Hiroshima Castle 🇯🇵

Step onto historic ground at Hiroshima Castle, also known as Carp Castle (Rijō), a quintessential flatlands castle originally constructed in the 1590s by Mōri Terumoto on the Otagawa river delta. Once the formidable seat of feudal lords governing the Hiroshima Domain, the complex survived centuries of rule by the Mōri, Fukushima, and Asano families before serving as a military facility in the Meiji era.

Tragically, the original structure—designated a National Treasure in 1931—was largely destroyed during the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. Today, you can explore the main keep, rebuilt in 1958 out of reinforced concrete, which stands 26.6 meters tall above its stone foundation and houses an insightful museum dedicated to Hiroshima's pre-World War II history.

As you wander the grounds inside the innermost moat, you will see reconstructed wooden gates and turrets built using original methods, historic Imperial General Headquarters foundations, a post-1945 Shinto shrine (Hiroshima Gokoku Jinja), and three remarkable trees—a eucalyptus, willow, and holly—that survived the atomic blast near the Honmaru.

What to see at Hiroshima Castle

• Reconstructed five-story main keep housing a museum of pre-WWII Hiroshima history
• Wooden gate and three yagura (turrets) in the ninomaru rebuilt using original methods
• Surviving atomic bomb bunker and three hibaku trees (eucalyptus, willow, and holly)
• Historical foundations of the 1894–1895 Imperial General Headquarters outbuildings
• Hiroshima Gokoku Jinja, a Shinto shrine located within the central castle grounds

Visiting tips

Be sure to walk just beyond the Honmaru to view the historic eucalyptus, willow, and holly trees that survived the 1945 atomic bomb blast.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Hiroshima Castle is easy to reach on Hiroshima’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Hiroshima travel guide.