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Best Things to Do in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan

Hiroshima Prefecture extends beyond Hiroshima city to encompass the Seto Inland Sea coastline and islands, including the Shimanami Kaido cycling route (connecting Honshu to Shikoku via seven islands), the atmospheric port town of Onomichi, and the historic preserved town of Tomonoura. The prefecture's island scenery and cycling culture make it distinct from the city.

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Hiroshima Prefecture Hiroshima Prefecture

The unmissable in Hiroshima Prefecture

These are the staple sights — don't leave Hiroshima Prefecture without seeing them.

1
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
#1 must-see

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

📍 1-2 Nakajimacho, Naka, Hiroshima, 730-0811
🕐 Mon–Sun 8:30 AM-6:00 PM
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2
Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)
#2 must-see

Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)

📍 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0588
🕐 Mon–Sun Open 24h
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Destinations in Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a modern, thriving city in western Japan that carries the weight of being the first city…

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More attractions in Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum 1
#1 must-see

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

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📍 1-2 Nakajimacho, Naka, Hiroshima, 730-0811

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum stands as one of the most important — and most emotionally demanding — museums in the world, bearing witness to the catastrophic atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 and making an urgent, unflinching case for global nuclear disarmament. Located in the heart of Peace Memorial Park, the museum was designed by architect Kenzo Tange and has been expanded and updated several times since its opening in 1955 to ensure its message reaches new generations with full force.

The permanent collection includes personal belongings of bomb victims — a child's scorched lunch box, a wristwatch stopped at 8:15 a.m., charred school uniforms — presented alongside photographs, testimonies, and scientific documentation of the bomb's effects. Survivor accounts, delivered through video and audio recordings, give an irreplaceable human dimension to the historical record. The museum makes no attempt to soften the horror, yet it does so with dignity and without sensationalism, inviting reflection rather than anger. Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) have volunteered as guides for decades, though their numbers are now dwindling. Visitors typically emerge profoundly moved and deeply thoughtful. The museum is an essential stop for anyone visiting Hiroshima and arguably one of the most important peace education sites on Earth.

Miyajima Island (Itsukushima) 2
#2 must-see

Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)

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📍 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0588

Miyajima Island, formally known as Itsukushima, is one of Japan's most celebrated scenic destinations, a small mountainous island in Hiroshima Bay where ancient Shinto traditions and breathtaking natural beauty converge. The island has been considered sacred since at least the sixth century, and much of it remains preserved as a natural sanctuary where deer roam freely among visitors and towering cedar forests cloak the hillsides. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996, Miyajima is famous above all for its iconic floating torii gate, which appears to rise from the sea at high tide.

Beyond the torii, the island rewards unhurried exploration. The forested slopes of Mount Misen, accessible by ropeway and hiking trails, offer panoramic views across the Seto Inland Sea and on clear days as far as Hiroshima city. Traditional craft shops line the approach path to the shrine, selling the island's famous wooden rice paddles (shamoji) and maple leaf (momiji) sweets. Wild deer, considered messengers of the gods, wander without fear among the crowds. The island is best experienced by staying overnight after the day-trippers depart, when the lantern-lit shrine and deserted lanes take on an almost otherworldly tranquillity. A short ferry ride from Hiroshima makes it easily accessible as a half-day or full-day excursion.

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Beyond Hiroshima city, the prefecture offers some of western Japan’s most compelling experiences. The Shimanami Kaido is a 70 km cycling route over bridges and islands connecting Onomichi (Hiroshima side) to Imabari (Shikoku), passing through Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima islands. Each island has its own character: lemon orchards, citrus farms, and small shrines. It is considered one of the world’s great cycling routes. Onomichi itself is a hillside port town famous for its 25-temple walking circuit through narrow alleys (the Onomichi Slope), its cats (a resident colony lives among the temples), and as the backdrop for numerous Japanese films by director Nobuhiko Obayashi. Tomonoura, a 30-minute bus from Fukuyama (another prefecture city), is a preserved Edo-period port town on the Seto Inland Sea that inspired the setting for Hayao Miyazaki’s film Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea.

Best time to visit

March-April (cherry blossom) and October-November (autumn foliage and cycling weather) are ideal. The Shimanami Kaido is rideable year-round but is best in the cooler months (March-June, September-November). Summer (July-August) is hot and humid but the sea is calm and beautiful. The citrus fruit (lemon, mandarin) harvest in November-December makes the island landscapes particularly colorful.

Getting around

Onomichi is on the JR San’yo Main Line (expressway bus or train from Hiroshima city takes about 70 minutes). The Shimanami Kaido cycling route uses rental bicycles available from Onomichi Station Cycling Terminal; same-day drop-off at Imabari is available. Buses cross the bridges for non-cyclists. Fukuyama (bullet train stop, 30 minutes from Hiroshima) is the gateway for Tomonoura.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to be a serious cyclist for the Shimanami Kaido?

No. The route is well-paved, well-signed (blue line on the road surface), and suitable for casual cyclists. E-bikes are available at the rental stations, making it accessible even for those who don't cycle regularly. The full 70 km one-way can be done in a day by fit cyclists; most visitors pick a section (Onomichi to Ikuchijima/Setoda, 40 km, is the most scenic and manageable for a half-day). Ferries between islands allow flexible routes and bail-out options.