Hiroshima City One Day Course of Peace and Castle Town

This classic course starts at the A Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, then takes you to the Shukkeien garden and the okonomiyaki stalls of Okonomimura at night. Most of the travel is by streetcar and on foot, so it is easy even on a first visit. You can experience prayers for peace, the mood of a castle town and famous local food all in one day.

Course Route

9:00 Start at the A Bomb Dome About fifteen minutes by streetcar from Hiroshima Station, the Genbaku Dome Mae stop is right at the start. View the World Heritage site in the quiet of the morning. The streetcar has a flat city fare of about 240 yen per ride for adults, and a one day pass is handy on days with much hopping on and off. 9:20 Walk through Peace Memorial Park Stroll along the Motoyasu River through the park and pause at the Childrens Peace Monument and the cenotaph. The park itself is free to enter and is quiet in the morning. 9:50 Visit the Peace Memorial Museum Admission is 200 yen for adults, 100 yen for high school students and free for junior high students and younger. It opens from 8:30, until 19:00 from March to November and until 20:00 in August (hours vary by season). Reflect on the exhibits and learn the value of peace. Allow about ninety minutes. 11:40 Lunch on Hondori Walk east from the park to the covered Hondori arcade for okonomiyaki or other Seto Inland Sea dishes. A lunch budget of around 1000 to 1500 yen is a good guide. 13:00 Shukkeien Garden Take the streetcar and walk to the daimyo garden of Shukkeien. Admission is 350 yen for adults, 150 yen for university students and free for high school students and younger. Wander the pond circuit at a relaxed pace and you can rest with matcha at a teahouse. It opens from 9:00, until 17:00 or 18:00 depending on the season. 14:30 Walk around Hiroshima Castle Walk west from Shukkeien to the grounds and moat of Hiroshima Castle, built by Mori Terumoto. Note that the castle keep closed in March 2026 due to aging and cannot be climbed for the time being. Enjoy a walk around the stone walls, the moat and the turrets of the castle grounds. 16:00 Shopping in Hatchobori and Kamiyacho Take the streetcar or walk to Hatchobori and enjoy the department stores and shopping streets. 18:00 Dinner at Okonomimura A few minutes walk from Hatchobori brings you to Okonomimura, a building full of Hiroshima style okonomiyaki shops, to finish the day in front of a hot iron griddle. About 1000 yen a plate is a guide.

Highlights

The A Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park are symbols of Hiroshima and draw visitors from around the world. Shukkeien is beautiful in every season and surprisingly quiet for a city center. Although the keep cannot be climbed, the moat and stone walls of Hiroshima Castle still let you feel the history of the castle town.

Access and Tips

The streetcar is convenient from Hiroshima Station to each spot, and a one day pass makes hopping on and off easy on busy days. The park, garden and castle are all in the center, so in good weather it is pleasant to walk and enjoy the city.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: The museum is relatively empty in the morning right after opening. Shukkeien is especially lovely with cherry blossoms in spring and colored leaves in autumn, and is a little busier then. The city is very crowded around the peace ceremony on August 6.
• Time needed: About two to two and a half hours for the park and museum, and about an hour for Shukkeien. Overall it is a comfortable full day course from morning to night.
• Avoiding crowds: Okonomimura fills from the evening, so an early arrival is safer. Popular shops have shorter waits right at opening or at off peak times.
• Nearby stops: Just north of the park is Hiroshima Castle, to the east the former Bank of Japan Hiroshima branch (a bombed building), and to the south Hiroshima Gate Park, all within reach if you have time.
• Budget guide: Museum and garden admission plus lunch, dinner and streetcar fares come to roughly 4000 to 6000 yen per person.

A Quick Tip

There is a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes. Summer sun is strong, so bring a hat and water for the park strolls. The streetcar takes cash and IC transport cards, and one day passes are sold at tourist information offices.