Places in Hiroshima
Hiroshima combines a moving encounter with modern history and easy access to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. Spend time at the Peace Memorial Museum and Park, then explore Shukkeien Garden and the city’s art museums. Across the water, Miyajima offers Itsukushima Shrine, wooded mountain paths and traditional inns. Stay several nights to include the island without rushing, and reserve ahead for the city’s small sushi counters and French restaurants.
Nakashima
Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
A Yoshino cypress counter and carefully chosen ceramics set the scene at Nakashima. Seasonal Japanese cooking draws on local ingredients, with the meal unfolding at a shared starting time rather than through an à la carte menu. Eight counter seats keep the experience intimate; a separate table accommodates a small group. This is an evening to reserve well ahead and enjoy at the restaurant's pace, with dietary needs discussed before arrival.
An intimate Japanese dinner
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park
Nakajimacho, Hiroshima, Japan
The Peace Memorial Museum tells the story of the atomic bombing through personal possessions, photographs and the experiences of those who lived through it. Give the galleries time, then walk through the surrounding park to the memorials and Atomic Bomb Dome. The material can be deeply affecting, so leave space afterwards rather than planning a tightly packed morning. Together, the museum and park provide essential context for understanding Hiroshima and its commitment to peace.
Understanding Hiroshima's history
Sekitei
Miyahama Onsen, Hatsukaichi, Japan
Sekitei sits on the mainland opposite Miyajima, with twelve rooms arranged around a Japanese garden. Ponds, quiet reading rooms and outdoor bathing give the stay a pleasantly unhurried rhythm. Choose a room overlooking the sea or one facing the garden, then settle in for a seasonal Japanese dinner served in your room. The setting suits travellers who want to spend time at their inn as well as visiting the island.
Garden ryokan retreat
SIMOSE ART GARDEN VILLA
Otake, Japan
Shigeru Ban's ten individual villas make this coastal stay an unusually direct encounter with architecture. Forest houses explore different forms and materials, while waterfront villas face a reflective basin beside the museum. French cooking and views towards the Seto Inland Sea complete the experience. Each house is different, so study the layouts before choosing: the pleasure here lies as much in the space itself as in the places you visit nearby.
Architecture and art
Itsukushima Shrine
Miyajima, Hatsukaichi, Japan
Itsukushima's vermilion corridors stand above the shore, with the sea changing their setting as the tide rises and falls. Walk through the shrine rather than stopping only for a photograph of its famous torii gate. The buildings preserve the graceful forms of courtly Japanese architecture, with open views across the bay. Check the tide before your visit if you want to see water around the shrine, and leave time to explore Miyajima's nearby streets.
Miyajima's shrine and tidal scenery
Eizan
Noboricho, Hiroshima, Japan
Eizan puts its central grill within sight of an eight-seat counter, making the preparation part of dinner. Kotaro Masunaga draws on ingredients from Hiroshima and farther afield for seasonal Japanese courses. A small private room offers another way to experience the restaurant if you are travelling with companions. The menu follows the produce rather than a permanent list of signature dishes, so come ready to let the kitchen choose the evening's direction.
Japanese cooking around the grill
Mount Misen
Miyajima, Hatsukaichi, Japan
Mount Misen rises above Miyajima's shoreline, with woodland trails and rocky viewpoints looking across the Seto Inland Sea. Walk up if you have the time and fitness, or use the ropeway for part of the ascent. The upper station is a starting point for further walking, so wear suitable shoes even if you plan to ride. Choose a clear day for the views and allow enough time to return before the final descent.
Woodland walks and Inland Sea views
Épure
Kyobashicho, Hiroshima, Japan
Koji Asada's Épure serves a French menu that moves from small opening bites through a sequence of seasonal courses to dessert. The kitchen may work with Hiroshima beef, venison or poultry depending on availability, rather than promising the same main dish throughout the year. An optional cheese course gives you a reason to linger. It is a good choice for a planned dinner when you want to give the meal most of the evening.
A seasonal French tasting menu
Iwaso
Momijidani, Miyajima, Japan
Iwaso has welcomed guests beside Momijidani's wooded stream since 1854. Traditional rooms and separate historic cottages provide a quiet base beneath Mount Misen, with Itsukushima Shrine nearby. Kyoto-style kaiseki draws on seasonal ingredients from the surrounding sea and mountains, followed by a Japanese breakfast. Staying overnight lets you enjoy the island beyond the main sightseeing hours; leave enough time for the inn's hot spring baths and a walk through the valley.
A traditional island stay
Daishoin Temple
Miyajima, Hatsukaichi, Japan
Daishoin introduces another side of Miyajima, beyond the shoreline shrine and shopping streets. This Shingon Buddhist temple has long been closely connected with Itsukushima Shrine and the island's religious life. Spend time with its halls and devotional images rather than treating the grounds simply as a route towards the mountain. It makes a thoughtful companion to a shrine visit, especially if you want to understand how Buddhist and Shinto traditions have shaped the island together.
