Hiroshima City: Features, Popular Tourist Attractions, Gourmet

Hiroshima City, located in Hiroshima Prefecture, is globally known as the first city to experience an atomic bombing. Today, it stands as an International City of Peace and Culture, attracting visitors from around the world. The Peace Memorial Park in the city center, home to the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum, plays a crucial role in passing down the importance of peace to future generations.

Around the Peace Memorial Park, which serves as the hub of Hiroshima tourism, various attractions are scattered, including the Orizuru Tower and Hiroshima Castle, all easily accessible by streetcar. The Atomic Bomb Dome, in particular, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1996 and leaves a profound impression on visitors as a symbol of peace.

In terms of cuisine, Hiroshima is nationally famous as the holy ground of okonomiyaki. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is characterized by its unique layered structure, where ingredients such as vegetables, meat, eggs, and noodles are stacked on top of the batter. The city features numerous specialized restaurants, including “Okonomimura,” a commercial facility housing many Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki establishments. Fresh oysters from Hiroshima Bay are also a popular local delicacy, with oyster dishes from Miyajima being particularly popular among tourists.

The city boasts excellent transportation access, with bullet train journeys taking approximately 4 hours from Tokyo and 1.5 hours from Osaka. From Hiroshima Airport, the city center is accessible by limousine bus in about 45 minutes. Within the city, the streetcar system provides convenient transportation for efficiently visiting tourist spots.