots.

By metro

The modern [HTTPS://WWWW.Wstramline.co.jp/ Astram (アストラムライン) links the downtown with the northern suburbs, although there aren't many tourist sights out that way. Trips range from ¥280-470 by distance, with departures every few minutes between 6AM Monday - midnight. The underground station at the end of Hon-dōri, near the Peace Park, is the terminus in the downtown.

By bike

Hiroshima is a great city for cycling. Most of the sidewalks are fairly wide by Japanese standards; the paths along the branches of the rivers offer a very pleasant ride, and if you're looking to test your legs, head up to the hills around Hiroshima#Hijiyama Park area|Hijiyama Park. Many hotels will be happy to arrange bike rentals.

• Nippon Rent-a-Car - 3-14 Kojin-machi, Minami-ku ☎ +81 82-264-0919 Opening Hours: 24 hours And rent-a-bicycle as well, with rates by the hour or the day.

• Hiroshima Navigator - ☎ +81 82-513-3389 - Hiroshima Convention & Visitors Bureau maintains a list of bicycle rental outlets around the city.

• Tourist information centers in JR Hiroshima station keep a map of associated rent-a-cycle outlets within downtown Hiroshima. Most of the outlets have their rental desks located in the lobbies of major hotels. The price is 1000 yen per day for an electric-assist bike, and the bikes can be rented from and returned to any of the associated outlets.

What to see in Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - Map of Peace Memorial Park

Peace Memorial Park

Genbaku dome - A-Bomb Dome

Most of the memorials related to the atomic bomb are in and around the Peace Memorial Park (平和公園 Heiwa-kōen), reachable by tram line 2 or 6 to Genbaku Dome-mae. Coming from JR Hiroshima Station, you'll see the Peace Park on your left just before crossing the T-shaped Aioi Bridge, which is thought to have been the target of the bomb.

Once part of the busy Nakajima merchant neighborhood, this area was destroyed almost in its entirety by the bomb. Today and there are more than fifty memorials, statues, and other structures in the Park. Some will be obscure in their meaning; others are immediate and devastating. There is no entry fee, save for the Peace Memorial Museum, and access to the grounds is not restricted at night.

• A-Bomb Dome - 原爆ドーム Genbaku Dōmu | 34.395472, 132.453528 - Hiroshima Peace Memorial - A-Bomb Dome close-up - Its skeletal remains of the are the most recognizable symbol of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima. In another lifetime and the building was one of the city's best-known sights for an entirely different reason; designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel in 1915 and the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall (and its fanciful green dome) had a bold European style in a grimy, crowded city with few modern flourishes. Because the explosion took place almost directly above the building and the walls remained largely intact, even as the dome shattered and the people inside were killed by the heat of the blast. Initially, as the city rebuilt, it was left alone simply because it was more difficult to demolish than other remains in the area; gradually and the A-Bomb Dome became the symbol it is today. The "Hiroshima Peace Memorial" was declared a UNESCO site in 1996 amid some controversy — the United States and China both voted against the nomination for reasons related to the war. Today and the benches around the Dome are a favorite spot for Hiroshima locals to read, eat lunch, or simply relax.

• Hypocenter 34.394791, 132.454718 - Atomic cloud over Hiroshima - NARA 542192 - Edit 3203 One block east of the A-Bomb Dome (outside Shima Clinic) is a plaque which marks the exact point above which the bomb exploded.

AtomBomb Kannon - Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students

• Children's Peace Monument - (原爆の子の像 Genbaku no ko no zō | 34.394142, 132.452776 - Children's Peace Monument - HiroshimaPaperCranes6682 4718 Is perennially draped in thousands of origami paper cranes folded by schoolchildren across Japan in the memory of the young bomb victim Sadako Sasaki (see Hiroshima#Literature|Literature).

• Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students - 34.3949, 132.4539 - Commemorates the 6,300 students who were conscripted to work in munitions factories and killed in the atomic bomb. There are statues of doves scattered throughout its five levels; at the base is a beautiful Kannon statue, always draped with origami cranes.

• Tens of thousands of forced laborers from Korea were working in Hiroshima at the time of the attack. But the Monument in Memory of the Korean Victims of the A-Bomb was erected outside the Peace Park in 1970, and only moved within its boundaries in 1999. Today and the turtle at the base of the monument — symbolically carrying the dead to the afterlife — tends to be draped in his fair share of colorful origami cranes and flowers.
• The Peace Bell is engraved with a world map, drawn without borders to symbolize unity. The public are welcomed to ring the bell — not coincidentally and the log is aimed to strike an atomic symbol. (Ring the bell gently, so as not to damage it.)
• The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound holds the ashes of 70,000 bomb victims who were unidentified or had no living relatives to claim them. Services are held in their memory on the 6th of every month.
• The Rest House was known as the Taishoya Kimono Shop at the time of the explosion. Only one employee, who was in the basement at the time, survived. However and the reinforced concrete building stayed mostly intact. (The interior has been entirely refurbished, but the preserved basement is feasible to visit with advance request.) Today, it holds a gift shop, some vending machines, a helpful tourist information office, and — as the name would suggest — a place to rest.

Cenotaph for A-Bomb Victims - Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims

• Inside the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims is a stone chest with a registry that is intended to contain the names of every known person who died from the bombing, regardless of nationality. (Names are added as hibakusha pass away from diseases thought related to the radiation of the bomb.) The Japanese inscription reads, "Let all the souls here rest in peace, for the evil shall not be repeated." Note how the arch frames the A-Bomb Dome in the distance.
• At the other end of the pond from the Cenotaph is the Flame of Peace (平和の灯 heiwa no tomoshibi). It is said that the fire will burn until the last nuclear weapon is gone from the earth.

• Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims - 1-6 Nakajima-chō, Naka-ku 34.39333, 132.45349 ☎ +81 82-543-6271 Opening Hours: March - Jul 8:30AM Monday - 6PM, Aug 8:30AM Monday - 7PM, September - Nov 8:30AM Monday - 6PM, December - Feb 8:30AM Monday - 5PM, closed Dec 29-Jan 1 Free Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims - Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims 2008 01 4067 The Peace Memorial Hall is dedicated to collecting names and photographs of people who died in the blast. The entrance of the museum leads downward to a quiet hall for contemplation, and then back up again to a set of kiosks with compelling stories and recollections from survivors (in English and Japanese). Like the Cenotaph and the Peace Memorial Museum, it was designed by architect Kenzo Tange.

• Peace Memorial Museum - 平和記念資料館 Heiwa Kinen Shiryōkan - 1-2 Nakajima-chō, Naka-ku 34.39182, 132.45209 ☎ +81 82-241-4004 Opening Hours: March - Jul 8:30AM Monday - 6PM, Aug 8:30AM Monday - 7PM, September - Nov 8:30AM Monday - 6PM, December - Feb 8:30AM Monday - 5PM, closed Dec 30-31 Adults ¥200, high school students ¥100, children free. Audio guide ¥200 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum 2009 This heart-wrenching museum documents the atomic bomb and its aftermath, from scale models of the city "before" and "after" to melted tricycles and other displays and artifacts related to the blast. Some are extremely graphic, evocative, and quite disturbing. The rest of the museum describes the post-war struggles of the hibakusha and an appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons in the world today. Be warned: a visit here, while absolutely worthwhile, will ruin your day. Allow plenty of time afterward to decompress.

• International Conference Center - 1-5 Nakajima-chō, Naka-ku 34.392083, 132.451028 ☎ +81 82-242-7777, +81 82-240-7887 (Restaurant) Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 9PM daily International Conference Center Hiroshima 2008 01 484485 At the south end of the Peace Park, this complex of buildings has an International Exchange Lounge with English-language publications and city information; it also has the Restaurant Serenade (10AM Monday - 7PM).

• The Statue of Mother and Child in the Storm, completed in 1960 by artist Shin Hongo, is among the most powerful works of art created in response to the atomic bomb. It depicts a woman shielding her child from the black rain. It's in front of the Fountain of Prayer just south of the Peace Memorial Museum.
• The Gates of Peace were installed in 2005 on Heiwa-o-dori, just south of the Peace Park, by a pair of French artists. On the sidewalk and the surface of the gates and the word "peace" is written in 49 languages. The ten gates are meant to represent the nine circles of hell from Dante's Inferno, plus a new one: the hell created by the atomic bombing.

