Walking into Hiroshima Castle isn't just about admiring a castle; it feels more like reading the history of the city.
**Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine**, located within the castle grounds, is where the Hiroshima Toyo Carp hold their annual prayers for victory. It also has super-cute carp-themed charms and fortune slips that baseball fans definitely shouldn't miss. Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine stands on the former site of Hiroshima Castle, and its current buildings were relocated here after the atomic bombing.
Hiroshima Castle is surrounded by a moat. If you have enough time, I highly recommend taking a sightseeing boat and slowly enjoying the view of the castle tower reflected on the water. The perspective is completely different from the view on land. Along the way, you can also see stone walls bearing traces of the atomic bombing and trees that were exposed to the blast yet have survived to this day, letting you enjoy the scenery while reflecting on the years this city has lived through.
I really like Hiroshima Castle. It isn't as lively as Osaka Castle or as magnificent as Himeji Castle, but it has a greater sense of peace and history. Here, you can slow down, take a walk, snap some photos, and experience Hiroshima's unique charm. ❤️
Hiroshima Castle | Review by Queenie
Other Reviews by Queenie
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Yagenbori Hassho
Yagenbori Hassho is a top class popular restaurant, even within Hiroshima City that has many Okonomiyaki restaurants. People line-up in front of the restaurant every day, and it has a great deal of media coverage.
This really is one of Hiroshima's most popular restaurants. There's almost always a line, but once you try it, you'll understand why everyone is willing to wait. The Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is freshly made on the griddle, with noodles fried until slightly charred and fragrant, and the cabbage's sweetness fully brought out. Every bite has layers of flavor, and eating it piping hot is incredibly satisfying. It's inexpensive, but the portions are very generous. One serving left me so full I didn't even need dinner.
If you don't want to wait too long, I recommend avoiding the peak lunch and dinner hours. Otherwise, a long line is completely normal. Still, I think this authentic Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is well worth it. -
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Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
A complex of buildings adjacent to the Atomic Bomb Dome, this is a landmark tower in Hiroshima where visitors can enjoy scenery and experiences that can only be found here. As a sightseeing area, the Souvenir select (product hall) and café on the first floor, the "Orizuru Square" and "Orizuru Wall" on the 12th floor, and the "Hiroshima Hills" observatory deck on the roof are open to the public.
Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is an attraction that I think is well worth adding to your itinerary. Not only can you enjoy the scenery, but you can also feel how deeply this city values peace. A gentle breeze blows across the wooden observation deck on the rooftop, with Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome right before your eyes. On a clear day, you can even see Mount Misen on Miyajima in the distance, which must make the view even more beautiful. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't ideal on the day I visited, so the blue sky was missing, but the overall atmosphere was still very pleasant. The most distinctive feature inside is the Orizuru Wall, symbolizing blessings and hope. Seeing the paper cranes piling up one by one made me slow down, and it left me with a lasting memory of my trip to Hiroshima.
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Atomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park)
The Atomic Bomb Dome, in its original design, was completed as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall, by Czech architect Jan Letzel on April 5th, 1915. However, as it stood just 160 meters from the epicenter of the atomic bomb, it suffered severe damage from the blast. With a gutted steel frame and damaged exterior, its known colloquially as the Atomic Bomb Dome, a building that stands in testament to the tragic history unfolded here.
When people think of Hiroshima, the Atomic Bomb Dome is the first thing that comes to mind for many. I'm not particularly interested in historical sites, so I didn't have very high expectations at first. But when I got there, I found that there were so many foreign tourists—it was much livelier than I had imagined! What left the biggest impression on me instead was a group of Japanese elementary school students on a field trip wearing little yellow hats. They looked so cute listening attentively to their teacher's explanation. The Atomic Bomb Dome itself is very well preserved. Although I haven't studied its history in depth, seeing it in person was still very moving. If you're visiting Hiroshima, I still highly recommend stopping by, since this is one of the city's most iconic landmarks.
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