Independence Day Trip to Hiroshima!

Hiroshima is one of the well-known cities in Japan. Rather than Nagasaki, this city was the most damaged because of the bombing attack in 1945. But, there are many other beautiful places to visit there. So… I spent my summer holiday visiting this city. If you look from the map, Hiroshima is located below Osaka. There are many options to get there and it’s not too far from Osaka.

Day 1

Departing to Hiroshima by bus at 7am from Umeda Station.  It took 5.5 hours to get there. I arrived around 12.30 at Hiroshima Station.

Having lunch at the station. Hiroshima Okonomiyaki at Fuku-chan restaurant.

It’s one of famous foods there and the taste is really different from Osaka’s one. Honestly I prefer Osaka’s one. XD The range of the price is 700-1200 depends on the topping you choose.

Be careful if you don't eat pork. Ask the staff to change the pork with other topping.

Miyajima Island

Taking train from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi station for 30 minutes. It costs 400 yen. 5 minutes walking to reach the ferry port called Miyajima Ferry Port. It costs 170 yen for 15 minutes.

In the island you will find a lot of wild deer same like at Nara. This island’s symbol is deer and the red gate and Momiji. The island is quite big if you want to explore until the mountain side.

Walking along the street, you will enter the shopping street selling merchandise and food. It’s cheaper than Osaka. ^^

I ate Momiji Ten and Smoke Oyster. Momiji Ten is kind of a fried bread filled with cheese, red beans, or octopus and many other choices. It’s delicious! Recommended! XDD

And also this island is famous of its rice paddles, Shamoji. So there’s a shop that offer to draw your face on the paddle. But it’s quite expensive. And I found this!

Arashi’s Shamoji!

I think it’s summer limited, there’s a Kakigori shop where you can choose the syrup as many as you like just for 250 yen. It’s surprisingly cheap! Yup! No one can resist kakigori on summer! XDD

Walking pass the shopping street you will find the open sea again. Here is the main spot! The floating Toori  gate and Itsukushima Shrine! Both The gate and the shrine are being built over water, seemingly floating in the sea during high tide.

The view is really beautiful at noon but it’s more romantic at night. The sunset behind the gate makes it one of the best view.

I stayed at Reino Inn located not far from Memorial Park. Take a tram No. 1 from Hiroshima Station to Kamiyachohigashi for 15 minutes for with 150 yen. 

Though I stayed at dormitory room, it was really clean and neat. It costs 2700 yen/night. I reserved the room through Rakuten just for 2000 yen. Recommended!

Day 2

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (Museum)

It takes 15 minutes walking to The Park from the Inn. You can enter the Museum for 50 yen only. It’s really worth to get inside. You can learn about Hiroshima bombing and how bad the effect was. I don’t like visiting museum but this one is different. 

Genbaku Dome

It was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. It expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.

Hiroshima Castle

Talk a walk from the dome to Hiroshima Castle for 20 minutes. There are 2 places in the castle yard. One is free entrance though not many thing you can see. But you can sit down at the side of the door while taking rest walking from the dome. The view is good!

The other one is the castle itself. It costs 360 yen to get in.

There’s a shrine in this area too. It’s called Gogoku Shrine. It’s destroyed during the bombing and was rebuilt in 1965. Near the shrine there’s a small shop selling snacks and souvenirs. Don’t forget to try Hiroshima Lemon Cider! XD

Having a late lunch at Hacchobori shopping district. This area is similar with Shinsaibashi area. You can find more restaurant here than at Hiroshima Station.

One thing you need to remember, make sure to make the room and bus reservation before coming here. I took easy this things and couldn’t find any buses to get back to Osaka. Especially during the Obon day! XDD Stupid me.

Besides taking bus, you can ride Shinkasen for 10 thousands yen or JR for 5500 yen (estimate). I was late for the JR and didn’t want to spend for Shinkansen.

So… I stayed at Karaoke box at the station and it’s not a good option. Despite expensive, It’s not a karaoke place I used to go!!

I took the first train at 5.50 am. I had to transfer 3 times to get to Osaka.

My route : Hiroshima Station – Itozaki – Aoio – Himeji – Osaka

I had much fun going home by train! If you have time, you can make a stop at Onomichi city. It`s one of tourist area at Hiroshima Prefecture.

That’s all for Hiroshima city!!