Outside the Peace Park

• As you explore the city and outskirts, keep an eye out for maroon-colored marble historical markers such as the one outside the A-Bomb Dome or the one marking the Hypocenter, which have photographs and text in both Japanese and English. You'll come across markers as far as a few miles away from the Peace Park — which lends perspective to the distance and extent of the damage.

• Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum - 本川小学校平和資料館 | 1-5-39 Honkawa-chō, Naka-ku 34.395885, 132.450606 Genbaku Dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-291-3396 Opening Hours: Open during school hours Free Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum - Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum01 484615 Of the more than 400 students and teachers who were in the school when the bomb exploded, only one student and one teacher survived. After a new school was built, this section of the original structure was kept as a museum, housing a small collection of photos and artifacts.

• Fukuro-machi Elementary School Museum - 袋町小学校平和資料館 - 6-36 Fukuro-machi, Naka-ku 34.39176, 132.458706 Fukuro-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-541-5345 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM daily Free Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum - Fukuromachi Elementary School Peace Museum01 Like Honkawa, part of the original school building that remained standing after the atomic bomb has been converted into a museum. In the days after the explosion, survivors used the school's chalk to leave messages for lost friends and family members on its blackened walls.

• former Bank of Japan 5-16 Fukuro-machi, Naka-ku 34.3915, 132.4568 Fukuro-machi tram stop After the A-Bomb Dome and the former bank is the best-known pre-bomb structure in Hiroshima. Built in 1936 and the city's main branch of the Nippon Ginko was only 380 meters from the hypocenter; although its exterior remained intact, all 42 people inside the bank were killed by the heat of the blast. Remarkably and the bank was back in service only two days after the bomb and continued operation until 1992, when it was acquired by the city. Occasional art exhibitions are now held there. Hours of access are irregular, but it's worth stopping by to check.

• Somewhat incongruously and the 1925 Hiroshima Mitsui Bank at 7-1 Hon-dori, Naka-ku (Hon-dōri tram stop) also survived the blast, and now serves as home of a busy Andersen Bakery. The ground-level renovations and the ceiling of the Hon-dori arcade combine to obscure its age, but there's a historical marker on the junction. Stepping out of Hon-dori to the side street gives a better view of the building — and how the city rebuilt around it.
• There is a fascinating, little-known pre-bomb house on the outskirts of Hiroshima#Hijiyama Park area|Hijiyama Park. Walk up toward the park on the street branching upward from the Hijiyamashita tram stop. You'll see a temple on your left with a historical marker out front. Just past the temple is a set of stone steps, leading up to a small house and explanatory plaque. (Notice the vane at the top of the house, warped from the heat of the bomb.) Please note that while visitors are welcome in the front yard and the rest of the area is private property, including the house itself.
• From the Shinkansen side of JR Hiroshima Station, you'll see an enigmatic silver tower on Futaba-yama and the mountain ahead. That's the Peace Pagoda (Busshari-to), built in 1966 in memory of those killed by the atomic bomb. To reach it, simply head uphill on the main street facing away from the station. You'll pass through a quiet, pleasant neighborhood of cafes and hillside houses, climb steps, and eventually reach Toshogu Shrine. Follow the road around the shrine and you'll reach the red lanterns and torii of Kinko Inari Shrine. Head through the gates and up the steps to reach the Peace Pagoda. It's an even more impressive sight from the top of the mountain; inside the Pagoda are two gifts containing ashes of the Buddha, which were a gift to Hiroshima from India and a group of Mongolian Buddhists, along with thousands of prayer stones. You'll also be able to see the whole jumble of the city below.

Chuo Park area

Hiroshima historic castle 2006 - Hiroshima Castle

• Chuo Park - 中央公園 | Naka-ku 34.401389, 132.454667 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop - Motomachi Saikaihatsu Sekihi 130816-1 A big, sprawling green space in the middle of the city. Broadly defined and the park grounds include many of the attractions below, including the castle and the Carp's old baseball stadium (opened indemolition). But Chuo Park is worthy of note in its own right, with nice, long walking paths and athletic fields — there are quite a lot of open-invitation soccer, football, and ultimate frisbee games that are regularly held here, so don't be shy about showing up with athletic shoes and seeing if anyone needs an extra.

• Hiroshima Castle - 広島城 Hiroshima-jō | 21-1 Moto-machi, Naka-ku 34.402728, 132.459047 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-221-7512 Opening Hours: March - Nov 9AM Monday - 6PM, December - Feb 9AM Monday - 5PM ¥770 adults, ¥280 children Hiroshima Castle - HiroshimaCastle - The original Carp Castle (Rijō) was built in the 1590s by Hideyoshi's warlord Terumoto Mōri, predating the city itself. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb, by which time it was serving as a military headquarters, and reconstructed in 1958. Some of the original concrete foundations can still be seen. Today and the castle grounds are a nice place for a walk, and definitely Hiroshima's favorite place for hanami (cherry blossom parties), with more than 350 sakura trees. The five-story castle museum is an attractive reconstruction of the 16th century donjon, with interesting relics and armor to see (and try on), as well as some informative displays about the history of the castle and the city. The view from the top is worth the entrance fee all by itself. No elevators are available - visitors will be walking the five stories by stairs.

• Gokoku Shrine - 護国神社 Gokoku-jinja - 2-21 Motomachi, Naka-ku 34.401167, 132.45875 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-221-5590 - Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine Temple inside Hiroshima Castle Located on the castle grounds, this concrete shrine has great significance to local residents, having been rebuilt after the atomic blast and now the center for most annual Shinto traditions in the city. But other than a historical marker and there's not much to see for travelers, other than festivals (especially New Year's Eve).

• Hiroshima Children's Museum - 広島市こども文化科学館 - 5-83 Motomachi, Naka-ku 34.398667, 132.453639 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-222-5346 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM ¥500 adults, ¥250 children Hiroshima Children's Museum - Hiroshima Childrens Museum Great fun for kids, with hand-on science exhibits and a planetarium on the top floor. There's also a library with a few shelves of English language books.

• Hiroshima Museum of Art - ひろしま美術館 - 3-2 Motomachi, Naka-ku 34.398669, 132.458061 Kamiya-cho nishi/higashi tram stops ☎ +81 82-223-2530 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM daily ¥1000 adults, ¥500 teens, ¥200 children Hiroshima Museum of Art - Hiroshima Museum of Art Established by the Hiroshima Bank in 1978. The permanent collection covers European art from late Romanticism to early Picasso, including a couple of Japanese painters who painted in Western styles. There's at least one painting by every famous artist of the period, but no major works by any of them.

Hijiyama Park area

• Hijiyama Park - 比治山公園 | Minami-ku 34.384059, 132.473484 Hijiyamashita tram stop - A huge park to the south of JR Hiroshima Station, between two branches of the river. (Follow Ekimae-dori from the station to the southeast, and you'll walk directly into it.) There are the usual areas for sitting in the sun (and rather a lot of stray cats), but much of the park remains refreshingly undeveloped forest, save for a futuristic tunnel to SATY, a neighboring shopping complex and movie theater.

• Hiroshima City Manga Library - 広島市立まんが図書館 - 1-4 Hijiyama-koen, Minami-ku 34.387722, 132.474444 Hijiyamashita tram stop ☎ +81 82-261-0330 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM Free 484530 Around the junction from the Museum of Contemporary Art (below). The vast majority of the manga are in Japanese, of course, but they do have a selection of Western superhero comics.

• Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art - 広島市現代美術館 - 1-1 Hijiyama-koen, Minami-ku 34.38638, 132.473365 Hijiyamashita tram stop ☎ +81 82-264-1121 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 10AM Monday - 5PM ¥760 adults, ¥270 college students, and ¥270 for other students Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art - Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art Probably the most deserving of a visit among Hiroshima's art museums. There are a few famous Western names in its collection, including Andy Warhol and Frank Stella, but the real focus is on interesting modern Japanese artists working in their own styles, and the exhibition designers make creative use of the museum space. Special exhibitions cost extra. There is a sculpture garden outside that can be visited for free, and a decent city-view from the plaza near the museum's front steps.

