If a genuine Hiroshima caregiver were to introduce a place where wheelchair users can enjoy sightseeing to the fullest, it would be…
Recommended for the following people
- Wheelchair users.
- People who are active and up for a challenge.
- People who are employed as in-home or in-office caregivers.
Toshihiko Hata
Ayako Mizuno
Licensed Caregiver
Ms. Mizuno is a representative of Nice Arm HIROSHIMA. After working at a day service for the severely disabled, she became a licensed caregiver in 2007. She currently works at a congressman's office and she spends half of the week going out to help people with disabilities. She is constantly posting information on SNS with recommended spots for wheelchair users in Hiroshima Prefecture.
https://nice-arm.com/
She wants wheelchair users who come to Hiroshima to enjoy their day to the fullest. With this in mind, Ms. Mizuno is enthusiastically engaged in her activities. There are many sightseeing spots in Hiroshima that can be enjoyed by wheelchair users. Mr. Toshihiko Hata, who has appeared on TV programs and is the director of Tegosu, a support center for people with disabilities, will accompany you on your trip. He will be Ms. Mizuno's guest and discover a comfortable Hiroshima that everyone can enjoy, with useful barrier-free information such as multipurpose toilets and wide width roads.
“If a genuine Hiroshima caregiver were to introduce a place where wheelchair users can enjoy sightseeing to the fullest, it would be…”
Ekimae Hiroba Otama no Kyabetsu
Travel time : 90 minutes
1/5
Hiroshima Gourmet!
Taste all the food of Hiroshima.
Hiroshima Full Focus Building 6F, 10-1 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0822
082-546-7840
Enjoy “okonomiyaki” and local “sake” with full hospitality.
Hiroshima gourmet food is something you cannot miss when you come to Hiroshima. In particular, Hiroshima-style “okonomiyaki” is a must-try. Located a 2-minute walk from the South Exit of Hiroshima Station, "Otama no kyabetsu Ekimae Hiroba" in "Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Monogatari Ekimae Hiroba," where you can find many famous okonomiyaki restaurants. Otama no kyabetsu Ekimae Hiroba is a friendly restaurant for wheelchair users. The aisles are wide, and wheelchair users can enjoy a realistic experience with the griddle right in front of them. In addition to the standard okonomiyaki, don't miss other Hiroshima specialties such as oysters, gansu, and sea urchin spinach meal.
Be sure to check out the rare “sake” selected by the owner, who is a certified sake taster! Please discover your own favorite with the Hiroshima Sake Comparison Set.
Naturally, the restrooms in the facility are spacious and comfortable, which is an important part of your outing.
To get to the next spot, take the Hiroshima Electric Railway streetcar. Even just looking out from the streetcar is a picturesque experience. The Green Mover is one of the most popular streetcars in the area, and it is barrier-free.
- Ayako MizunoLicensed Caregiver
The friendly staff—who speak in Hiroshima’s dialect—are a pleasure to talk with. In the past, they have hosted 20 guide dogs and their users. The atmosphere is friendly and open.
- Toshihiko Hata
We also had a great baseball chat with the manager, who loves the Hiroshima Carp!
Hiroshima Full Focus Building 6F, 10-1 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0822
082-546-7840
20 minutes by tram
Orizuru Tower
Travel time : 90 minutes
2/5
Experience art and activity based on Hiroshima's symboles :
the folded‐paper crane and peace.
Be enchanted by the panoramic view of Hiroshima!
Feel the rushing wind with all five of your senses.
Get off in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome and head for "Orizuru Tower”. It takes about 1 minute to get there after getting off the bus. In recent years, it has become a popular tourist attraction in Hiroshima, attracting many visitors from all over the world. The main attraction is the rooftop observation deck called "Hiroshima Hill”. Even from the vantage point of a wheelchair, visitors can view the Atomic Bomb Dome and the beautiful panoramic view of the city. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Mt. Misen.
After enjoying the digital content on origami at the Origuru Plaza on the 12th floor, take the spiral ramp "Strolling Slope" to the 1st floor. You can enjoy wall art by nine Hiroshima-affiliated artists as you descend the 450-meter-long gentle slope.
Also, depending on you level of care, challenging yourself on the playful slide "Kuru Kuru Kuru" could become a great memory! To use this service, please be sure to ask a nearby staff member.
In addition, the first floor also houses the "SOUVENIR SELECT People and Trees" gift shop, where you will find a selection of the prefecture's best-known and hottest new products carefully selected by the staff. In addition, the "Handshake Cafe" offers a lineup of menu items that will make you feel like you are in Hiroshima! The "Handshake Cafe Premium Burger" is popular for lunch, and sweets are also recommended for tea time.
- Ayako MizunoLicensed Caregiver
Scenery, digital content, food and beverage, souvenirs, and barrier-free restrooms are all in one place. The indoor facility is weatherproof, making it safe for both wheelchair users and caregivers.
