One of the tourist cities in Japan is Hiroshima. Its fame is infamous as it is the first city to be 'atomized', and it is the reason why foreign tourists visit it. The Japanese rail system is great and allows you to get to and from the entire archipelago quickly and safely. Therefore, joining Tokyo with Hiroshima is something that you do in between four and five hours of travel, which is super comfortable.
Hiroshima is the largest city in the Chugoku region and has one million inhabitants. Its history changed forever on August 6, 1945 when it was destroyed by the atomic bomb. It had to be rebuilt, although a part of that tragic moment remains as a reminder, the Peace Memorial Park. The truth is that it is an interesting city, with surroundings that are also worth a visit, so today we propose, precisely, a trip to hiroshima.
How to get to Hiroshima
By train. Basically that is the means of transport most used by tourists. Nowadays the airlines have very good prices for internal trips but the train stations are better located than the airports so they have not gained so many followers. If you go by plane, flights depart from Haneda Airport and there are several flights per day. He calculates that the discounted rates are between 12 and 17 thousand yen. The flight takes just 90 minutes but Hiroshima airport is 50 minutes from the city center.
If you travel in shinkansen, the Japanese bullet train, the lines are the JR Tokaido and Sanyo. Hikari and Sakura services take between four and five hours from Tokyo. If you have the tourist pass, the popular Japan Ral PassYou can use these two services but not the fastest one, called Nozomi. It is not a very interesting option, but the bus between Tokyo and Hiroshima takes 12 hours.
How to get around in Hiroshima
If you have the Japan Rail Pass you can use the train and some public buses. In addition, you can use the Maple-oop, a tourist bus that connects the central station with different areas of the city every half hour. The city has a network of trams but you will have to pay for them separately. You can buy the 24-hour pass for unlimited use of the trams, at a price of 600 yen. For 240 yen it also includes the ferry to Miyajima Island, a typical excursion, and a discount on the island's funicular.
What to see in Hiroshima
I think you have to stay in Hiroshima for about three days, considering that you never arrive very early and considering the surroundings of the city. In the city itself the appointment that cannot be postponed is the Peace Memorial Park. You can get there on the tourist bus or, if you like to walk, travel the three kilometers between the train station and the place. Before the bomb this part of Hiroshima was the political and commercial heartland. An old building remains standing, half destroyed, and around it and bordering the river a large park with monuments and memorials has been designed. And the museum, of course.
The museum has two buildings and tells the story of the bomb and the days after in the city. There is a model of it, with the bomb, photographs, testimonies, objects melted by radioactive heat and much more. Attention: the museum is being renovated so there are fewer exhibits. Between September last year and next spring the east wing will be closed and then the main building will close until 2018.
Other tourist attractions in the city are the Hiroshima castle, a noble five-story black reconstruction surrounded by a moat that is only 15 minutes from Memorial Park and costs 370 yen to enter. There is also the Mazda Museum, for car enthusiasts, and the Shukkeien Garden It originally dates from the XNUMXth century and is beautiful.
And the city of Hiroshima? It has grown a lot over time and the main area for walking, eating and shopping is Hondori Street. It is a pedestrian street that begins near the Parque de la Paz, parallel to the street where trams and cars circulate. To try Hiroshima okonomiyaki, the city's gastronomic specialty, it is best to walk to the end of Hondori. There are many restaurants there.
Excursions from Hiroshima
The surroundings of the city have their charms so that's why my advice is to stay for three days. The Miyajima Island is the principal. It is less than an hour from the city. You arrive by train and by ferry, both covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The huge, semi-submerged tori is the most classic postcard. Coming and going and wandering takes up most of the day. Another possible destination is the town of Iwakuni with its beautiful bridge, the Kintai-kyo, even more beautiful in spring. You can visit the bridge, the castle and the Kikko Park.
And if you have time you can go to know Onomichi, a coastal city. These are my tips for visit Hiroshima. More days it seems to me that you will not have much to do, but with three there is enough to know and walk without haste. I've been there for a few years now and I'll be back in April 2016 so next year I'll have more Japan travel tips.