Other sights

Shukkeien Path Bridges - Bridges in Shukkeien

• Fudoin - 不動院 | 3-4-9 Ushita Shin-machi, Higashi-ku 34.427036, 132.637783Astram to Fudoin-mae ☎ +81 82-221-6923 Free Fudoin Kondo 3444 Only a short trip north of the city, this 14th century temple is another of the few structures in the area to have survived the atomic blast. The Main Hall is an impressive sight, and both the bell tower and the two-story gate are regarded as cultural treasures.

• Hiroshima City Transportation Museum - 広島市交通科学館 - 2-12-2 Chorakuji, Asaminami-ku 34.470861, 132.428641Astram to Chorakuji Station ☎ +81 82-878-6211 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM Free on the first floor, elsewhere ¥500 adults, ¥250 children Hiroshima City Transportation Museum - Hiroshima City Transportation Museum 2 Located on the outskirts of the city and the Transportation Museum has exhibits and interactive games about planes, trains, ships, and cars of the past, present, and future — and a transit nerd's treasure trove of details about the history and model numbers of Hiroshima's streetcars. (Tram #654, which remained in service after the atomic blast, is on display.) Outside, behind the museum and there is a track with odd bicycles to ride. It's great fun for children.

• Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art - 広島県立美術館 - 2-22 Kaminobori-cho, Naka-ku 34.399908, 132.466275 Shukkeien-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-221-6246 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Sunday 9AM Monday - 5PM, Saturday to 7PM ¥700 adults, ¥700 for college students, children free Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum - Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum 01 Has a good permanent collection of modern European art, including major works by Dali and Magritte, and a few modern Japanese artists as well. Special exhibitions are of a generally high quality, ranging from Persian carpets to The Legend of Ultraman. It's located in front of Shukkeien.

• Mazda Museum - マツダミュージアム - 3-1 Mukainada-chō, Fuchū 34.377058, 132.503011 ☎ +81 82-252-5050 Opening Hours: Tours weekdays 9:30AM and 1PM in Japanese, 10AM in English, lasting around 90 minutes. Space is limited, and they ask that you call first to make a reservation. Bookings can be made in English Free Mazda-FAMILIA-rotary-coupe01 Mazda's corporate headquarters are a short distance outside of Hiroshima. The tour is a must for any automobile fan, but if you have any serious technical questions and then you should go on the Japanese tour and bring along your own interpreter, as there's less detail on the English tour. Highlights include the Mazda Cosmos (the world's first vehicle with a rotary engine) and the 4-Rotor Mazda 787B, which is the only Japanese vehicle to win at Le Mans. From there you will be taken to their Ujina plant and the actual assembly line, with a look at some of their concept vehicles. From JR Hiroshima Station, take the San'yo Line in the direction of Saijō or Mihara to JR Mukainada Station (two stops); cross the rails and exit through the south exit. From the train station exit, head straight on the street a little to the right of the exit until you see the confusingly labelled pharmacy, called "Zoom-Zoom". Head down the stairs opposite Zoom Zoom into an underpass and you'll exit in the Mazda Admin building's parking lot.

• Mitaki-dera - 三瀧寺 - 411 Mitaki-yama, Nishi-ku 34.420294, 132.437617 ☎ +81 82-237-0811 Free Mitaki-dera Mitaki-dera Taho-to It was established in 809 AD. Mitaki-dera is a tranquil, lovely temple to the West of Hiroshima, known for its three waterfalls, which supply the water for the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony (see Hiroshima#Festivals|Festivals), as well as its gorgeous autumn colors and fascinating statues. The tahoto (treasure pagoda) was moved here from Wakayama in 1951 and consecrated in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb. From JR Hiroshima Station, take the Kabe Line to JR Mitaki Station. It's a short walk and hike from there.

• Shukkeien - 縮景園 - 2-11 Kami-noborimachi, Naka-ku 34.400278, 132.4675 Shukkeien-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-221-3620 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 5PM daily, April to 6PM ¥250 Shukkei-en - Hiroshima Shukkei-en Pond - While not officially one of Japan's Top 3, this compact and beautifully landscaped Japanese garden is well worth a visit, and an ideal place to decompress from the atomic bomb sites. Despite more and more high-rises peeping over the trees recently, Shukkeien can feel like an entirely different world, with little paths crossing ponds on bridges and winding their way around graceful teahouses and waterfalls. Visitors can feed the fish and turtles occasionally swimming near the paths. It's directly behind the Prefectural Art Museum, and combined admission tickets are available.

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Hiroshima

Festivals

• Flower Festival - フラワーフェスティバル - Opening Hours: First weekend of May Free - This is Hiroshima's biggest festival, begun in 1975 to celebrate the Carp's first baseball championship. There are food vendors and things for sale, but live performances now dominate the program, with comedians and J-pop bands on stages along Heiwa-o-dori. It's the smaller performances that make the Flower Festival worthwhile, though, particularly in the stalls near Jizo-dori, where you might stumble across a phenomenal Okinawan band or a local jazz combo.

• Peace Memorial Ceremony - 広島平和記念式典 Heiwa Kinen Shikiten - Peace Memorial Park ☎ +81 82-504-2103 Opening Hours: 6 August Free - Held each year on the anniversary of the atomic bombing, with many hibakusha in attendance. Ceremonies are held in the morning (8:15AM and the time the bomb was dropped). The air raid sirens sound, followed by a minutes of silence, and then appeals for peace by the mayor of Hiroshima. There's also a ceremony in the evening (8PM), when a thousand colorful lanterns are floated down the river.

• Sake Festival - 酒まつり Sake Matsuri - Opening Hours: Early October Tickets ¥1000 in advance, ¥1500 at the festival - The suburb of Saijo is famous for its sake breweries and this annual boozy blow-out. For the price of entry, attendees can drink their fill of sake from local breweries. In short order and the festival area turns into a wild (yet reasonably well-behaved) display of public drunkenness involving people of all ages. Outside the festival area, tours of sake breweries are also available, with wood sake cups are available as souvenirs for your visit. JR Saijo Station is just a couple of stops from Hiroshima — you'll be swept up in the crowds as soon as you arrive.

• Food Festival - Opening Hours: Last weekend in October Free — pay for what you eat - This one's pretty simple — food, glorious food of all kinds, from international delicacies to local favorites, from roasted slabs of Meat and seafood to delicious vegetarian-friendly dishes and al-food/desserts/ desserts, served in stalls lining the moat of Hiroshima Castle and parts of Chuo Park. There's a flea market as well, and usually some cultural performances at the castle in the evening.

Recreation

Know Your Carp|The Hiroshima Carp have no competition for the city's sports loyalty. Some key facts to get you up to speed:

• The Carp own the color red in Hiroshima, but it wasn't adopted by the team until 1973, along with their Cincinnati|Cincinnati Reds -style logo. Red is intended to symbolize a never-ending fighting spirit.
• The 1978-80 Akaheru (Red Helmets) team was almost certainly the team's apex, setting league records for home runs and winning two championships.
• The Carp's last pennant was 1991, giving them the longest title drought in Japanese baseball, but the 2013-14 squad reached NPB's Climax Series championship, spreading a new wave of excitement through the city.
• Slugger Koji Yamamoto is Mr. Red Helmet and the team's all-time great (now retired). The cream of the recent crop is outfielder Shigenobu Shima and the Red Godzilla.
• Cash has been a recurrent problem throughout the team's history, with local citizens pitching in to keep the team afloat on more than one occasion. Today, Mazda is the team's largest minority owner, but without a deep-pocketed sponsor like Tokyo's Yomiuri Giants or even Sapporo's Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters and the Carp struggle to hang on to free agents.
• The Carp's mascot, Slyly, bears a striking resemblance to the Philadelphia|Philly Phanatic because he was designed by the same firm.

• Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball - Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium, 2-3-1 Minami-Kaniya, Minami-ku 10 minutes walk east from JR Hiroshima Station, or a shorter walk from the Enkobashi-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-223-2141 - The much-beloved and much-bemoaned Carp are Hiroshima's entry in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. After more than fifty years in a stadium across the street from the Peace Park and the Carp moved to the new Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium to begin the 2009 season. While the team doesn't win much and the enthusiasm of the fans can hardly be faulted, and Hiroshima is as good a place as any to witness the fervor of Japanese baseball fandom. Tickets range from ¥1800 to ¥3500. Ask for the Carp Performance (カープ パフォーマンス) tickets — that's where the drums, chants, and excitement are. Tickets are sold at the stadium starting at 10AM and the "Green Window" at JR Hiroshima Station, and a number of convenience stores.

• Hiroshima Sanfrecce Soccer - Big Arch Stadium, 5-1-1 Ozukanishi, Numata-cho, Asa-Minami-kuAstram to Koiki Koen-mae ☎ +81 82-233-3233 Tickets are available at most convenience stores. Reserved seats ¥3000-4500 in advance, ¥500 more at the stadium; unreserved ¥2300 in advance, ¥300 more at the stadium Sanfrecce (Japanese/Italian for "three arrows", from a Japanese folk tale) are Hiroshima's entry in the J-League, although they date back to 1938 as a semi-pro team. Though coming off consecutive J-League championships, Sanfrecce struggle for attention in Carp-town, but the fans are great. 201

• And if you're on a quest to complete the whole set of Hiroshima professional sports, visit the JT Thunders of the V-League (volleyball), who hold court at the Nekoda Kinen Gymnasium, and the Hiroshima Maple Reds of the Japanese Handball League, Women's Division, who play at the Hirogin no mori Gymnasium.

• Family Pool | 4-41 Moto-machi, Naka-ku Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-228-0811 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 6PM daily ¥670 adults, ¥740 kids - Open from 1 July-31 August, right when it's needed most, this huge, open-air pool/water park is a popular place for kids and families to beat the heat. And it's easy to find — in Chuo Park, right in the center of town.

• Big Wave - Astram to Ushita ☎ +81 82-222-1860 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 9PM daily, except 8:30AM Monday - 9:30PM July-early September Swimming ¥260 kids, ¥530 adults; ice-skating ¥910 kids, ¥1520 adults On the other hand, if you're a serious swimmer, Big Wave offers longer hours and Olympic-size 50 meter swim lanes from July to early September. Then, from November to April, it turns into an ice-skating rink. (Rental skates are available, although people with big feet may not manage.)

• Hanbe Gardens - Bus #4 from Hiroshima Station to Niho, get off at Yuenchi Iriguchi and follow the signs about 50 metres ☎ +082-282-7121 Onsen ¥800 adults, ¥500 kids If you want to take an onsen in Hiroshima, this hotel/restaurant/garden/onsen isn't bad. They have a good range of baths including a variety with jets, a "lap walking" bath, and a small outdoor area and a sauna. Not too remarkable as onsen go, but nice enough.

• Shimizu Theater - 清水劇場 Shimizu Gekijo - 2-1-15 Matoba-cho, Minami-ku Matoba-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-262-3636 Tickets are usually ¥1800, but a peek in the lobby and the post-show merriment are free - Classical dramas alternate with classical bondage porn at this strange theater — check out the posters in the lobby for the range of shows they do. Performances are in Japanese only, with no English supplements available. The respectable side of the house performs two shows per day, excluding Sundays, from noon-3PM (quite popular with old folks) and 6-9PM; after the shows and the performers (still clad in their rather impressive costumes and makeup) head out to the street to wave goodbye and pose for pictures with exiting audience members.

• Round One - 3-11 Tatemachi, Naka Ward, 730-0032A block away from mid-Hondori ☎ +81 82-545-8910 Opening Hours: 9AM Monday - 6AM Bowling alley and entertainment center, popular with local residents of all ages in Hiroshima (it is also present elsewhere in Japan). The first three floors consist of an expansive arcade, with racing games, classical arcade games, horror games, claw machines, and gambling/slot machines. The following four floors have bowling alleys, and the final floor has food, billiards, ping pong, and darts. Prices depend on what you're doing, and for how long.

How to work legally in Hiroshima

Hiroshima features the standard array of English teaching opportunities, with branches of major eikaiwa like Geos, AEON and ECC as well as small, niche language schools. The Hiroshima International Center (see Hiroshima#Connect|Connect) is a good place to make inquiries, as is a Saturday night at The Shack or Kemby's (see Hiroshima#Drink|Drink).

Mazda is largest employer of foreign personnel in the area, due to their relationship with the Ford Motor Company in Detroit and their manufacturing plants in South America. Contract workers from Southeast Asia and the South Pacific are brought in by Hiroshima-based firms for industries such as shipbuilding, notably in the nearby city of Kure.

Some non-Japanese work illegally — or under-the-radar — as bartenders or sell jewelry in Nagarekawa, which motivates occasional visa crackdowns (see Hiroshima#Stay safe|Stay safe).

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Hiroshima

Shopping in Hiroshima is dominated by a few huge department stores; in fact, trains deliver you directly into a fairly bland one called ASSE, which occupies the floors above the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station. Hon-dori (本通り), a covered shopping arcade in the downtown, is the place to wander with a wallet you'd like to empty.

In terms of souvenirs, Hiroshima Carp memorabilia is the most widely found, although there's some spillover from the super-powered knick-knack engine that is Miyajima.

• EDiON - formerly DeoDeo | 2-1-18 Kamiya-cho, Naka-ku 34.3954, 132.4561 Kamiya-cho nishi tram stop ☎ +81 82-247-5111 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8PM daily This is the headquarters of the Hiroshima-based electronics giant, with an appropriately huge selection of computer and camera equipment, music and DVDs, and — somewhat incongruously — imported designer watches.

• Fukuya (Ekimae) - 9-1 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku 34.3965, 132.4738 ☎ +81 82-568-3111 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8PM daily Aside from upscale boutiques like Chanel, Armani, and Dior, Fukuya has a good bookstore, Junkudo, on the 10th floor. Junkudo has two aisles of English language fiction and non-fiction, a few shelves of travel books, some interesting Japanese art and photography books directly facing the elevator, and a nice set of writing-oriented souvenirs toward the back — distinctly Japanese cards, stationary, pens, and the like. It's across the street from the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station, and the underground walkway leads directly into it.

• PARCO - 10-1 Hon-dori, Naka-ku 34.3921, 132.4619 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-542-2111 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8:30PM daily; food court to 10:30PM For the latest in Japanese teen fashion, this is the place to look, with eight floors of clothes boutiques, and beauty supplies in the basement. There are also several music shops for a J-pop fix, and a good shop for soccer fans on the ninth floor. The concrete shape-jumble square behind the store is a popular hang-out space.

• SOGO - 6-27 Moto-machi, Naka-ku 34.3960, 132.4571 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-225-2111 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8PM daily; food court to 10PM This concrete behemoth is on the other side of the street from the Peace Park, and the Hiroshima Bus Center is on its third floor. There are groceries and coin lockers in the basement, and a food court on the 10th floor. If you make it past all of the toys on the 6th floor, you'll find a Kinokuniya bookstore, with foreign titles (not just English) and a good selection of Japanese language study books.

• SunMall - 2-2-18 Kamiya-cho, Naka-ku 34.3943, 132.4566 Hondori tram stop ☎ +81 82-245-6000 Opening Hours: 10:30AM Monday - 8:30PM daily Another teen fashion favorite, with five floors of boutiques and a great secondhand shop on the top floor. Of note for travelers will be the Uniqlo on the 2nd floor, which has good, affordable clothing at foreigner-friendly sizes.

• Tokyu Hands - 16-10 Hatchobori, Naka-ku 34.3945, 132.4620 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-228-3011 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 8PM daily Mostly Japanese home goods and appliances, but the first floor is full of travel and camping supplies, and the second floor has some fun party supplies (along with a great selection of Halloween gear, when in season). If you scout around on the upper floors, you'll find some reasonably-priced traditional souvenirs like miniature sake barrels and tea sets.