- Toshihiko Hata
It is also nice to relax with a cup of coffee while enjoying the view.
Approximately 5 minutes by wheelchair
The Peace Memorial Park
Travel time : 60 minutes
3/5
Be enveloped in a peaceful time.
Take a leisurely stroll in the tranquil park.
While praying for world peace, think about both history and peace.
"The Peace Memorial Park" is a park built in the hope of world peace. The park includes the Atomic Bomb Dome—a World Heritage Site—and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The paths are flat and wide, and wheelchair users can easily explore the park.
The park is also known for being a cherry blossom viewing spot, and if you walk along the Motoyasu River in spring, you can see the trees in full bloom.
Sitting on a bench in the park and soaking up the sun is also recommended. Feel the peaceful air in the lush green park while reflecting on the war and the atomic bombing.
- Ayako MizunoLicensed Caregiver
The "Peace Memorial Park Rest House" reopened in 2020, and you will be impressed by the restrooms on the first floor! They are spacious and ostomate-compatible, and are also well-equipped with backrests, elbow rests, and beds.
- Toshihiko Hata
Any detailed info on barrier-free restrooms is very helpful!
Approximately 10 minutes by wheelchair
THE KNOT HIROSHIMA
Travel time : 120 minutes
4/5
Enjoy a historic view overlooking Hiroshima City.
Spend a romantic time on the top floor of the hotel.
Experience “gozen” (plated meal) for lunch, and a la carte dinner paired with sake by night
How about a relaxing evening bar time in an elegant space that will make you forget your daily life? THE KNOT HIROSHIMA is a stylish stay with a "travel hotel" theme. On the 14th floor there is a rooftop bar called "Kei”, which is a secret spot that we recommend. The front desk and lounge are combined into one, and can be used even without staying overnight at the hotel. Locals and tourists alike can enter without hesitation.
The space design is full of Hiroshima elements, such as wood from Hiroshima Prefecture and oyster shells, giving it a real Hiroshima feel. Toast with an original cocktail using local sake and enjoy a light food menu. Step out onto the balcony overlooking Hiroshima City and discover a different Hiroshima than you would at lunchtime.
- Ayako MizunoLicensed Caregiver
For wheelchair users, the arrangement of the dining environment is very important. Here, tables are high enough for wheelchair users to enter and enjoy comfortably.
- Toshihiko Hata
There are still very few bars that are wheelchair accessible. As someone who enjoys alcohol, I am very happy with this place. Great view, too!
Approximately 30 minutes by wheelchair
Kyobashi - Hiroshima Ohashi - Hiroshima Station
Travel time : 60 minutes
5/5
Enjoy the night sceneries, cross unique bridges.
Kyobashi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0828 Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0824
Take a walk from the city center to Hiroshima Station and cross over bridges under the starlit sky.
With six beautiful rivers flowing through the city, Hiroshima is also known as the “Water Capital of Japan”. On your way home, be sure to enjoy the bridges over the rivers. Passing through Nagaregawa, the largest entertainment district in the Chugoku and Shikoku region, we can enjoy the atmosphere of the city nightlife as we head for Kyobashi. On the way, take a break while listening to classical music at "L'OPERA," a café-bar with an eye-catching chic appearance. A gentle slope in front of the bar and a barrier-free environment inside make it safe and comfortable for wheelchair users. Kyobashi is the oldest existing steel bridge in the city. As one of the A-bombed bridges, it tells the history of Hiroshima. Continue on and cross the Ekimae Ohashi Bridge to Hiroshima Station. All bridges are beautifully illuminated at night. Wind your way forward to Hiroshima Station, the end of your journey!
- Ayako MizunoLicensed Caregiver
The view of the bridges blending into the cityscape is another attraction of Hiroshima. The dreamlike view from the top of the bridge is particularly exceptional.
- Toshihiko Hata
Distinctive from its daytime atmosphere, Hiroshima at night is also very special.
Kyobashi, Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0828 Minami-ku, Hiroshima 732-0824
Editor's Note
With the recent promotion of barrier-free access, wheelchair users can now enjoy going out. However, there are still many things that are designed for people without disabilities. It is a fact that minor problems such as small steps, multifunctional toilets, and the width of roads hinder wheelchair users from going out.
This trip to Hiroshima can be enjoyed by everyone without dividing wheelchair users and caregivers, the physically challenged and the able-bodied, and more. We hope to spread the kindness of consideration for others from Hiroshima to the rest of Japan and to the world. We would like to convey the message of a barrier-free Hiroshima, both physically and mentally.
Ms. Mizuno is a representative of Nice Arm HIROSHIMA. After working at a day service for the severely disabled, she became a licensed caregiver in 2007. She currently works at a congressman's office and she spends half of the week going out to help people with disabilities. She is constantly posting information on SNS with recommended spots for wheelchair users in Hiroshima Prefecture.
https://nice-arm.com/