Travel Tips
Basis for J-Hopping (Jump to J-Hoppers Group Site)
Travel tips in Hiroshima
Where to go ?
Many tourists visit only 2 World Heritage properties (A-Bomb related sites and Miyajima ). However, there are many more things to see in this region. Please let us introduce some of the less-popular places.
In Hiroshima City
| Destination | How to go there | Highlight | Fee |
| Fude no sato |
15 min by local train from Hiroshima station to Yano station, 190 yen, then 10 min by bus | Calligraphy Brush Museum, enjoy making your own brush or take calligraphy lesson | Entrance 300 yen |
| Asa Zoological Park | 60 min by bus to Asa zoological park station from Hiroshima station | Very pleasant zoological park, 1500 animals, 170 species | Entrance 500 yen |
| Hiroshima Insectarium | by bus from Hiroshima bus center to Ogawara-shako, then walk 1h in the Hiroshima forest park | Inside the regional forest park, there are a lot of outdoor activities available for children (and older ones !), and a very beautiful Insectarium with a dreamily butterfly cage you can enter | Entrance : 500 yen |
| Hiroshima Peace Museum | by streetcar 10 min from Hiroshima station to Genbakudome station, 160 yen | The most important museum of Hiroshima, relates the detailed and horrific history of the first atomic bomb, surrounded by a huge park containing various monuments and the A-Bomb Dome, for peace in the World | Entrance 50 yen |
| Shukkeien Garden | 10min walk from Hiroshima station | A tremendous Japanese garden inside Hiroshima | Entrance 250 yen |
| Garasu no Sato | 60min by bus from Hiroshima station to Shimo-Oobayashi | A factory museum about glass, blow your own glasses ! | Entrance 1000 yen |
| Mazda Museum | 5min by train from Hiroshima station to Mukaidana station | The main Mazda factory of Japan opens his doors to tourist for English guided tour | Entrance 150 yen |
| Peace Pagoda and Futaba no Sato (Walkway of History) | 15min walk from Hiroshima station, then up to 2hrs temple hopping | A huge Buddhist pagoda in a beautiful forest just few minutes from the main train station, come here and pray for Peace on Earth | Free |
| Mitakidera Temple | 7min by train from Hiroshima station to Mitaki station, 180yen, then 20min walk | Extremely peaceful temple in the mountain, to pray or take a refreshing walk along beautiful springs in the woods | Free |
| Bishamonten | 23min by train from Hiroshima station to Midorii station, 230yen | A shrine dedicated to the Seven Gods of Happiness, right on the border of a high cliff it offers a very beautiful view on Hiroshima | Free |
| Hiroshima Castle and Gokoku Shrine | 10min by street car from Hiroshima station to Kamiyacho station, 150 yen, then 10 min walk | The castle has been rebuilt as it was before the war and contain a small museum, in its park there is the most important shrine of Hiroshima | Castle 360 yen Gokoku |
| Paper Crane for Peace on Earth | 10min by street car from Hiroshima station to Fukuromachi station, 150 yen | The former Bank of Hiroshima has been conserved as it was after the Atomic Bomb blast, it now contains all the paper cranes sent from all over the world as protest for Peace on Earth (over 3 million only from the past year !!!) | Free |
Out of Hiroshima City
| Destination | How to go there | Highlight | Fee |
| Miyajima Island by JNTO |
From Dobashi station, by streetcar in 40min, 260 yen. Or from NishiHiroshima station by train in 20min, to Miyajimaguchi station. Then 10min by ferry, 170 yen, free with JR passes. There is also a ferry going there from the Hiroshima port , 1600 yen |
World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, Mount Misen, Aquarium, Art craft museum, Beautiful beaches | Shrine 300 yen Ropeway : 1000 yen Aquarium : 1000 yen Ferry 170 yen |
| Iwakuni by JNTO |
43min by local train from Hiroshima station to Iwakuni station, 740 yen | Kintaikyo Bridge (one of the most beautiful in Japan), Old castle, Rare white snakes, Samurai museum, Japanese garden |
passes (Bridge/ Ropeway/ Castle) : 930 yen |
| Kure |
28min by local train from Hiroshima station to Kure station, 480 yen | Naval Army History Museum, mainly about the Yamato (biggest war vessel in History) | Museum : 500 yen |
| Onomichi by JNTO |
43min by shinkansen and local train from Hiroshima station to Onomichi station, 1450 yen | Old town walking along 30 beautiful temples | Temples are often free |
| Izumo Taisha by JNTO |
220min by train from Hiroshima station to Izumo station, 10110 yen | The Izumo-taisha Shrine is the second most important shrine of Japan | Free Entrance |
| Hagi | 158min by shinkansen and local train from Hiroshima train station to Hagi station, 7230 yen | Old castle town, walking | |
| Kurashiki by JNTO |
53min by train from Hiroshima station to Kurashiki station, 6800 yen | A 16th century Japanese city perfectly preserved, including beautiful temples, interesting museums, a Must-See in the area |
Reference pages:
Wikitravel
http://wikitravel.org/en/Hiroshima
JNTO
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/Hiroshima/index.html
You will find detailed information about local onsens THERE.
