Parks and the outdoors in Hiroshima

Parks and the outdoors in Hiroshima

1. 
   SeeMemorial

   Hiroshima Castle

   広島城 Hiroshima-jō

   As of 22 March 2026, the castle is closed due to structural deterioration, although the grounds are open are free to roam around. The original Carp Castle (Rijō) was built in the 1590s by Hideyoshi's warlord Terumoto Mōri, predating the city itself. It was destroyed by the atomic bomb, by which time it was serving as a military headquarters, and reconstructed in using modern materials in 1958. Some of the original stone foundations can still be seen. Today, the castle grounds are a nice place for a walk, and definitely Hiroshima's favorite place for hanami (cherry blossom parties), with more than 350 sakura trees. The five-story castle museum is an attractive reconstruction of the 16th century donjon, with interesting relics and armor to see (and try on), as well as some informative displays about the history of the castle and the city. The view from the top is worth the entrance fee all by itself. Photography is allowed for self-use only. Gift shop sells various Warring States period-related goods, while the stamp-collecting area for Japanese Top 100 Castles is outside the castle. No elevators are available - visitors will be walking the five stories by stairs.

   Closed · opens 9 am·Prior to its 2026 closure, the price was ¥370 adults and ¥180 children · Free entry · Heritage listed · Wheelchair accessible
2. 
   SeeGarden

   Shukkeien

   縮景園

   While it's not one of Japan's Top 3, this compact and beautifully landscaped Japanese garden is well worth a visit, and an ideal place to decompress from the atomic bomb sites. Despite high-rises peeping over the trees, Shukkeien can feel like an entirely different world, with little paths crossing ponds on bridges and winding their way around graceful teahouses and waterfalls. Visitors can feed the fish and turtles occasionally swimming near the paths. It's directly behind the Prefectural Art Museum, and combined admission tickets are available.

   Daily 09:00-17:00, April to 18:00·¥250 · Built 1940
3. 
   SeeMuseum

   Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art

   広島市現代美術館

   Probably the most deserving of a visit among Hiroshima's art museums. There are a few famous Western names in its collection, including Andy Warhol and Frank Stella, but the real focus is on interesting modern Japanese artists working in their own styles, and the exhibition designers make creative use of the museum space. Special exhibitions cost extra. There is a sculpture garden outside that can be visited for free, and a decent city-view from the plaza near the museum's front steps.

   Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00·¥360 adults, ¥270 college students, and ¥170 for other students · Wi-Fi
4. 
   Do

   Hiroshima Toyo Carp Baseball

   The much-beloved and much-bemoaned Carp are Hiroshima's entry in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. After more than fifty years in a stadium across the street from the Peace Park, the Carp moved to the new Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium in 2009. While the team doesn't win much, the enthusiasm of the fans can hardly be faulted, and Hiroshima is as good a place as any to witness the fervor of Japanese baseball fandom. Tickets range from ¥1800 to ¥3500. Ask for the Carp Performance (カープ パフォーマンス) tickets — that's where the drums, chants, and excitement are. Tickets are sold at the stadium starting at 10:00, the "Green Window" at JR Hiroshima Station, and a number of convenience stores.
5. 
   EatRestaurant

   Okonomi-mura

   お好み村

   Three floors packed with no less than 27 okonomiyaki shops. This, indeed, is Hiroshima culinary nirvana. They all serve beer and okonomiyaki with some variations (kimchi, oysters, etc.), and they'll all start clamoring for your business as soon as you walk through the door. It's right behind PARCO, with a distinctive 'Okonomi-mura' arch out front.

   The shops keep their own hours, but most will be open around 11:00, and a few stay open until 02:00-03:00·Figure on ¥700-1500 for a meal
6. 
   See

   Hijiyama Park

   比治山公園

   A huge park to the south of JR Hiroshima Station, between two branches of the river. (Follow Ekimae-dori from the station to the southeast, and you'll walk directly into it.) There are the usual areas for sitting in the sun (and rather a lot of stray cats), but much of the park remains refreshingly undeveloped forest, save for a futuristic tunnel to SATY, a neighboring shopping complex and movie theater.

   71 m high
7. 
   See

   Mitaki-dera

   三瀧寺

   It was founded in 809 AD. Mitaki-dera is a tranquil, lovely temple to the west of Hiroshima, known for its three waterfalls, which supply the water for the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony (see Festivals), as well as its gorgeous autumn colors and fascinating statues. The tahoto (treasure pagoda) was moved here from Wakayama in 1951 and consecrated in memory of the victims of the atomic bomb. From JR Hiroshima Station, take the Kabe Line to JR Mitaki Station. It's a short walk and hike from there.

   Free
8. 
   See

   Chuo Park

   中央公園

   A big, sprawling green space in the middle of the city. Broadly defined, the park grounds include many of the attractions below, including the castle and the Carp's old baseball stadium (scheduled for demolition). But Chuo Park is worthy of note in its own right, with nice, long walking paths and athletic fields — there are quite a lot of open-invitation soccer, football, and ultimate frisbee games that are regularly held here, so don't be shy about showing up with athletic shoes and seeing if anyone needs an extra.
9. 
   See

   International Conference Center

   At the south end of the Peace Park, this complex of buildings has an International Exchange Lounge with English-language publications and city information; it also has the Restaurant Serenade (10:00-19:00).

   Daily 09:00-21:00
10. EatItalian restaurant

    Caffe Ponte

    Italian restaurant and cafe just next to Peace Memorial Park. Indoor seating for up to 30, but when the weather is not too hot or too cold there's a nice view of the Park and Motoyasu river outside on the terrace. Pasta and Drink set for ¥1280 is the most popular choice, but also offers 5-course dinners and wide selection of Italian food into the late evening. Menus in English, and there's usually some English speaking staff on hand.