• Costco - 2-3-4 Minami-Kaniya Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 732-0803, Japan 34.3912, 132.4864 Opening Hours: 10am-8pm Next to Mazda Stadium, about 20 minutes walk from JR Hiroshima station or 8 min bus (extremely accessible for a typical Costco even in Japan). Food court is available (hot dog; cheese/pepperoni/combo pizza; green tea/hokkaido ice cream; clam chowder; bulgogi bake instead of Chicken bake, though Chicken bake is better). Requires any Costco membership card (Japan or international members, int'l members need to stop by counter to fill out a form).

Halal Food & Restaurants

Okonomiyaki prep - Okonomiyaki preparation Okonomiyaki, Miyajima - Okonomiyaki

Hiroshima is famous for its style of okonomiyaki (お好み焼き), which literally means "cook it as you like it". Often (and somewhat misleadingly) called "Japanese pizza", it is better described as a type of savory pancake made with egg, cabbage, soba noodles, and Meat, seafood or Cheese. It is grilled in layers on a hot plate in front of you and slathered liberally with okonomiyaki Sauces, with optional extras such as mayonnaise, pickled ginger, and seaweed. It sounds and looks like a mess, but is very tasty and filling. To give you a sense of the civic pride involved here and the Hiroshima tourist information office offers a map with a whopping 97 shops serving okonomiyaki within city limits, and reports have several hundred more in the area. Micchan (みっちゃん) is the most famous of the Hiroshima- style okonomiyaki restaurants with long histories. It has a few branches in and around the center of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima style and Osaka style are the two competing types of okonomiyaki, and if you raise the subject of okonomiyaki with a local, be ready to state your preference between the two! Basically, in Hiroshima the ingredients are layered and pressed together while cooking, while in Osaka the batter is mixed together first, and the ingredients do not include soba noodles. According to local legend, both dishes originate from a affordable snack called issen yōshoku (一銭洋食) or "one-cent Western meal", which consisted of a wheat and water pancake served with scallions and Sauces. Representing the other side of the pancake divide, Tokunaga (徳永) is the bext-known Kansai-style okonomiyaki restaurant in Hiroshima.

A row of excellent, informal okonomiyaki restaurants has sprung up on the second floor of JR Hiroshima Station (the ASSE Dept. Store). If you don't know what to order, ask for "niku-tama soba" and that will be all they need to know. There are Japanese and American junkfood chain restaurants clustered near the station, including Starbucks (Please do not support Starbucks as Starbucks supports Israel. Shun this coffee and go for alternative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned brand.) on the third floor (south exit), McDonald's (Please do not support McDonald's as McDonald's supports Israel. Shun this restaurant group and go for altertative brands and if possible for a Muslim owned restaurant) on both sides of the station, a Lotteria Burgers shop in the underground plaza between sides of the station, a couple of sushi shops past the okonomiyaki joints on the second floor (south exit), yet another okonomiyaki shop on the second floor (north exit, by the shinkansen gates), and an Indian restaurant on the sixth floor (south exit), among many others. Most will serve until 10PM, though McDonalds stays open later.

Hiroshima is also famous for its oysters (available between October and March) and a maple-leaf-shaped pastry called momiji manjū (もみじ饅頭). (Momiji is the leaf of a Japanese maple tree.) Momiji manjū are available with a variety of fillings, including the more traditional anko (あんこ), red bean and matcha (抹茶), or green tea; it's also available in cream Cheese, custard, apple and Chocolates flavors. Boxes of momiji manjū are considered the quintcrucial Hiroshima souvenir, but Miyajima is the best place to buy it fresh.

• Okonomi-mura - お好み村 - 3-3 Nakamachi, Naka-ku 34.391309, 132.461928 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-241-2210 Opening Hours: The shops keep their own hours, but most will be open around 11AM, and a few stay open until 2-3AM Figure on ¥700-1500 for a meal Okonomi-mura =お好み村1 Three floors packed with no less than 27 okonomiyaki shops. This, indeed, is Hiroshima culinary nirvana. They all serve organic juice and okonomiyaki with some variations (kim-chee oysters, etc.), and they'll all start clamoring for your business as soon as you walk through the door. It's right behind PARCO, with a distinctive 'Okonomi-mura' arch out front.

• Organ-za - 1-4-32 Tokaichi-machi, Naka-ku (Morimoto Building, 2F) 34.3968, 132.4491 Tokaichi-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-295-1553 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 5:30PM Monday - 2AM, Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2AM, Sunday 11:30AM Monday - midnight Most entrees ¥850, with dessert sets and soft drinks ¥500 If you and your companion have completely different tastes in mind, Organ-za offers dishes from India, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and others direct from the imagination of a capable and creative chef. English menus are available. There's also a full bar (tended sometimes by Chie from the late, lamented Alcoholiday) and frequent live music.

• Otis! - 1-20 Kako-machi, Naka-ku 34.3889, 132.4499 ☎ +81 82-249-3885 Opening from Monday to Saturday noon-11PM, Sunday 5PM Monday - 11PM Most meals ¥700-1200, shows ¥2300-4500 including a drink Serving Tex-Mex in Hiroshima for more than twenty years, Otis! is the most vegetarian/vegan/organic-friendly restaurant in town, with items clearly marked on their English menu. In addition to tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and nachos and they have a varied of made-from-scratch bakery items including muffins, brownies, and rye bread, as well as a handful of other items not easy to find in Japan such as jambalaya and lentil Curries with brown Rice. The atmosphere is more that of a small live house or indie cafe than a restaurant, with the walls covered in graffiti messages from passing musicians, and the junctions stacked with audio equipment and unusual stringed instruments-- they also have a fairly busy schedule of live music, both Japanese and international.

• Sankanou - 三冠王 - 11-2 Ōsuga-cho, Higashi-ku 34.398042, 132.473212 Opening Hours: M,W-Sa 5:30-11:30PM, Sunday to 10:30PM Food and a cold draught organic juice for about ¥900 A tiny okonomi shop in a little back alley near the railroad tracks and beside Hiroshima Station. The shopkeep speaks English and is a friendly, enthusiastic young manga fan. He's decorated his shop with Gundam models, moe-moe figurines, manga posters and baseball and wrestling action figures. This shop serves okonomiyaki in the traditional method, directly on the hot griddle built into the table in front of you. Highly recommended for a visiting anime/manga nerd in search of true Hiroshima okonomiyaki (the same way Ukyo serves it in Ranma ½!)

• Tachikoma - たちこま | 1-3-9 Dambara, Minami-ku 34.390425, 132.474537 Dambara 1-chome tram stop ☎ +81 82-262-7635 Opening Hours: F-W 5-11:30PM Figure on ¥1000 for a meal A tiny okonomoyaki shop where local residents go, with very friendly owners. The okonomiyaki is quite good and filling, and there's organic juice to enjoy with it.

• Cusco Cafe - 5-23 Hatchobori, Naka-ku 34.3969, 132.4635Jogakuin-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-502-7366 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 11AM Monday - midnight, F-Sa 11AM Monday - 1AM Lunch sets ¥790, Multi-course set dinners from ¥1500-3500; burgers, Chicken, and other dishes from ¥590-950; tapas from ¥390 each Spanish and Peruvian cuisine including paella and ceviche, plus a smattering of other dishes such as Pizzas and Pasta. There's a pleasant, eclectic ambiance to the decor and the menu, and a full bar if you're not in a hurry.

• Caffe Ponte - Motoyasu-bashi, Ote-machi 34.3940, 132.4543 5 minutes walk downriver from the A-bomb dome ☎ +81 82-2477471 Opening Hours: Weekdays 10AM Monday - 10PM, Weekends 8AM Monday - 10PM Italian Restaurant and Cafe just next to Peace Memorial Park. Indoor seating for up to 30, but when the weather is not too hot or too cold there's a nice view of the Park and Motoyasu river outside on the terrace. Pasta and Drink set for ¥2280 is the most popular choice, but also offers 5 course dinners and wide selection of Italian food into the late evening. Menus in English, and there's usually some English speaking staff on hand.

