Where to Stay in Hiroshima & Miyajima: Best areas and hotels

Due to its location in the heart of the city, Central Hiroshima is the best area to stay in Hiroshima.

The central districts of Hiroshima are relatively compact in comparison with those of other large Japanese cities.

Central Hiroshima is the place where you can see the scars the atomic bomb left on the city.

This district boasts large parks and green areas, broad tree-lined avenues, and vibrant day and nightlife.

The area can be traveled around on foot without problems, although it is also possible to use the city’s extensive tram system.

Central Hiroshima has a variety of bars and restaurants, as well as shopping options.

Attractions in this area include the Peace Memorial Museum, the Peace Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Castle and Hiroshima’s Central Park.

Central Hiroshima is our recommended area to stay in Hiroshima.

Itsukushima is an island located in Hiroshima Bay, on the Seto Inland Sea.

It is popularly known as Miyajima.

Miyajima is famous for its Itsukushima Shrine, which is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1996.

The ferry service operates frequently. There are two ferry companies, JR West (JR Miyajima ferry) and the tourist boat Miyajima Matsudai, connecting the island with the Greater Hiroshima. The journey takes about ten minutes.

The island is inhabited by deer and monkeys that are free at their ease. Deer are in fact considered sacred animals by the Shinto since they are thought to be messengers of the gods.

The island is a popular tourist destination thanks to the spectacular Itsukushima Sanctuary, the Miyajima cable car, its gastronomic specialties (you should not miss the local oysters) and the wildlife that lives around the place.

While it is possible to visit the island during the day and return to Hiroshima, at night, when all the tourists have left, Miyajima has a special and almost mystical atmosphere.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack and the memories of the direct and indirect victims of the bombing.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is visited by thousands of people each year.

This park is located in what was once the busiest commercial and residential district of the city. The park was built on an open field created by the explosion.

The area around the Memorial Park concentrates most of the monuments and memorials related to the events of 1945, such as the Dome of the Atomic Bomb, the Peace Museum or the Children’s Peace Monument, and also houses the Center International Convention of Hiroshima.

The surroundings of the Peace Memorial Park also concentrate a lot of light rail stations, which makes it very well-connected area to the rest of the city.

Hiroshima Station is located northeast of the city center.

Hiroshima station is on the JR West railway line and is an active transport hub serving western Japan.

The station itself is about 20 minutes walk from the city center or about 8 minutes by taxi.

The surroundings of the Hiroshima train station concentrate a large number of shops, office buildings, and hotels of all kinds.

A little further north of the city, a 10-minute walk from Hiroshima Station, you can find the temples of Onagatenmangu, Shojoki, and Kokuzenji and the Toshogu and Tsuruhane shrines.

Hiroshima Station is a recommended area to stay in Hiroshima, especially due to its good train connections.

Yokogawa is located in western Hiroshima.

This area has a very different feel from the city center. It is one of the few areas in the city that has retained its township status.

In fact, before the bombing, Yokogawa used to be the central area of Hiroshima. Yokogawa station is surrounded by new stores, but a walk through its back streets reveals a wonderful mix of old-time stores and traditional places.

Most people arrive at the Yokogawa station by train (JR Sanyo or Kabe Line) or the Hiroden (tram).

Yokogawa has a relaxed atmosphere and on any given night of the week, you can find a place to hang out, eat or drink.

Yokogawa is an excellent place to stay in Hiroshima and a recommended area thanks to its transport connections and its casual atmosphere.