The symbol of Hiroshima! How to walk around Hiroshima Castle, where you can encounter history and spectacular views

Hiroshima City is visited by over 10 million tourists every year. Hiroshima Castle is an eye-catching sight in the center of the city. Although it was destroyed by the atomic bomb, Hiroshima Castle was resurrected as a symbol of Hiroshima's reconstruction and is one of the highlights of Hiroshima tourism. We will introduce the must-see attractions for tourists, including the castle tower, a shrine filled with carp, and new spots.

table of contents

> Was Toyotomi Hideyoshi the reason for its creation? The history of Hiroshima Castle
> The castle tower is attractive for its spectacular views and historical materials
> At Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine, you can see "komainu" (lion-dog) statues instead of "komainu" (lion-dog statues)
>Enjoy the fantastic sight of "night illumination"
> Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru: Connecting history to the next generation

Hiroshima Castle, located at the mouth of the Ota River that runs through Hiroshima City, was begun to be built in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, who ruled the Chugoku region. It is said that when Terumoto visited Osaka Castle, Jurakudai, to meet Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he witnessed its grandeur and the prosperity of the town, and decided to build Hiroshima Castle. Over the years, the lord of the castle changed, and after the Meiji period, a military facility was placed there.

When the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945, almost all of the buildings in Hiroshima Castle, including the castle tower, located about 1 kilometer from the hypocenter, collapsed and burned down. The current castle tower was restored to its original appearance in 1958 as part of the Hiroshima Restoration Exposition, and is now visited by many tourists from Japan and abroad as a museum showcasing the history of Hiroshima Castle and the castle town of Hiroshima. The buildings in Ninomaru have also been restored in wood, allowing visitors to enjoy the atmosphere of the Edo period.

The main attraction of Hiroshima Castle is its five-story castle tower! The most recommended spot is the observation deck on the fifth floor, the top floor.

It offers a 360- degree panoramic view of Hiroshima city, including the soccer stadium scheduled to open in 2024, and on a clear day you can even see as far as Miyajima.

Meanwhile, on the first to fourth floors, there are many exhibits of documents and videos related to Hiroshima Castle and the castle town of Hiroshima, such as panels introducing the successive castle lords and restored samurai residences and teahouses, allowing you to learn about the history of Hiroshima in detail. There is also an experience corner on the first floor where you can try on a helmet, so we recommend taking photos with your family and friends as a memento of your visit to the castle.

After enjoying the castle tower, let's visit Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine, located to the south of the castle, soothing the sight of the carp swimming in the moat. Perhaps because Hiroshima Castle is also known as "Carp Castle," there are two large bronze carp statues enshrined on either side of the worship hall. The "Twin Carp Statue" on the left hand side is said to bring good fortune in the home, marital harmony, and romantic success, while the "Rising Carp Statue" on the right hand side is said to bring good fortune in overcoming obstacles, achieving goals, and good fortune in life, so why not try stroking the statues when you visit?

There are plenty of other lucky items with carp motifs in the precincts, such as fortune slips, votive plaques, and goshuincho (stamp books)! In particular, the adorable carp fortune slips, with their ceramic carp holding the fortune slip, are a rare find. If you take the carp container home and display it in your home, the benefits may last for a long time.

Those who visit Hiroshima Castle or Gokoku Shrine from dusk to sunset have a chance to see another side of Hiroshima Castle. In fact, the castle tower of Hiroshima Castle is lit up every day from sunset to 10pm . Depending on the season, you can watch the sunset from the castle tower observation deck and then view the fantastically illuminated castle after leaving Hiroshima Castle.

Hiroshima Castle is usually lit up with normal lighting, but the colors may change for campaigns and other occasions. During the G7 Hiroshima Summit in 2023 , the castle was lit up in seven colors! When you come to see it, be sure to pay attention to the colors of the lights.

More than 60 years have passed since the reconstruction of Hiroshima Castle's main tower. Due to issues with earthquake resistance standards, the museum materials in the main tower are scheduled to be moved to the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum on the south side of the castle ruins by the end of fiscal year 2026. In addition, the commercial facilities in Sannomaru Hiroshima Castle include a Hiroshima specialty okonomiyaki restaurant, a store where you can experience historical culture such as tea ceremony and archery, and a store selling carefully selected traditional crafts and Hiroshima souvenirs, allowing you to fully enjoy the charm of Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Castle is rich in seasonal events, such as cherry blossom viewing in spring, where you can enjoy the more than 300 cherry trees planted within the castle grounds, and the Hiroshima Food Festival, where the flavors of Hiroshima come together in autumn. Original commemorative medals and stamps are also available, so why not take home a souvenir?

There are three main ways to get to Hiroshima Castle from JR Hiroshima Station: on foot, by tram, or by bus. If you're visiting Hiroshima for the first time, we recommend walking or taking the tram. You can head to Hiroshima Castle while enjoying the atmosphere of the town, or you can ride the tram to get there. Choose the way that suits your travel schedule.

Information

address/
21-1 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 730-0011

telephone number/
082-221-7512

Tourist bus parking [reservation required]: Central Park bus parking reservation site here

For information on Central Park Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru Parking Lot, please visit the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru website here

Business hours:

March to November 9:00 to 18:00
December to February 9:00 to 17:00

April to September 9:00 to 17:30
October to March 9:00 to 16:30
* Admission is until 30 minutes before closing.

Closed days/

New Year's holiday (December 29th to December 31st)

New Year's holiday (December 29th - January 2nd)
*There may be other temporary closing days.

Fee/

Adults 370 yen (280 yen)
Seniors (over 65 years old) and high school students: 180 yen (100 yen)
Free for junior high school students and younger. *Age verification required. (Prices in parentheses are for groups of 30 or more.)

free

Website/

Hiroshima Castle (link is external)

Hiroshima Castle (※April 1st ~ External link)

access/
JR
17 minutes walk from "Shin-Hakushima Station" 25 minutes walk from "Hiroshima Station"

12 minutes walk from "Kencho-mae Station" and "Johoku Station" on the Astram Line 17 minutes walk from "Shin-Hakushima Station"

15 minutes walk from Hiroshima Electric Railway "Kamiyacho East" and "Kamiyacho West"

6 minutes walk from the bus stop "Hiroshima Castle (Gokoku Shrine)" 8 minutes walk from the bus stop "Godochosha-mae" 12 minutes walk from Hiroshima Bus Center