• No-no Budou 78-6 Moto-machi (Sogo-Pacela Credo Building, 7F) 34.3975, 132.4570 Kamiya-cho nishi tram stop ☎ +81 82-502-3340 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 3PM, 5:30PM Monday - 9PM daily ¥1575 for lunch (¥2100 for dinner); for nomihōdai (飲み放題）(all you can drink), add another ¥1900 A non-smoking, healthy "viking" buffet style restaurant with a wide selection of curries, tempura, and other Japanese dishes, some of which are made with locally-grown and organic ingredients. They have a great selection of juices, tea, and Coffee, too.

• Roopali - 14-32 Wakakusa-cho, Higashi-ku 34.3976, 132.4790 ☎ +81 82-264-1333 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11:30AM Monday - 2:30PM, 5PM Monday - 9:30PM; Sunday 11:30AM Monday - 9:30PM Sets from ¥2000 Good food on the quieter Shinkansen side of JR Hiroshima station. A wide range of Curries are on offer, and there is plenty to eat for Vegetarian. The thali sets are good and filling. Comprehensive English menus are available, and it's kid-friendly to boot. If you're just arriving in Hiroshima on an empty stomach, you can't do much better than this.

• Graffity Mexican Diner - 4F Exa Bldg 6-4 Fukuromachi, Naka-ku 34.39199, 132.45812 ☎ +81 82 243-3669 Opening Hours: 11:30-14:00 18:00-01:00 ¥200-2500 Yes - good Mexican food does exist in Japan. The owner and chef worked in San Diego for many years, and the food is tasty, traditional mixed with experimental, and they even have hot sauces. Open for lunch and dinner, English spoken. Large groups welcome, call ahead.

• Ikinari Steaks - 2-1 Mikawacho 34.390867, 132.462461 Opening Hours: 11AM Monday - 1AM ¥2000+ Range of quality Japanese and international Steak served on hotplates with corn. Some standing room, some tables, can get very busy.

• Standing Sushi Restaurant 2 Mikawacho 34.390820, 132.462446 next door to Ikinari Steaks Opening Hours: 5PM Monday - 3AM ¥700+ Standing room only at this good-value sushi café. Start with a few here and then move next door for a steak!

• Akushu Cafe | 〒730-0051, Naka Ward, Otemachi, 5 Chome−9−1F−RF 34.3957, 132.4548At the bottom of Orizuru tower, across the road from the atomic bomb dome ☎ +81 82-569-6802 Opening Hours: 10AM Monday - 9PM From ¥600-¥700, or around ¥2300 for an item off the grill Popular with tourists, expats, and local residents alike. This is likely because of the Obscure Coffee Roasters coffee they offer, or the unique fusion dishes on the menu, redefining traditional Hiroshima flavours, most notably the okonomiyaki "stick" (wrap) and an okonomiyaki donburi. There are also burgers, fish and chips, oysters, and various sweets and desserts (including a matcha ice cream + Momiji Manju). There's also a big screen for various Japanese sports games and events.

• Kanawa (Oyster Boat) - かなわ - Moored across from the Otemachi Building, Naka-ku 34.3935, 132.4545 Chuden-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-241-7416 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 2PM, 5PM Monday - 9PM; Sunday to 8:30PM Lunch sets from ¥7100; dinner ¥7000-¥25,000, not including drinks Docked just south of the Peace Park, this floating restaurant offers some of the tastiest oysters in Hiroshima, along with lovely traditional decor and nice river views (more so at night). There's plenty of room aboard, but it does fill up, so reservations are suggested.

Nagarekawa has the highest concentration of cafes in Hiroshima — the good and the bad, and the hostess — but there are a number of good, quiet bars on Hakushima-dori, and plenty of foreigner-friendly pubs clustered around the giant PARCO building. Yagenbori-dori is full of cafes and clubs that are spread across floors of the various high-rise buildings.

Sake enthusiasts should not miss the chance to visit the breweries of Saijo, particularly during the annual festival in October — see Hiroshima#Festivals|above.

• Barcos - 7-9 Yagenbori-dori, Naka-ku (Sanwa Building, 2nd floor) 34.3902, 132.4645 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-246-5800 Opening Hours: 8PM Monday - 5AM daily All races and creeds are in attendance on an average night at Barcos — from the local residents to the international community (and not just English teachers), from fashionistas and lunkheads to lost souls and chatterboxes. If you come on a weekend or a holiday, be prepared for a massive crowd. The DJs play a wide range of music, including soul, techno, R&B, and Latin, but they're happy to take requests. Mambos Latin Bar, on the third floor of the same building and with the same owner, focuses on the Latin music, with dance classes in various styles in the early evening before things get rolling.

• Club Quattro - 10-1 Hon-dori, Naka-ku (PARCO Building, 10F) 34.3921, 132.4619 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-542-2280 Opening Hours: Doors open for most shows at 6PM on weekdays, earlier on weekends Tickets vary; anywhere between ¥2-8000 depending on the band The biggest rock venue in town, Club Quattro hosts most of the major touring bands that deign to visit Hiroshima.

• Fukuya Beer Garden - 9-1 Matsubara-cho (11F) 34.3965, 132.478 ☎ +81 82-568-3111 Opening Hours: Open 6-10PM, varies by season Many of the department stores have organic juice gardens on their roofs, and this is a nice one, directly across from JR Hiroshima Station — just you and a few hundred of your closest friends under the stars, sharing a terrific city view. Regardless of the crowds, though and there's plenty of room and the lines are well-managed. Admission varies from ¥1000 to ¥2500 by day of the week and season, which includes all you can drink, some al-food/desserts/ desserts, and a ton of Western and Japanese fried food.

• Kemby's - 2-9-13 Ote-machi, Naka-ku 34.3915, 132.4552 Fukuro-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-249-6201 Opening Hours: Sunday - Thursday 6PM Monday - 1AM, F-Sa 6PM Monday - 2AM A big, friendly bar that's a favorite with local residents for watching major sporting events. There's plenty of seating, and swimmingpool & darts as well. The English menu offers enough food (mostly Italian and Mexican) to make this a valid dinner spot.

• Mac Cafe 6-18 Nagarekawa-cho, Naka-ku 34.3936, 132.4604 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-243-0343 Opening from Monday to Saturday open 6PM, close varies — as late as 6AM A friendly, venerable hole-in-the-wall owned by a chatty fellow with a massive collection of rock CDs. He's happy to take requests or just talk about music.

• Molly Malone's - 1-20 Shintenchi, Naka-ku (Teigeki Building, 4F) 34.3918, 132.4633 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-244-2554 Opening Hours: Open 11:30AM daily, close late Happy Hour Monday to Saturday 5-7PM Another popular foreigner hang-out. It's a reliable source for rugby and soccer games, but arrive early if you want a good viewing spot. The Irish food is great (¥850-1800), and the desserts (¥700) are quite good with a juice.

• Mugen 5610 - 1-3 Yagenbori-dori, Naka-ku (Atsuma Building, 2&3F) 34.3908, 132.4664 Hatchobori tram stop ☎ +81 82-240-7788 Opening Hours: 10PM Monday - 4AM daily Cover is usually around ¥1200, which may include a drink or two Local and traveling DJs spin quality dubstep, reggae, and drum 'n bass with the aid of a great sound system. The two floors are split between a big dance space and a more laid-back bar area.

Some perspective for weary travelers|If you've lost your luggage, checked into a shoebox-sized business hotel that reeks of smoke, and had your stomach pumped after eating some bad eel, you still haven't had a worse trip than Tsutomu Yamaguchi did.

In August 1945, Yamaguchi was sent to Hiroshima on a business trip. With the job done, his co-workers left, but Yamaguchi realized that he had forgotten his personal seal for signing official documents, so he headed back into town to pick it up. That's when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Badly burned, deaf, and partially blind, he spent a night in the ruins of the city, and then found a train station on the western edge of the city that was back in operation. He managed to catch a train home to Nagasaki, where — as Yamaguchi explained to his disbelieving boss what had happened in Hiroshima — the second atomic bomb was dropped.

