Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle, nicknamed Carp City, is located in the center of Hiroshima city, hosting a Main Keep, Ninomaru Yard, a notable shrine called Gokoku Shrine, and over 400 cherry trees. The Main Keep is nowadays used as a historical museum to show documents and objects about Hiroshima's history and samurai culture, and you can see the cityscape of Hiroshima on its top floor. In addition, you will find three special trees that survived the nuclear explosion.

Top Things to Do in Hiroshima Castle

1. Climb the Main Keep to Overlook Hiroshima City

The current Main Keep is a reconstruction of the original Main Keep which was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945, and it is used as an informative museum now. A distinctive feature of the Main Keep is that its exterior walls are made of wood. The Main Keep has five floors, and the only way to get to the top of the tower is by climbing the stairs. Standing on the fifth floor of the building, the view of the castle and Hiroshima city is breathtaking, and it also offers a coin-operated telescope. Besides, the tower displays colorful clothes and varied katana of samurai on the third and fourth floors, and you can adorn yourselves with samurai armor and swords on the first floor.
*Opening Hours
From March to November, it is open from 9:00 to 18:00; from December to February, it is open from 9:00 to 17:00.

*Ticket
Adult: 370 yen.

Seniors over 65 years old: 180 yen

Hiroshima Castle Photos ( 8

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Night View of the Main Keep

2. Explore Ninomaru Yard to View Wooden Structure

Ninomaru Yard consists of Taira Yagura, Omote Gomon Gate, Taiko Yagura, and Tamon Yagura. The interior is a wooden structure, and you need to take off your shoes before entering these buildings.

*Opening Hours:
April to September: 9:00～17:30, admission is till 17:00;
October to March: 9:00～16:30, admission is till 16:00.
Closing Day: December 29th to January 2nd.

*Ticket: Free

3. Pay a Visit to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

The shrine is one of the most popular shrines in Hiroshima, and about 600,000 people visit the shrine during New Year. 78 Japanese samurai are enshrined here. The original one was torn down by the nuclear bomb and the current shrine was rebuilt in 1956. The local professional baseball team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, visits the shrine every year to pray for victory. Carp-themed signatures are popular here.

Gate of Gokoku Shrine

Internal Buildings of Gokoku Shrine

4. Admire Three Trees Survived from Nuclear Bomb

Although the Hiroshima Castle was not spared from the atomic bombing, three trees did survive. Inside the wall, a holly tree, a eucalyptus tree, and a willow tree can be seen, and they are no more than 1km (0.62 mi) away from the center of the explosion.

Japan Samurai Sword

5. Take a Photo with Samurai

During Sundays and holidays from 13:00 to 15:00, you have the opportunity to see performances and parades of samurai in the castle, involving drama, sword, and song shows. You can take a picture with these samurai as a souvenir.

Tips:

1. The best time to appreciate cherry blossoms in the castle is March and April.
2. You can store luggage for free at the ticket counter at the entrance.
3. The castle provides brochures, signs, and explanations in English.
4. The light show runs from sunset to 22:00.
5. Photography is not permitted in some of the exhibitions in the Main Keep.

Suggested Visit Time

An hour or so.

How to Get to Hiroshima Castle

From JR Hiroshima Station

1. Walk to Hiroshima Castle, which takes about 20 minutes.
2. Or you can take the Hiroshima Sightseeing Bus “Maple Loop” at the Shinkansen Exit of Hiroshima Station, then get off at Hiroshima Station, which takes about 10 minutes.

From Hiroshima Airport

You can take the Hiroshima Airport Bus, and get off at the Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit. Then change to the Hiroshima Sighting Bus, and get off at Hiroshima Station. The whole route takes about 75 minutes.

Must-go Surrounding Attractions

1. Atomic Bomb Dome was a Western-style building that survived the 1945 atomic bomb. You can observe the building outside the fence, and the steel bars of the building exposed to the air due to the nuclear explosion.

2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park has more than 70 monuments commemorating the victims of the nuclear bombing, the most famous of which is the "Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims", which hosts a list that records the names of about 300,000 victims.

3. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum shows detailed information about the varied negative effects of nuclear weapons, and displays lots of relics of the victims of nuclear explosion, like clothes, books, school badges, and lunch boxes. Through high technology, you are able to see the bombing of Hiroshima.

4. Hondori Street is a shopping street with about 200 stores and reflects the prosperity of Hiroshima city after the World War II. You can taste authentic Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and buy some gifts for your family and friends.

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