Miyajima's Buddhist heritage
Le Jardin Gourmand
Furue Higashimachi, Hiroshima, Japan
In a quieter residential part of Hiroshima, Le Jardin Gourmand brings a garden's seasonal changes to French cooking. Kenichi Koyama uses vegetables and herbs from his own growing space alongside Japanese ingredients, applying techniques developed during his time in Europe. The restaurant serves set courses at lunch and dinner. Allow time to travel out to Furue and make the meal your main appointment, rather than fitting it between stops in the city centre.
French cooking with garden produce
Itsukushima Iroha
Miyajima, Japan
Itsukushima Iroha brings carefully chosen modern furniture and Japanese craftsmanship to a small inn on Miyajima. Rooms look towards the Seto Inland Sea, Mount Misen or the island streets, so the view deserves attention when booking. Dinner at Miyajima Yohei centres on seasonal kaiseki, with seafood, vegetables and Hiroshima beef among the ingredients. It is a strong choice for travellers who enjoy Japanese inn hospitality with beds and a more contemporary interior.
Contemporary island design
Hiroto
Fujimicho, Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroto offers French cooking in a small setting where the open kitchen keeps the work in view. Seasonal fish and game feature in the restaurant's approach, with careful control of cooking temperatures and wine chosen to accompany the food. Take a counter seat if watching the kitchen is part of your enjoyment. The dinner course suits an evening devoted to eating, while lunchtime visits require a private booking arranged with the restaurant.
French dinner at the counter
Etajimasou
Nakamachi, Etajima, Japan
Etajimasou offers a quieter island base across the water from Hiroshima. Its small collection of rooms combines Western beds with Japanese details, including locally made paper textiles and furnishings. Hot spring bathing and French-influenced meals built around regional produce are central to the stay. A balcony room gives you somewhere to pause between excursions, while the island setting encourages a slower visit than a city hotel. Arrange your arrival around the ferry rather than rushing between sights.
Island bathing and quiet
Shukkeien Garden
Kaminoboricho, Hiroshima, Japan
Shukkeien compresses hills, valleys and waterside scenery into a garden you can explore on foot. Paths circle the central pond, crossing bridges and revealing small islands and carefully arranged views. Created for Hiroshima's feudal lord in 1620, it was later restored after the atomic bombing. The changing flowers and foliage make it worth visiting in different seasons. Come for a gentle break from the city, with the Prefectural Art Museum conveniently next door.
A quiet garden walk
Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto
Miyajima, Japan
Arimoto offers a wide range of Japanese and Western rooms close to Itsukushima Shrine. The Royal Suites add sea views, a private sauna and a semi-open bath, while traditional sukiya rooms emphasise timber craftsmanship and Mount Misen's wooded slopes. Regional seafood shapes the dining, and communal bathing provides another reason to return before dinner. It works particularly well when different generations want to stay together but have different preferences for beds, space and bathing.
Spacious island suites
Kiyo Courage
Minamisenda Nishimachi, Hiroshima, Japan
Kiyo Courage uses French technique to explore ingredients from Hiroshima, with several course lengths to suit the occasion. The restaurant moved to Minamisenda Nishimachi in May 2025, so check the address before setting out. A shorter lunch provides an introduction, while longer menus allow more time with the kitchen's seasonal cooking. Small opening bites, bread, dessert and petits fours complete the meal around the main dishes. Everyone at the table follows the same course.
French cooking with Hiroshima ingredients
Hiroshima Museum of Art
Motomachi, Hiroshima, Japan
This central museum brings French modern painting into conversation with Japanese art. Its collection includes works by Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso, alongside Japanese painters working in both Western and traditional styles. Displays change, so look at the current selection before visiting if there is a particular artist you hope to see. The location beside the greenery of Central Park makes it an easy cultural stop, with a café for a pause afterwards.
French and Japanese painting
Nakado
Horikawacho, Hiroshima, Japan
Seiji Nakado works closely with producers to bring less familiar local ingredients into his French cooking. The chef is also a sommelier, and the drinks can move between wine and sake as the menu progresses. With only fourteen seats, the restaurant rewards advance planning. Its location in central Horikawacho makes it easy to build an evening around dinner, but leave enough time to settle into the course rather than rushing to another reservation.
Inventive French cooking and pairings
Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
Hijiyama Park, Hiroshima, Japan
Hiroshima's contemporary art museum stands among the trees of Hijiyama Park in a building designed by Kisho Kurokawa. Its collection explores art since the Second World War, including work connected with Hiroshima, while temporary exhibitions bring changing perspectives. Take time to notice the architecture as well as the galleries, then continue into the surrounding park. This is a rewarding choice for visitors who want to explore the city's cultural life beyond its best-known historic sites.