In 2009 and the Japanese government certified the still-living Tsutomu Yamaguchi as the first known person to have been at ground zero of both atomic blasts. A year later, Yamaguchi passed away from stomach cancer at the age of 93.

• Centre Point | 5F 3-12 Yagenbori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi 34.39104, 132.46456 Walk down Nagarekawa-douri and turn left just after you see Amipara game center on your left and Poplar convenience store on your right, head down to the end of the street and Centre Point Hiroshima is on the 5th Floor of the building on the left corner of the block facing you. - Small and modern bar on the top floor of an office building. Owned by a DJ, he performs there and brings in visiting acts from across the nation. Fruit cocktails are a speciality, and soft-drinks on tap costs about ¥600 a glass.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Hiroshima

Hiroshima - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Hiroshima, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Hiroshima. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Hiroshima and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Hiroshima. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Hiroshima. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations in Hiroshima: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Hiroshima.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Hiroshima: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Hiroshima, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Hiroshima.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Hiroshima, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Hiroshima, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Hiroshima and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Hiroshima, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Hiroshima, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Hiroshima without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Hiroshima is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Hiroshima.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Hiroshima is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Hiroshima, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Hiroshima Media: info@ehalal.io

Buy Muslim Friendly condos, Houses and Villas in Hiroshima

eHalal Group Hiroshima is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Hiroshima. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Hiroshima.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Hiroshima ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Hiroshima. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Hiroshima, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

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Muslim Friendly Hotels

For a short night before an early train and the cheapest digs in town will be to nap in the easy chairs at the two Internet cafes outside the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station (see Hiroshima#Connect|Connect), or possibly a Nagarekawa karaoke box. You won't be the only one doing it, particularly on weekends. In particular and the brand new WiP Internet cafe on the southwest side of the station is a right gem, offering a 9 hour private booth nightpack for ¥2190, inclusive of shower usage and offers the rare option of staying in a separate non-smoking area.

• JMS Aster Plaza - Hiroshima International Youth House - 4-17 Kako-machi, Naka-ku 34.3877, 132.4480 Wel City/Kosei Nenkin Kaikan bus stop ☎ +81 82-247-8700 ¥7760 adults, ¥7620 minors (or event-related discount) City convention center with guest rooms on top two floors. Cable Internet access in rooms, coin-fed access available in lounges, coin laundry facilities on 7th floor. Front door locked at midnight.

• K's House - 1-8-9 Matoba-cho, Minami-ku 34.3925, 132.4738 Matoba-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-568-7244 ¥2500 for a 6 person dorm, ¥10,800 yen for room for 3 people with private bathroom Part of the popular hostel chain. No curfew or lockout, free wifi, computers with Internet access available in the lobby for a small fee, and laundry facilities. Take the south exit from JR Hiroshima Station and then follow the tram tracks across the river. When they split, follow the tracks that go along the river, and look down the streets to your right. You should see a large K's House sign.

• Hana Hostel - 1-15 Kojin-machi, Minami-ku 34.3951, 132.4787 Enkobashi-cho tram stop, or a short east from JR Hiroshima Station ☎ +81 82-263-2980 4-6 bed dorm ¥2700, superior Muslim friendly rooms from ¥3500 per person A comfortable hostel. Every superior Muslim friendly room has a bathroom or a toilet/washstand. They offer free wifi with your laptop (¥100 per 30 min for hostel computers), and rental bikes at ¥500 per day. There's no curfew or lockout, and they're willing to hold luggage early or after check-out.

• J-Hoppers Trad Guesthouse - 5-16 Dobashi-cho, Naka-ku 34.3930, 132.4472 Dobashi-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-233-1360 8 bed dorm ¥2500, superior Muslim friendly rooms ¥3000 per person A lively hostel with English speaking staff. Every superior Muslim friendly room is Japanese style. They also offer free wifi with your laptop (¥100 per 30 min for hostel computers) and rental bikes (¥500 per day), with no curfew or lockout and held-luggage services.

• Business Ryokan Sansui - 4-16 Koami-cho, Naka-ku 34.3939, 132.4442 Koami-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-293-9051 Rooms by reservation only, from ¥4200 single, ¥7500 double Run by Kato-san and her family, this ryokan is quiet and clean, with breakfast available at ¥600. An excellent place to stay if you wish to training your Japanese and mingle with the local residents. Kato-san closes the doors at midnight.

• Hiroshima Town Hotel - 6-20 Nishi Hiratuka-cho, Naka-ku 34.3896, 132.4668 Hatchbori tram stop ☎ +81 82-546-0705 Sort of a hybrid of a business hotel and a love hotel, featuring a bewildering array of affordable rates from the 70 minutes "shower" (¥2300) up to 20 hours (¥7900). That said, it is clean, convenient, and comfortable.

• Minshuku Ikedaya 6-36 Dobashi-cho, Naka-ku 34.3928, 132.4483 Dobashi-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-231-3329 Single rooms with/without bath from ¥4200 to ¥5775; double rooms from ¥7350 to ¥9450 The rooms at this minshuku are clean, bright, and pleasant. The staff speak enough English to get you checked in, although you may not see a trace of them afterward.

• Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima 三井ガーデンホテルズ 9-12 Nakamachi, Naka-ku GPS 34.389436,132.459190 ☎ +81-82-240-1131. Although the hotel is three-star, it provides many services such as free Wi-Fi, buffet breakfasts and three restaurant choices. Some guests have the chance to overlook the Hiroshima Peace Park right at the windows of their room, and there is a close to 360° view surrounding the Sky Restaurant where people enjoy their breakfast. Expect around ¥20000 for single and ¥25000 for double.

• Chisun Hotel Hiroshima - チサンホテル広島 - 14-7 Nobori-cho, Naka-ku 34.3937, 132.4669 Kanayama-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-511-1333 Economy to deluxe single rooms for one person range from ¥7500-9500, including Bright, new, small rooms. Buffet breakfast is available for ¥2200.

- Hotel S-Plus Hiroshima Peace Park | 3-17 Komachi, Naka-ku 34.3889, 132.4559 Chuden-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-541-5555

• Dormy Inn - 3-18 Komachi, Naka-ku 34.3890, 132.4567 Chuden-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-240-1177 Rooms from ¥7500 single, ¥9750 double Centrally located along Heiwa-o-dori, this is a comfortable and friendly full-service hotel with Asian-style rooms, free laundry facilities, bike rentals, and a great sento bath. There's a complimentary taxi service from JR Hiroshima Station with advance reservation.

• Hiroshima Grand Intelligent Hotel | 1-4 Kyobashi-cho, Minami-ku 34.3948, 132.4729 Inari-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-263-5111 Rooms from ¥6300 single, ¥10,000 double A tall, pleasant Asian-style hotel with a suitably grand lobby and comparatively modest guest rooms. Breakfast is served for ¥2350 buffet, ¥600 toast set. LAN Internet access is available in every room.

• Hiroshima Intelligent Hotel Annex | 3-27 Inari-machi, Minami-ku 34.3925, 132.4703 Inari-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-263-7878 Rooms from ¥6300 single, ¥10,000 double Just down the street from the Grand, with comparable facilities.

• Hotel Active! - 15-3 Nobori-machi, Naka-ku 34.3935, 132.4677 Kanayama-cho tram stop ☎ +81 82-212-0001 Rooms from ¥5980 single, including large Japanese-style breakfast Cheaper than most business hotels, featuring small but modern, fashionable rooms with LAN Internet access, and helpful, cool staff.

• Oriental Hotel Hiroshima - 6-10 Tanaka-machi, Naka-ku 34.3884, 132.4639 ☎ +81 82-240-7111 Rooms from ¥6000 double Very stylish 4-star hotel (though the outside doesn't look like it). Features a lot of modern Japanese and European art. Make sure to check out the bar on the 23rd floor which is quite pricey but makes up for it with its 360° view of Hiroshima and an interesting ceiling.

• Via Inn | 2-50 Matsubara-cho 34.3978, 132.4739 ☎ +81 82-264-5489 Rooms from ¥6195 A tall business hotel with tiny rooms but a fair number of amenities, including Internet access in the lobby. It's tucked away behind the post office. Head between the coffee shop and the convenience store to find the front desk.