    Mon-Fri 10:00-22:00, Sat Sun 08:00-22:00

11. EatJapanese restaurant

    Kanawa (Oyster Boat)

    かなわ

    Docked just south of the Peace Park, this floating restaurant offers some of the tastiest oysters in Hiroshima, along with lovely traditional decor and nice river views (more so at night). There's plenty of room aboard, but it does fill up, so reservations are suggested.

    Mon-Sat 11:00-14:00, 17:00-21:00; Sun to 20:30·Lunch sets from ¥3100; dinner ¥7000–15,000, not including drinks

12. DrinkCafé

    Fukuya Beer Garden

    Many of the department stores have beer gardens on their roofs, and this is a nice one, directly across from JR Hiroshima Station — just you and a few hundred of your closest friends under the stars, sharing a terrific city view. Regardless of the crowds, though, there's plenty of room and the lines are well-managed. Admission varies from ¥1000 to ¥2500 by day of the week and season, which includes all you can drink, some desserts, and a ton of Western and Japanese fried food.

    Daily 18:00-22:00, varies by season

13. 
    DoPark

    Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

    Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (広島平和記念公園, Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen Kōen) is a memorial park in the center of Hiroshima, Japan. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack at the end of World War II, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000). The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is visited by more than one million people each year.

    Wi-Fi
14. DoPublic baths

    Hanbe Gardens

    半べえ

    If you want to take an onsen in Hiroshima, this hotel, restaurant, garden and onsen isn't bad. They have a good range of baths including a variety with jets, a "lap walking" bath, and a small outdoor area and a sauna. Not too remarkable as onsen go, but nice enough.

    Onsen ¥800 adults, ¥500 kids

15. Buy

    Costco

    Next to Mazda Stadium, about 20 minute walk from JR Hiroshima station or 8 min bus (extremely accessible for a typical Costco even in Japan). Food court is available (hot dog; cheese/pepperoni/combo pizza; green tea/hokkaido ice cream; clam chowder; bulgogi bake instead of chicken bake, though chicken bake is better). Requires any Costco membership card (Japan or international members, international members must stop by counter to fill out a form).

    Daily 10:00-20:00

16. Buy

    SOGO

    This concrete behemoth is on the other side of the street from the Peace Park, and the Hiroshima Bus Center is on its third floor. There are groceries and coin lockers in the basement, and a food court on the 10th floor. If you make it past all of the toys on the 6th floor, you'll find a Kinokuniya bookstore, with foreign titles (not just English) and a good selection of Japanese language study books.

    Daily 10:00-20:00; food court to 22:00

17. Do

    縮景園 (Shukkeien)

    There are carp ponds, tea houses, and flowering trees in the tranquil urban gardens that were created in the 16th century.

    Closed · opens 9 am·200~300¥

18. Do Not mapped

    Food Festival

    This one's pretty simple — food, glorious food of all kinds, from international delicacies to local favorites, from roasted slabs of meat and seafood to delicious vegetarian-friendly dishes and desserts, served in stalls lining the moat of Hiroshima Castle and parts of Chuo Park. There's a flea market as well, and usually some cultural performances at the castle in the evening.

    Last weekend in October·Free — pay for what you eat

19. Do Not mapped

    Peace Memorial Ceremony

    広島平和記念式典 Heiwa Kinen Shikiten

    Held each year on the anniversary of the atomic bombing, with many hibakusha in attendance. Ceremonies are held in the morning (8:15AM, the time the bomb was dropped). The air raid sirens sound, followed by a minute of silence, and then appeals for peace by the mayor of Hiroshima. There's also a ceremony in the evening (20:00), when a thousand colorful lanterns are floated down the river.

    6 August·Free

20. Do Not mapped

    Family Pool

    Open from 1 July-31 August, right when it's needed most, this huge, open-air pool/water park is a popular place for kids and families to beat the heat. And it's easy to find — in Chuo Park, right in the center of town.

    Daily 09:00-18:00·¥670 adults, ¥340 kids

21. DoPark

    竜王公園

    西区竜王町

22. 
    SeeGarden

    旧国泰寺愛宕池

    中区中町7-6の一部及び小町10-1の一部
23. 
    DoPark

    千田公園

    中区千田町3丁目8
24. 
    DoPark

    Hiroshima Gate Park

    5-25 Motomachi
25. SeeGarden

    渝華園

    中区基町

26. DoPark

    HIROSHIMA STADIUM PARK

    中区基町15

27. 
    DoSummit

    Futabayama

    139 m high
28. DoPark

    光が丘山根公園

    広島市東区

29. DoPark

    吉島東公園

    中区吉島東3丁目1

30. DoPark

    袋町公園

    中区袋町9

31. DoPark

    京口門公園

    中区八丁堀3-20

32. DoPark

    橋本町公園

    中区橋本町8 付近

33. DoPark

    シリブカ公園(二葉の里第二公園)

    3 Chome-2 Futabanosato

34. DoPark

    平野公園

35. DoPark

    ハノーバー庭園

    広島県広島市中区基町５−８３

36. DrinkBeer garden

    ビアローゼン

    8-26 Nagarekawacho

37. DrinkBeer garden

    広島ホップス

    中区大手町2-8-1

38. DoPark

    本川公園

    中区猫屋町6

39. DoPark

    平和記念公園

    中区中島町1

40. DoPark

    広島中央公園

    広島市中区基町

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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Hiroshima (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).