The Peace Memorial Park covers 122,100 square metres on Nakajima Island, the former Nakajima-honmachi district destroyed on 6 August 1945. Entry to the park is free, while the affiliated Peace Memorial Museum charges approximately 200 yen for adults and 100 yen for high school students. The A-Bomb Dome carries UNESCO World Heritage status since December 1996, preserved as ruins per the 1966 Hiroshima City decision.
Itsukushima Shrine Access
The vermillion torii standing in Hiroshima Bay belongs to Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima island. Adult entry costs approximately 300 yen, with the inner shrine pavilion typically open daily from early morning through early evening in peak season. The JR Sanyo Line connects Hiroshima station to Miyajimaguchi in roughly 26 minutes, where the JR ferry to the island runs at regular intervals and is covered by the JR Pass. Deer roam freely across the shrine precincts year-round.
Shinkansen Access from Tokyo
The Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Nozomi service runs Tokyo to Hiroshima station in approximately 3 hours 50 minutes with frequent departures across the day. Reserved seat fares in ordinary class clear roughly 18,000 yen one way, while the Green Car premium service adds approximately 5,000 yen to the standard fare on the Nozomi route. The JR Pass historically excluded Nozomi, though a supplementary ticket option was introduced in October 2023 allowing Nozomi access for an additional fee.
Local Cuisine and Distillery Visits
Hiroshima okonomiyaki layers cabbage, soba noodles and pork belly on a thin pancake base; Okonomimura at Shintenchi Plaza concentrates multiple stalls, with typical dishes priced roughly 950-1,400 yen. Sake breweries in Saijo (several stations east of Hiroshima on the JR Sanyo Line) including Kamotsuru and others offer tasting tours, with the annual sake festival drawing large crowds each October.