Hiroshima 3-day Trip Highlights

Hi everyone!

A close friend of mine is currently visiting Japan for 10 days and this morning, she had just reached Hiroshima and she asked me what the highlights and to-do in Hiroshima and surroundings are. Immediately, I was taken back to those 2.5 days I spent down there! So, I decided to make this post, and hopefully this post can be useful for your future trip.

Highlights:

FOOD & DRINKS

- Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki !!

Basically, what makes Hiroshima-style different is that they layer the ingredients instead of mixing them up. There are tons of places you can go to such as Okonomiyaki-mura (Okonomiyaki Village) with 27 little stalls on 3 floors (that’s where I went), Okonomiyaki-kyowakyoku Hiroshima-mura (Okonomiyaki Republic), and Ekimae Hiroshima Okonomi-hiroba (on the south side of Hiroshima Station).

- Hiroshima Tsukemen !!

I tried the Bakudan-ya (Bomb) authentic Hiroshima-style spicy tsukemen. There are different levels of spiciness, so rest assured those with low spice tolerance! I went to Fujiwara Ramen Hondori West, but it is now closed (even though it was so good! And they have shelves of manga there!).

Miyajima (Itsukushima Island)

- Oysters !!

You can find it all over the island, and also in Hiroshima.

 

 - Miyajima Momiji Manjuu !!

All over the island, just choose any. I want to Kimura-ya.

- Anagomeshi (conger eel rice) @ Anagomesih Ueno !!

It’s just between the Miyajimaguchi station and Hiroden-Miyajimaguchi station. Quite pricey but totally worth it!

Iwakuni

- 100 flavored ice cream

They’ve got some crazy selections!

PLACES

Hiroshima

- Peace Park

It’s a huge area with museums about the terrible atomic bomb. Get ready for some heavy information and the strong urge for world peace after! It was a very grim yet inspirational place. If you pay attention, you can see signs everywhere in the city like “This was the place where ___ happened” etc. 

 

- Hiroshima downtown

- Hiroshima Castle

It was under construction in August 2017, but it should be finished by now.

- Shukkeien Garden

Miyajima

- Itsukushima Shrine

- Daisho-in Temple

- Mt. Misen

I walked from the ferry pier, through the shopping street, to the huge torii gate, Itsukushima Shrine, then climbed up a bit to Senjokaku Hall and the 5-storied pagoda, then walked to Daisho-in Temple and through Momijdani Park to Momijidani station to take the the Mt. Misen cable car (Miyajima Ropeway). Usually you can take a shuttle bus to the ropeway from behind the Itsukushima Shrine though, it’s just that I got myself lost on the way because I had too much confidence in myself that I ended up at Daisho-in and had to take the walking trail through the park (and it was a long walk, luckily they have signs all around).Once you have reached the station, go to the Shishi-iwa Observatory as the view from there is truly extremely beautiful!

Iwakuni

- Kintaikyo-bridge

A picturesque bridge!

ACCOMMODATIONS

Being the broke student intern I was, I stayed at hostels. However, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE hostels! And I am really glad I backpacked, I had one of the most fun nights in my life at the hostel here. The hostels here are very clean and I would totally recommend you to stay there.

Hiroshima

J-Hoppers Hiroshima

Pretty decent place! Need a little bit of walking but it’s a nice and comfortable place to stay.

Miyajima

Hostel & Café Bar Backpackers Miyajima

Just around 2 minutes away from the ferry port that can bring you to Miyajima!

Highly recommended, good place, good location, good facilities, and clean.

There is a café bar downstairs with the common living area. They sell shots for just 100yen! (That’s the reason I had a really fun night)

And you can get a breakfast with just 500yen too!

That’s all for now, I will be back with the detailed information on each day & highlights of the trip!