Hiroshima Travel Guide — Best Time, Things to Do & Where to Stay

Why Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu. Situated on the delta of the Ōta River along Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea, the metropolis is divided into eight administrative wards. Originally established in 1589 by the warlord Mōri Terumoto as a castle town, its name translates to "wide island," reflecting its delta geography.

Prior to its establishment as a castle settlement, the area developed from a fishing village that traded under the influence of the Zen Buddhist temple Mitaki-dera. Following the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the community rapidly expanded into a major industrial center and port city, aided by the construction of Ujina Harbor and the arrival of the San'yō Railway. The location subsequently served as an important military and administrative center through the early twentieth century. On August 6, 1945, it became the site of the first atomic bomb used in warfare, which destroyed most of the urban infrastructure, followed weeks later by further damage from the Makurazaki Typhoon.

Reconstruction began with national support under the 1949 Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law, which formally proclaimed the area a City of Peace. The rebuilt urban center became a venue for international peace conferences and home to research institutes advocating for global disarmament. The oleander was designated as the official city flower because it was the first plant to bloom again after the 1945 destruction.

Landmarks across the city highlight its heritage and post-war history. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park houses the Peace Memorial Museum and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed A-Bomb Dome, a preserved ruin of the former Industrial Promotion Hall. Historical sights also include Hiroshima Castle, which was rebuilt in 1958, and a unique steel Peace Pagoda constructed in 1966 by the Nipponzan-Myōhōji order.

Hiroshima experiences a humid subtropical climate with cool to mild winters and hot, humid summers. Rainfall occurs year-round, peaking in June and July, while August brings drier, sunny weather and the highest summer temperatures. Winter remains the driest time of year. Air travel access to the region is provided via Hiroshima Airport, located 50 kilometers east of the city.