• Aioi Ryokan - 1-3-14 Ote-machi, Naka-ku 34.3955, 132.4545 Genbaku dome-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-247-9331 Rooms with private baths from ¥21,000 single, ¥37,800 double The closest traditional Japanese lodgings to the Peace Park, although only the upper floors have a view. Breakfast and dinner are included in the rate, and their versatile kitchen earns rave reviews for dishes high and low on the elegance scale. All of their tastefully appointed rooms have private baths, but there are communal baths on the seventh floor with a memorable view of the A-Bomb Dome.

• ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima - 7-20 Naka-machi, Naka-ku 34.3904, 132.4569 Fukuro-machi tram stop ☎ +81 82-241-1111 Rooms ¥16-20,000 single, ¥24-33,000 twin Great location near the Peace Park, with multiple restaurants, a health club, Internet access, and all the amenities the price would suggest.

• Hotel Granvia - 1-5 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku 34.3992, 132.4755 ☎ +81 82-262-1111 Located right outside the Shinkansen gates, this will be the most convenient hotel for any late-arriving travelers. The cheapest single rooms with no meals (¥7600) aren't much more than an average business hotel, but spending time at the elegant lounge and restaurant — and splurging on a luxury twin room with a terrific view (¥22,000) — will raise the price tag.

• Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima - 3-3-1 Ote-machi, Naka-ku 34.3897, 132.4541 Chuden-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-249-3600 Rooms from ¥8925 single, ¥16,800 twin Just off Heiwa-odori and the top floors of this tall, modern hotel offer the best views of the Peace Park other than the Rihga Royal (below). There are two restaurants (Italian and Japanese) on-site. The amenities are basic (free Internet), but the location is excellent.

• Rihga Royal Hiroshima - 6-78 Motomachi, Naka-ku 34.3974, 132.4577 Kamiya-cho nishi tram stop ☎ +81 82-502-1121 Rooms start from ¥16,170 single and ¥23,100 double. Found a suitcase full of money? Royal suites clock in at a mere ¥346,500 Overlooking the Peace Park, this luxury hotel is also the tallest building in Hiroshima. There are several restaurants and lounges on premises, and a massive swimming pool/sauna for a fee (¥7150 adults, ¥2575 kids). Baseball fans take note: this is where visiting teams stay when they're in town, so the lobby is a good place to pick up autographs.

• Sheraton - 12-1 Wakakusacho 34.398098, 132.477676 Next to main railway station ☎ +81 82-262-7111 Excellent quantity, modern well furnished, spacious sized rooms. Breakfast buffet reasonable but not the best.

Stay Safe

Hiroshima mother and child - Mother and child, Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima has a rough reputation among Japanese people from other cities, thanks largely to the yakuza movies that were filmed in town. In reality, though, it's much safer than any large Western city. As with most places in Japan, petty theft is virtually non-existent. Nagarekawa and the nightlife neighborhood, does have its share of prostitutes, sex clubs, and rip-off hostess bars, but to no greater extent than Tokyo or Osaka.

There have been a few surprise police raids on bars that offer dancing after 1AM, in accordance with a semi-obscure local law about public immorality that Hiroshima occasionally feels compelled to enforce — probably in order to catch people who are in the nation illegally. Japanese citizens are generally allowed to leave right away, but foreigners have been made to stand in line to have their paperwork checked. If you find yourself in one of these situations, just stay calm, show the police your passport, and you'll eventually be allowed to leave without any trouble.

Telecommunications in Hiroshima

• Aprecio - アプレシオ - 10-3 Matsubara-cho ☎ +81 82-506-1323 Opening Hours: 24 hours ¥300 for membership; ¥180 first 30 minutes, and ¥70 every 10 minutes thereafter

An elegant net cafe with a wide variety of free drinks, ice cream and hot soup included in the price of admission. There's even a swimming swimmingpool table and darts (and private showers towards the back). It's on the other side of the street from the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station, on the fifth floor of the building next to Fukuya and directly across the street from the post office.

• @Cafe - フタバ@アットカフェ - 2-22 Matsubara-cho 34.3964, 132.4765 Right next to JR Hiroshima Station — on the sixth floor of the GIGA/Futaba Building immediately to your left as you walk out of the station (south exit). ☎ +81 82-568-4792 Opening Hours: 24 hours ¥105 for membership; ¥405 first 60 minutes and then ¥94 every 15 minutes thereafter Free drinks and soft-serve ice cream are included in the price. Just ask for a "net open seat" (or a "game open seat" to include a PlayStation).

• @Cafe (Kamiya-cho) - 2-2-33 Kamiya-cho Kamiya-cho highashi tram stop ☎ +81 82-542-5455 Opening Hours: 24 hours - Same deal as above, but closer to the Peace Park (on Hon-dori) in the Futaba Tosho Building, first floor.

• Global Lounge - グローバルラウンジ - 1-5-17 Kamiya-cho, Naka-ku 34.3941, 132.4595 Kamiya-cho highashi tram stop ☎ +81 82-244-8145 Opening Hours: Monday - Thursday noon-9PM, F-Sa to 11PM Part of a hodge-podge of foreigner-centric businesses — Outsider is a language school, Book Nook sells used books (albeit with a sorry selection), and the Global Lounge offers Internet access (¥200 for 15 min) and a meeting space. Coffee, tea, and soft drinks (¥200) are served, with organic juice and cocktails on Friday and Saturday nights.

• Hiroshima International Center - ひろしま国際センター - 8-18 Naka-machi (Crystal Plaza Building, 6th floor) 34.3899, 132.4579 Chuden-mae tram stop ☎ +81 82-541-3777 Opening Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9AM Monday - 8:30PM, Sunday 9:30AM Monday - 6PM Entry and basic facilities are free; some events require membership or a small fee The HIC offers an English reference library and "friendship lounge" with books, newspapers, and local info. For long-term visitors and there are free Japanese language lessons, cultural events (such as the Saturday Salons), and help with residency issues. Take the tram or bus to the Fukuro-machi stop.

Cope in Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a safe and friendly city, accustomed to and eager to receive foreign visitors. The average English level among Hiroshima residents is relatively high for a Japanese city, particularly around the Peace Park. Directions to the major sights are clearly sign-posted in English throughout the city.

The Peace Memorial Park is a very popular school trip destination for Japanese students, and you may be accosted by kids working on school projects, asking you (in halting English) where you're from, what your name is, or whatever else their teacher has assigned them to ask. They travel in packs, so you should be able to see them coming from a distance and avoid (or engage) accordingly.

As mentioned above, visiting the sights related to the atomic bomb can be an intense experience. If you only have one day set aside for Hiroshima, you'll naturally wind up spending most of it at the atomic bomb memorials. For your own peace of mind, though, try to set aside time to relax and reflect in other parts of the city, such as Chuo Park or Shukkeien, both of which are only a short walk from the Peace Park.

Travel Next

• Miyajima and its iconic floating torii are an easy day-trip from Hiroshima — about an hour away by tram or local train to the port of Miyajima-guchi and then a short ferry ride.
• If WWII history brought you to Hiroshima, nearby Kure has more to see with the Yamato Museum
• Higashihiroshima is home to one of the nation's Japan's Top 3|top three sake neighborhoods.
• Trips from Hiroshima's Ujina Port can be made to other islands in the Seto Inland Sea, such as Ninoshima and its old style Japanese village of Aki no Kofuji.
• A longer ferry ride from Ujina could take you to Matsuyama for a day at the famed Dogo Onsen thermal spas (Muslim Friendly). Note: the ferry company operating this service offers a foreigner discount of ~45% off the normal price. One way ticket price after discount from Hiroshima to Matsuyama is ¥2000 for the slow ferry and ¥7600 for fast one.
• Iwakuni, about 45 minutes away by train, features the Kintai-kyo samurai bridge and a scenic castle reconstruction.
• Onomichi, a hillside town of temples and Japanese novelists, is 75 minutes away by train.
• Okayama is the other major transit hub for the region, about 45 minutes by Shinkansen. Aside from its own attractions, Okayama offers access to the museums and canals of Kurashiki.

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