Transportation
Tram passes
There are three kinds of day-passes to save money on your trip by street car :
One day passes for street car at 600 yen
If you spend one-day sightseeing in Hiroshima city only, the pass
may be good.
Actually, a single ticket costs 150 yen from anywhere to anywhere in the city. So you have to take a tram 5 times or more to recoup the expense. Moreover, most important sightseeing sites and the downtown are within the walking distance. So sometimes this pass is not cost effective.
One day passes for street car and ferry going to Miyajima island at 840 yen
This pass is definitely worth purchasing if you go to Miyajima and you don't have a JR pass. The streetcar takes you directly to Miyajimaguchi Station and the pass includes the ferry boarding. If you bought a single ticket each time to make a round trip to Miyajima, it would cost 880 yen,
Two days passes for street car and ferry and ropeway on the Miyajima island at 2000 yen
It would be good if you have already decided to go to Miyajima and enjoy the ropeway, which costs 1800 yen to return, even though you go to Miyajima for only one day.
Sanyo Area passes by JR west
If you don't have a nationwide JR pass and you want to hop city to city in theChugoku region, the JR regional pass may be ideal.
Unlimited use of JR trains including Shinkansen, Haruka express train or any other local trains between Hakata and Osaka
20,000 yen for 4 days, 30,000 yen for 8 days.
Unlike a nationwide JR pass, the regional pass can be purchased inside Japan
JR West page:
http://www.westjr.co.jp/english/travel/jrp/index.html
Hiroshima Bus Center
Hiroshima Bus Center is the biggest bus terminal in Chugoku region.
Most intercity buses stop at the bus center as well as Hiroshima Station.
If you come to J-Hoppers, Peace Memorial Park, A-bomb Dome or the downtown,
please get off at the bus center (you don't have to be in the bus till
Hiroshima Station, which is the last stop).
Airport Limousine Bus
The Airport Limousine bus has Two lines from the airport (To Hiroshima Bus Center and to Hiroshima
Station)
1,300 yen for one way.
It takes about 45 min to 1 hour considering the traffic. The
bus comes every 20-30 minutes.
Guided Tours
Hiroshima City Volunteer Guide
Free voluntary guide
(You have to pay 1,000 yen for the guide's transportation expense)
The standard course:
Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima Castle - Shukeien Garden for about 3-4
hours
Please call Hiroshima City Volunteer Guide Association for a booking
(In the Rest House of Peace Memorial Park)
TEL/FAX082-247-6739
Japan Guide Association
This association is a link between you and certified Japanese guides. Please
refer to their website to find the guide matching your language and interest !
Tourist Information Center
Rest House in Peace Memorial Park
TEL:082-247-6738 --- Open throughout the year
Open from 9:30 to 18:00 (April - September)
9:30 to 19:00 (August 15)
8:30 to 17:00 (October - March)
Main entrance (South exit) of JR Hiroshima Station, 1st floor
TEL:082-261-1877 --- Open throughout the year
Open from 9:00 to 17:30
Shinkansen entrance (North exit) of JR Hiroshima Station, 2nd floor
Open throughout the year
Open from 9:00 to 17:30
Local Sightseeing guide on the web
JNTO Hiroshima Page on Japan National Tourist Organization
Hiroshima Navigator by Hiroshima City
Get Hiroshima for Hype information
Sports
Two major professional sports teams are based on Hiroshima city.
Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Baseball)
Although Carp's golden years were the Mid 70's to the mid 80's, they still attract
the local fans with the splendid play.
The ballpark is in the downtown (Next to Hiroshima Bus Center) and a 15-minute
walk from the hostel.
Ticket 1500-4000 yen
Official site (Japanese only)
http://www.carp.co.jp/
Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima_Toyo_Carp
Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Football)
The home stadium is Hiroshima Big Arch (About 45 min by tram Line from the downtown)
Official site (Japanese Only)
http://www.sanfrecce.co.jp/
The Rising Sun News
http://www.wldcup.com/Asia/jleague/sanfrecce.html
Specialties of Hiroshima
Oysters
The season is winter. Very tasty but please be careful of the Noro virus.
Better avoid eating them fresh (I saw some foray tourists writhing in stomach
pain). Please enjoy cooked oysters.
They are served in many restaurant.
Okonomi-yaki
You can see okonomiyaki restaurants everywhere in Hiroshima. Cheap and nice popular food. 500-1,000 yen.
Anago eel
Anago meshi (Anago bowl) is barbecued conger eel on rice with aspecial
sweat sauce.
Many anagomeshi restaurants are near Miyajima-guchi station or it is sold
in the basement floor of most department store in Hiroshima.
Around 1,000 yen
Momiji-manju
The Momiji (maple) tree and maple leaf are the official symbol of
Hiroshima Prefecture. This maple leaf shaped confection is so named to
memorialize the symbol of Hiroshima. Finely selected Hokkaido red beans
are used for making the jam filling for the bun thereby achieving a low
calorie,low sweet light taste savoured by confectionery lovers. Momiji-Manju
also is a gift which best represents a gift originating from Hiroshima.
The ingredients of Momiji-Manju are : Wheat flour, red beans, egg, honey and sugar.