Hiroshima Castle, nicknamed the Carp Castle, was originally built in the 1590s by the warlord Mori Terumoto as the seat of his domain, a striking black-walled keep on the delta plain. The original survived until 1945, when it was destroyed by the atomic bomb; the present five-storey keep is a faithful concrete reconstruction of 1958, its dark timber-look exterior rising from a broad moat and stone base. Inside is a well-presented museum of the castle’s history and samurai culture, and the top floor gives a view over the rebuilt city. In the grounds stand a shrine, reconstructed gates and a lone eucalyptus that survived the bombing.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Naka-ku, Hiroshima |
| Hours | ~9:00–18:00 (seasonal) |
| Admission | Keep ~¥370 |
| Time needed | 1–1.5 hours |
| Best time | Spring for cherry blossom around the moat |
What to See
- The rebuilt black-and-white five-storey keep.
- A samurai-history museum inside the keep.
- A top-floor view over the rebuilt city.
- The broad moat, shrine and survivor eucalyptus in the grounds.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with Shukkeien Garden a short walk away.
- Pair with the Peace Memorial Park nearby.
- Read our Hiroshima overview .
Getting There
- By tram: Kamiyacho stops, then about a 15-minute walk.
- On foot: north of the Peace Park across the river.
Tips
Go in for the museum and the view rather than expecting an original castle — it’s a faithful 1958 reconstruction, which the exhibits are refreshingly honest about, telling both the samurai story and the loss of the original. The grounds and moat are free and lovely for a stroll, especially under cherry blossom in spring, and pair naturally with Shukkeien Garden close by.
