Rainy Day in Hiroshima: Best Indoor Spots & Activities

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

A place where the memory of "that day" speaks to you quietly, yet surely.

Even now, nearly 80 years after the atomic bombing, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum engraves a deep question in the heart of everyone who visits. From the moment you set foot inside, you will find yourself confronting a weight so heavy it leaves you at a loss for words. The belongings of the victims, scorched clothing, photographs from that time -- these are not mere "exhibits," but the traces of people who truly lived.

Rainy days bring a special time that lets you feel the essence of this place even more deeply. Amid a calm atmosphere with comparatively few tourists, you can confront the exhibits thoroughly. As the rain falls quietly outside the windows and you trace each panel one by one inside the museum, you'll feel emotions beyond words slowly spread through your chest.

Recommended time and best season Weekday mornings have the least crowding, allowing for a relaxed visit. During school-trip seasons (May to June, September to October), there are many group visitors, so it is recommended to shift your timing slightly and visit right after opening, before 10 a.m.

Ways to enjoy it like a local After your visit, try taking a quiet stroll through the Peace Memorial Park spread out before you. On rainy days, the park has few people, creating a time when you can almost have the Atomic Bomb Dome all to yourself. They say many travelers jot down what they felt during their visit in a notebook while holding a warm coffee at a nearby cafe. The museum shop also has a rich selection of books and goods that carry thoughts of peace.

Access Get off at "Genbaku Dome-mae" station on the Hiroshima city streetcar (tram); it's about a 5-minute walk. From Hiroshima Station it's about 15 minutes by tram -- excellent access. Admission is 200 yen for adults (as of 2024), and for this much content, that price is astonishingly reasonable even by world standards.

Tips for travelers Since there are areas inside where photography is prohibited, check the rules in advance. The viewing time is roughly 1 to 2 hours, but we recommend spending as long as time allows. Many of the exhibits are emotionally moving, so visit with a calm and prepared state of mind.

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Hiroshima Museum of Art

An afternoon immersed in the light and color of France, with the sound of rain as background music.

The Hiroshima Museum of Art, standing quietly within Hiroshima City's Central Park, is a leading "museum to visit on rainy days" known only to those in the know. Van Gogh, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne -- its collection of French paintings, centered on Impressionism, boasts an astonishing richness for a regional private museum. The moment spent wrapped in the light and color of 19th-century Paris, glancing sideways at the rain falling beyond the glass, carries the everyday far, far away.

The calm circular interior is designed without a sense of oppression and is not tiring. The charm of this museum is that even those not well versed in art can face the works with the intuition of "somehow, I like this." You'll be overwhelmed by Van Gogh's powerful brushstrokes one moment, then soothed by Renoir's soft expression of light the next -- you can enjoy such a journey of emotions.

Recommended time and best season It can be enjoyed throughout the year, but the appeal increases especially during periods when special exhibitions are held. It is recommended to check the ongoing exhibitions on the official website before visiting. Weekday daytime is relatively empty, allowing you to appreciate the works at a leisurely pace.

Ways to enjoy it like a local The cafe inside the museum is a hidden gem. The time spent gazing at art books adds special color to a rainy-day Hiroshima trip. Also, making the most of its location within Central Park, it is recommended to stroll through the lush green park when the rain lets up.

Access About 15 minutes by bus from Hiroshima Station, or about a 10-minute walk from "Kamiyacho" tram stop. Since it is within Central Park, follow the signs as you go.

Tips for travelers Some special exhibitions may require advance reservations, so check the official website. If audio guide rentals are available, actively make use of them -- you'll understand the background of the works more deeply and enjoy your visit even more.

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Miyajima Aquarium (Miyajima Marine)

The sea of the Seto Inland Sea, right there as it is.

"Speaking of Miyajima, it's Itsukushima Shrine" -- set that common assumption aside for a moment and head to the Miyajima Aquarium, "Miyajima Marine." The sight of the rich creatures living in the Seto Inland Sea swimming freely inside large tanks will make both adults and children lose track of time, captivated.

A must-see among them is the oyster-farming hands-on corner that Hiroshima takes pride in. This corner, where you can learn while experiencing the production process of Hiroshima oysters -- praised as "the milk of the sea" -- is content that gourmet travelers cannot resist. The richness of the exhibits is high, and you'll also be soothed by the adorable forms of finless porpoises (small dolphins) and seals.

On rainy days, the nice thing is that even without going outdoors, Miyajima Marine is satisfying enough on its own within the building. The boat trip to Miyajima becoming "an extraordinary experience that's fun just by riding the ferry" may also be a reward of rainy days.

Recommended time and best season During summer vacation and consecutive holidays, it gets crowded with families, so weekday mornings are best. Visits in autumn to winter are relatively empty, allowing you to enjoy it thoroughly. Check the feeding-time schedule at the entrance.

