Hiroshima Peace Park
Hiroshima Peace Park is one of Hiroshima’s most iconic sights! Quick history lesson: prior to its bombing, the area was designated as the city’s commercial hub. Towards the end of World War II in 1945, a nuclear bomb (called ‘Little Boy’) was dropped on Hiroshima, with the A-Bomb Dome being the only building left standing near the bomb’s hypocenter.
Also known as ‘Ground Zero’, the Hiroshima Peace Park today serves as a memorial for the fallen, as well as a stark reminder of the devastations of war and how we should never take peace for granted.
Peace Memorial Museum
The Peace Memorial Museum educates visitors about what happened on, and the aftermath of, that fateful day, while The Cenotaph for the A-Bomb victims is an arched tomb dedicated to the fallen – the number of which exceeds a staggering 100,000. During your visit, do drop by the Children’s Peace Monument, dedicated to Sadako Sasaki – a young girl who, in a bid for health, attempted to fold a total of 1000 origami paper cranes. She was unfortunately unable to do so before her passing, and her classmates helped to complete the task. This story serves as a source of inspiration for the Japanese who, till date, leave multiple paper cranes at the monument as a show of solidarity and hope.
Okonomiyaki Building
Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake consisting of a variety of ingredients. The base is made out of flour, eggs and shredded cabbage, usually mixed with different kinds of meat and topped with a sticky sweet sauce, mayonnaise and fish flakes. Literally translating to “grilled as you like it”, Okonomiyaki is indeed one of the foods that you definitely have to hunt down when in Japan!
In fact, the people of Hiroshima love Okonomiyaki so much that they have “Okonomimura”, an entire four-storied building dedicated to the dish! Otherwise known as an Okonomiyaki theme park of sorts, the building is home to 25 Okonomiyaki shops, each specialising in a specific version of the savoury pancake.
At each of these stalls, the Okonomiyaki is cooked in front of you on a piping hot grill. We highly recommend ‘Humichan’ on the second floor, which has a long-standing history of 50 years. If you prefer something lighter on the palate, head to ‘Sonia’ on the fourth floor, which garnishes their Okonomiyaki with mint leaves. We hear that this is especially popular with the ladies, as the pancakes served here are lighter on the palate.
Miyajima Island
Known as one of Japan’s top three scenic spots, Miyajima is an utterly picturesque island that’s full of surprises. Many head here for the famous floating torii gate, which seems to be floating during high tide. During low tide, however, visitors are able to walk right out to the gate itself, making for an incredibly novel experience like no other!
However, that’s not all the island has to offer. Miyajima is surrounded by numerous oyster beds, and offers visitors a taste of the delectable seafood – literally fresh from the sea. The streets are lined with shops that offer oysters that can be had both fresh or cooked in different ways – flame-grilled, fried, or even baked with cheese. In addition, Miyajima is also home to plenty of free-roaming deer. This is basically a less-touristy alternative to Nara, and the deer here aren’t afraid to interact with humans. In fact, many will even approach you for a pat or a nuzzle!
The island is also home to a couple of weird and quirky things, such as more deer-related merchandise than you can probably handle and the world’s largest wooden spoon. Whilst you’re there, don’t forget to grab one of Miyajima’s local specialties – Momiji Manju, which is a maple-leaf shaped bun filled with red bean or matcha paste.
Takehara
Takehara is a darling historic quarter filled with many heritage buildings, museums, shops and cafés, all of which line a labyrinth of cobbled streets. Hailing from the Edo era, the town is blissfully void of tourists – offering a peaceful respite from the city. The best way to explore the town is on foot and without a plan; buffer a few hours to get lost among the streets and wander through the alleys. After an afternoon of exploring, refuel by indulging in some Soba and Sake – two gastronomic specialties of Takehara.
One icon of the Takehara historical quarter is Saihoji, a stunning temple perched on a hill. Modelled after Kyoto’s Kiyomizudera shrine, Saihoji looks over a panoramic view of Takehara town. Originally constructed in 1560, the temple burned to the ground in 1602 and was restored to its former glory in 1702.
Hiroshima Castle
Unlike many other castles in Japan, Hiroshima Castle boasts a rather unique exterior of wood and black lacquer. The formidable castle is five stories tall, and is surrounded by a moat. Somewhat resembling a Samurai’s armour, the castle doubles up as a museum on Samurai culture. The castle served as the ‘centre’ of Hiroshima back in the day, giving Hiroshima the reputation of being a castle town.
Visit on Sundays to watch a Samurai performance, which happens outside the castle at 1pm and 3pm. Every Saturday and public holiday, there is also a Samurai Parade that happens from 1-3pm from the Castle Tower to the Outer Citadel. Visit this website for more information on the performances and parades! Alternatively, you can imagine yourself as a Samurai by dressing up in one of the costumes available inside the castle.
Mazda museum
Hands up if you love Mazda cars! Hiroshima is home to the headquarters of the Mazda Motor Headquarters, where the company museum and parts of the factory have been made accessible to the public. Fun fact: to this very day, Mazda still manufactures over a million cars annually! You’ll gain insight into Mazda’s history and set sight on a number of its vehicles. The highlight is when you’ll get to see an actual vehicle assembly line in the factory, and witness firsthand how the cars are assembled.