Contemporary art and architecture
Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel
Hiroshima Station, Hiroshima, Japan
The Sheraton Grand is a practical full-service base beside Hiroshima Station, with a covered approach that makes arriving with luggage straightforward. Rooms start above thirty-five square metres, giving you useful space between days out. Japanese dining, a pool and fitness facilities add flexibility, while Club rooms bring lounge access. Choose it for a short city stay linked to a longer rail journey, and use Hiroshima's public transport to reach the Peace Memorial Park and downtown restaurants.
A comfortable rail arrival
KIRO Hiroshima by THE SHARE HOTELS
Mikawacho, Hiroshima, Japan
KIRO turns an existing downtown building into a sociable design hotel. The most distinctive space is its former swimming pool, now a planted, skylit lounge for breakfast and drinks. Rooms range from conventional beds to Japanese layouts and loft or bunk arrangements, making it useful for friends and families travelling together. A shared kitchen adds flexibility. This is a relaxed choice for visitors who value thoughtful reuse and a central neighbourhood over resort-style facilities.
Characterful city design
Soshi
Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan
Soshi brings the fish of the Seto Inland Sea to an intimate sushi counter. The chef's experience in the fish trade informs a meal that moves from small prepared dishes into nigiri, giving the local catch room to show its range. Eight counter seats make this a focused dinner rather than a casual stop for a few pieces. Reserve ahead, arrive a little early and let the kitchen know about any restrictions before the menu is prepared.
Setouchi fish at a sushi counter
Simose Art Museum
Otake, Japan
Shigeru Ban's movable galleries give Simose an unusual relationship with the coastal landscape. The museum's holdings range from Japanese dolls to Émile Gallé glass and modern painting, with changing exhibitions deciding what is on view. After the galleries, explore the garden inspired by Gallé's favourite plants and look across the Setouchi seascape from the terrace. Make the journey to Otake part of a slower coastal day, rather than trying to squeeze it into central Hiroshima sightseeing.
Art, architecture and coastal views
ANA Crowne Plaza Hiroshima
Nakamachi, Hiroshima, Japan
A downtown position near the Peace Memorial Park makes the ANA Crowne Plaza a useful base for exploring on foot. For a more comfortable stay, consider the Club floors and their top-floor lounge, where city views accompany breakfast, afternoon tea and evening drinks. Japanese, Chinese and teppanyaki restaurants offer several ways to dine without going far. The appeal is straightforward: a central address, a full range of services and an easy return after a demanding museum visit.
Downtown Club stays
DIRETTO
Hiroshima, Japan
Wood fire shapes the cooking at DIRETTO, where a ten-seat counter puts diners close to the action. Ingredients from the Setouchi region change with the season, and natural wines provide a relaxed way into the drinks list. Choose the chef's course for a complete meal or ask about the available à la carte dishes. The small room works particularly well for a pair of diners who enjoy seeing their dinner take shape across the counter.
Wood-fired cooking and natural wine
Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
Otemachi, Hiroshima, Japan
Orizuru Tower offers a different perspective on central Hiroshima from its wooden rooftop observation space. Below, interactive exhibits and the paper-crane wall connect the visit with the city's message of peace. You can fold your own crane and, with the appropriate ticket, add it to the wall. The spiral slope provides another way to move through the building. Pair the visit with time around the nearby Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park.
City views and paper cranes
MASUKI
Hiroshima, Japan
MASUKI offers Chinese cooking in a small private setting for up to six guests. The chef trained in Yokohama's Chinatown but works across regional traditions, placing particular care on soups and preparations that let the ingredients speak clearly. Seasonal menus give return visits a different character; autumn brings a Shanghai crab course when available. Gather a small group and book ahead, since this is a meal prepared for a reservation rather than a walk-in restaurant.
A private Chinese dinner
Mazda Museum
Fuchu, Hiroshima, Japan
Mazda's museum follows the company's history through its cars, engineering and ideas for the future. A guided visit also takes you into the world of vehicle production, with the assembly-line section offering a view of how cars come together when the plant is operating. You meet at the company's headquarters before travelling to the museum with the tour. Book ahead and make this a planned half-day outing, especially if you want an English-language visit.
Car design and manufacturing
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima
Hiroshima Station, Hiroshima, Japan
Connected to Hiroshima Station, the original Hotel Granvia makes arrivals and onward rail journeys particularly easy. Its upper Granvia floor adds a more considered stay, with city views and access to a dedicated lounge for breakfast and refreshments. Japanese dining, steak and a traditional hotel bar give you options after sightseeing. Choose an upgraded room if the hotel will be more than a place to sleep, and distinguish this property from the separate South Gate hotel when booking.
Station convenience with lounge comfort