Ways to enjoy it like a local After the aquarium, the classic way to spend your time is to fill your stomach with Miyajima specialties like "anago-meshi" (conger eel rice) and "momiji manju." On rainy days, eateries are often empty, and being able to enjoy a relaxed meal without lines is a benefit unique to rainy-day travel.

Access About 30 minutes from JR Hiroshima Station to JR Miyajimaguchi Station, then about 10 minutes by ferry to Miyajima. The aquarium is about a 20-minute walk from the Miyajima pier, or you can use the island loop bus.

Tips for travelers The Miyajima ferry operates normally even in rain, but there is a possibility of cancellation in strong winds, so check in advance. The island's cobblestones become slippery when wet, so choose comfortable walking shoes. Inside the aquarium, make use of umbrella bags out of consideration for bringing in wet umbrellas.

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Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History (Fukuyama)

The surprise of a town from 800 years ago coming back to life right before your eyes.

The Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History, located in Fukuyama City in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, may not be flashy in name recognition, but it is a hidden gem that visitors uniformly are surprised to discover: "I didn't know a museum like this existed."

The biggest highlight is the restored exhibit of the "Kusado Sengen-cho ruins," which flourished beside the Ashida River in the medieval period. The townscape of about 800 years ago, revealed through excavation surveys, is faithfully reproduced at life size. A market where merchants come and go, artisans' workshops, ordinary homes where daily life is carried on -- the immersive feeling, as if you've slipped through time, is a one-of-a-kind experience you cannot taste at other museums. The exhibition scale is very large, and another charm is that you can spend several full hours here even on a rainy day.

Recommended time and best season It can be enjoyed at a relaxed pace throughout the year, but the appeal increases especially during special-exhibition periods. It is also well received by families, and children's workshops are sometimes held during summer vacation.

Ways to enjoy it like a local Since the museum is located right next to Fukuyama Castle, it is recommended to sightsee the castle together with it once the rain lets up. Fukuyama is also a town famous for its "Rose Festival," and if you visit in May, the entire town is gorgeously adorned.

Access About a 15-minute walk from JR Fukuyama Station, or about 5 minutes by taxi. From Hiroshima Station it's about 30 minutes by Shinkansen, with good access. It's also perfect for a two-day, one-night plan combined with sightseeing in central Hiroshima.

Tips for travelers Since the exhibition volume is very large, securing 2 to 3 hours is a safe bet. The interior is spacious and easy to walk through, but we recommend visiting in comfortable shoes. Audio guides and explanatory panels are also substantial, so you can fully enjoy it even without prior knowledge.

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Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art

An unexpected encounter with art, embraced by the greenery of Hijiyama.

In the southeastern part of Hiroshima City, surrounded by the greenery of Hijiyama Park, lies the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art. Yayoi Kusama, Taro Okamoto, Andy Warhol -- this museum, where stimulating works by contemporary artists from Japan and abroad gather all in one place, is a place that those who feel "I don't really get art" should visit precisely because of that.

The charm of contemporary art is that "it's okay not to understand it." Rather than searching for meaning, intuitive emotions like "cool," "somehow scary," or "weirdly funny" well up first -- by accumulating such experiences, your eye for viewing art naturally grows. In front of Yayoi Kusama's works covered entirely in polka dots, you'll surely find yourself reaching for your smartphone.

The architecture itself is also a highlight. The stylish building designed by Hiroshima-born architect Kisho Kurokawa harmonizes splendidly with the nature of Hijiyama.

Recommended time and best season The fresh-green season (April to May) and the autumn-foliage season (October to November) are the perfect timing to enjoy it combined with the natural beauty of Hijiyama Park. On rainy days, you can savor the art thoroughly while holed up inside, and when a break in the clouds appears, stroll through the park -- a luxurious way to spend your time.

Ways to enjoy it like a local Within Hijiyama Park, unique facilities such as the Radiation Effects Research Foundation and the Manga Library are scattered about. Strolling through the park after viewing the museum lets you encounter the multilayered charm of the city of Hiroshima. The lived-in atmosphere of the park, where locals come to walk their dogs and jog, will also remain in your travel memories.

Access Get off at "Danbara 1-chome" station on the tram from Hiroshima Station, then about a 15-minute walk. Or it is also accessible on foot, about 25 minutes from Hiroshima Station. Hijiyama Park is lush with greenery and pleasant to walk through, and on rainy days, walking the small paths under an umbrella has its own charm.

Tips for travelers Since admission fees vary depending on the content of the special exhibition, check the official website in advance. There are spots within Hijiyama Park that become slippery when wet, so watch your step. Some works can be photographed and others cannot, so follow the rules inside the exhibition rooms.

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Access Information

Hiroshima is also known as a "compact tourist city" where you can efficiently get around multiple sightseeing spots. Here we summarize access to the major spots.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum City streetcar (tram