Hiroshima was not in our initial plans of places to visit in Japan, but upon our arrival in the country we started organizing our trips better and were able to find a day to visit this lovely city.

We had purchased the rail pass with the company JR Pass for exactly 14 days, and wanted to squeeze the most out of it. A 1-day trip to Hiroshima therefore wasn’t going to be an issue for us, especially when we consider the time we saved travelling by bullet train – it is around a 2-hour trip, where normally it would take about 5-7 hours by car.

We don’t regret it one bit. This city is amazing. It was a clear example of a rebirth after the scars of the war. Hiroshima was one of the two cities in Japan, along with Nagasaki, that suffered the impacts of the world war. The nuclear bomb was so devastating that, knowing that more than 200,000 people died and seeing the horrible pictures taken just after the bomb, you would never think that this is now a modern city. Visitors still know that it was destroyed in the past though, as there is an enormous memorial paying tribute to the country and the victims. The city is now a symbol of the fight for peace and the eradication of nuclear bombs.

We went there not only to pay tribute but also to visit one of the most beautiful cities in Japan.

Exploring Hiroshima on a shoestring with the JR Pass

The JR Pass gave us the opportunity to explore the city and the island of Miyajima (Itsukushima) for no extra money. By now we know that we will save a lot of money with this ticket.

We took the ferry from the harbour in Hiroshima to the island of Miyajima for free, just by showing our JR Passes.

We decided to go there at the beginning of our day, to avoid rushing later on if we were delayed in taking the train back to Kyoto.

The train from Hiroshima main station to the harbor (where the ferry departed from) was included in our pass, as well as the ferry.

The weather was beautiful with blue skies and sunshine, although it wasn’t too hot, so that was perfect for our tour.

Around the island there are lots of deer walking around near the visitors without any fear. That’s how much locals and visitors respect the animals and nature there. Noah was the one that benefitted the most from this, as he got to play with some of them.

Just a few minutes’ walk from the harbor we reached the closest point on land to the Miyajima Itsukushima Shrine.

Just walking around the island was a treat for us, with the few temples and even a small street market selling food and goods for visitors looking for a nice souvenir.

It didn’t take long until we took our ferry back to the mainland – again free of charge with our JR Passes. But just in the entrance we saw a little traditional parade.

Visiting the main attractions by bus – for free

We then started our journey through Hiroshima by taking a bus from the central station that stopped at some of the most important landmarks. This is a tourist bus, and visitors with the JR Pass do not pay the fare. Score again!

The first stop was Hiroshima Castle. Noah fell asleep on the bus so we decided to get off, and while I was waiting with him on a bench, Ruth walked around the perimeter of the castle to take some pictures. I wanted to see it too, but I had a good look from the bus and was more interested in the Memorial.

From there we took the bus to the Peace Memorial Park. This is where the famous A-bomb Dome is located.

The park itself has several places to see, such as the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims;

And a nice esplanade and park where families can walk around in peace and respectful contact with nature.

If we had more time, we could’ve easily visited lots of other attractions, such as Hijiyama Park, but this will have to wait for another opportunity. We are coming back for sure.

We have really enjoyed our short visit to Hiroshima and now have even more respect for this amazing city. It is a place that has been able to regrow from the ashes of the war and become a modern, green place that welcomes many tourists who want to learn more about its tragic yet fascinating history.