From the tranquil Peace Memorial Park to the bustling Okonomiyaki Village, Hiroshima offers a complete one-day travel experience.
Since its destruction in World War II, Hiroshima has grown to be a symbol of quite the opposite. From the ashes arose a city of utter peace, harmony, and tranquility, where the people now live nestled in the beautiful natural landscape of Hiroshima’s mountains and lush green forests. An absolute must-visit, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how easy it is to explore this historic city with just your feet and a handful of cash!
Stroll Through Peace Memorial Park
The iconic Genbaku Dome (a.k.a Atomic Bomb Dome) is known as the main symbol of hope for world peace, representing the strength and resilience of humanity against all odds. Still in its ruined state, it serves as a constant reminder of the horrors of war and as an advocacy for the abolishment of nuclear weapons. Needless to say, walking through this park and its beautiful gardens, rivers, and mountains invokes feelings of inner peace and appreciation for natural beauty. Attracting visitors from all over the world, there is also a feeling of mutual understanding between cultures as people of all backgrounds gather to pay their respects and see those resilient structures in person.
Hit Up Pacela Shopping Center!
Most visitors to Hiroshima aren’t aware of the massive shopping centers and malls the city has available. In fact, as soon as you exit Hiroshima Station, you’ll be confronted with this huge shopping complex called Pacela, a multi-floor building with extraordinary architectural beauty. After your walk at Peace Memorial Park in the morning, you’ll likely be hungry for some lunch (or brunch), and Pacela is the perfect place to access countless cafes and restaurants to re-energize! You can also check out the many clothing stores, hair salons, and amazing views of Hiroshima Castle in this 11-floor building!
Explore Okinomimura
Okonomimura is a multi-floor building in Hiroshima dedicated to Okonomiyaki restaurants! Translated as “Okonomiyaki Village,” Okonomimura offers the best opportunity to try the city’s local delicacy with around 25 restaurants all offering various kinds of the iconic dish. You really can’t go wrong with okonomiyaki in Hiroshima no matter where you get it, so my advice is to aim for whichever restaurant is not too crowded (especially if you’re too hungry to wait!).
Dine On Delicious Hiroshima Okonomiyaki!
There’s really no better choice for dinner in Hiroshima than Okonomimura. These delicious savory pancakes are made with a layered design of fried noodles, cabbage, your choice of meat (typically chicken, beef, prawn, or pork), egg omelet, tasty, sweet and savory okonomiyaki sauce, and spring onion garnish to top it off! The setup of the restaurants is such that the grill is right in front of you and the chefs are essentially cooking in a performance-like manner. Something about seeing the transformation of the raw ingredients into your complete, ready-to-eat okonomiyaki makes it that much more mouthwatering and delicious! Vegan options available too!
Enjoy The Night Skyline of Hiroshima City
If there’s any accommodation advice I can give for Hiroshima, it’s to stay in a high-rise hotel with a beautiful cityscape view. Personally, I’d recommend the Rihga Hotel, which is quite affordable, especially for a one-day trip. The hotel has amazing amenities, luxurious showers, and super comfortable beds. The best part is the incredible window view of Hiroshima City that overlooks Hiroshima Castle and the surrounding city structures, rivers, and mountainous landscapes. At night, the city lights up brilliantly with a dazzling view that is both enticing and relaxing, making for the perfect finish for your visit to one of Japan’s most iconic prefectures.
To learn more about life in Japan, check out my book: The Japanese Pursuit of Perfection. This book features my most profound observations of Japanese culture and society as a foreign resident. Available in e-book, paperback, and hardcover. Grab your copy today!
