Hiroshima has the makings of an excellent girls trip — a photogenic floating shrine, a chic ryokan island, hillside temple towns with cat-friendly cafes, lemon-scented spa products from the Setouchi islands, and three days' worth of oyster lunches. The pace is gentler than Tokyo or Osaka, the food is built around small luxuries (fresh oysters, momiji manju, sake tastings), and the photogenic spots are not yet overrun by Instagram tourism. This guide is your three-to-five day Hiroshima girls trip blueprint.

Day 1: Miyajima — The Iconic Day

The defining experience of any Hiroshima trip. Start early to beat the day-trippers; stay overnight if you can.

Morning: Itsukushima Shrine

  • 08:30 ferry from Miyajimaguchi — the ferry is half-empty before 09:30
  • Itsukushima Shrine walk — ¥300. Aim for high tide, which depends on the day (check tide tables)
  • Daisho-in Temple — atmospheric pilgrim Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount Misen; prayer wheels and stone Buddhas

Lunch: Oyster Heaven on Omotesando

  • Yakigaki-no-Hayashi — grilled oysters on the half-shell, eaten standing at the open-fronted shack; ¥250–¥400 per oyster
  • Kakiya Restaurant — sit-down lunch with the famous oyster rice set (¥1,700)

Afternoon: Mount Misen by Ropeway

  • ¥2,000 round trip on the Miyajima Ropeway
  • 30 minutes summit walking
  • Panoramic photos of the Seto Inland Sea
  • Wild deer encounters (cute — but keep food in your bag!)

Evening: Stay at a Miyajima Ryokan

The island is dramatically quieter after the last day-trippers leave on the 17:00 ferry. Recommended stays:

  • Iwaso — historic ryokan in Momijidani Park, traditional kaiseki dinner
  • Ryoso Kawaguchi — smaller boutique ryokan with bay views
  • Hotel Miyarikyu — modern hotel; less character, easier access

Sunset shot: Walk to Itsukushima Shrine 60 min before sunset for the sun behind the torii.

Day 2: Onomichi — Cats & Hillside Cafes

A 90-minute train ride east — perfect day trip or overnight stop.

Morning: Senkoji Ropeway & Temple Walk

  • Take the Senkoji Ropeway to the hilltop (¥500 one way)
  • Walk down the temple route through stone alleys
  • Senkoji Temple — cliff-edge views over the harbour
  • Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi) — painted fortune-cat stones, real cats lounging on stone walls, small galleries

Lunch: Onomichi Ramen

  • Tsutafuji — Hiroshima’s other regional ramen, with soy-pork broth and a pork-fat surface; queue up at 11:30 for a counter seat
  • Or Hayashi Ramen for a quieter alternative

Afternoon: Cafe Crawl

Onomichi’s cafe scene is genuinely excellent — concentrated in the hillside between U2 (the cycling hotel) and Cat Alley.

  • U2 Onomichi — converted warehouse with a cycle culture café, bakery, and shop
  • Cafe Felice — narrow building, fresh fruit parfaits
  • Yamaneko Café — cat-themed second-floor café with harbour views
  • HIBI Coffee — minimal speciality coffee bar

Shopping in Onomichi

  • U2 shop — Onomichi-branded cycling and lifestyle goods
  • Hattori Plumb — second-hand bookshop & gallery
  • Onomichi Shoten — design-led local goods and souvenirs

Overnight: Hotel U2

If you’re staying, Hotel Cycle at U2 is one of the most stylish hotels in western Japan — bicycle-friendly, design-led, with the U2 café and bakery on-site.

Day 3: Setoda Lemon Island

Take the Shimanami Kaido ferry to Ikuchijima (or bike a section) for a citrus-themed half-day.

Morning: Ferry to Setoda

  • 30 min ferry from Onomichi Port to Setoda
  • Walk the waterfront promenade

Lunch & Café

  • Lemonca — Setoda’s most photogenic lemon café; lemon cake, lemon parfait, lemon soda
  • Soil Setoda — local lifestyle store + café

Shopping for Lemon Goods

  • Lemon soap, lemon syrup, lemon liqueur, lemon-infused olive oil
  • Setoda Lemon Salt — kitchen-bag-friendly souvenir

Optional: Stay at Azumi Setoda

The luxury ryokan/hotel Azumi Setoda is one of the most photographed accommodations in western Japan — a converted Edo-period merchant house with a private onsen.

Day 4: Hiroshima City Food & Shopping

Morning: Hondori Arcade

  • Andersen Bakery — Hiroshima’s beloved European-style bakery; perfect breakfast spot
  • Hondori shopping arcade — Hiroshima’s main covered shopping street
  • Parco department store — beauty, fashion, lifestyle

Lunch: Okonomimura

  • The famous 3-floor okonomiyaki building with 25 stalls
  • Sit at the teppan counter; watch the chef build the layered pancake
  • ¥900–¥1,500 for a standard pork-noodle okonomiyaki

Afternoon: Beauty & Wellness

  • Shukkeien Garden — traditional strolling garden, ¥260, beautiful for photos
  • Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum — combined ticket with the garden
  • Spa break at one of the city’s day spa hotels

Evening: Nagarekawa Drinks

  • Hiroshima’s nightlife district — countless small izakaya and cocktail bars
  • Try Hiroshima Lemon sour — a tart citrus highball that’s the city’s signature drink
  • Bar Cordon Bleu for upscale cocktails
  • Sumibiyaki Mihara for charcoal-grilled chicken skewers

Best Photo Spots

Spot Best time Why
Itsukushima Shrine torii at high tide Sunset The iconic shot — sun behind the torii
Mount Misen summit observatory 11:00 (best visibility) Seto Inland Sea panorama
Onomichi Senkoji viewpoint Early morning Town and harbour stretching below
Setoda waterfront promenade Late afternoon Soft light on the white walls
Hiroshima Castle moat Early April (cherry blossoms) Pink cherry reflections in the moat
Atomic Bomb Dome Sunset golden hour Steel structure backlit
Shukkeien Garden Mid-November (maples) Red leaves reflecting in the central pond
Cat Alley (Onomichi) Mid-morning Cats are most active before noon

Best Souvenirs

Souvenir Where to buy Approx. price
Momiji manju gift box Miyajima shops, Hiroshima Station ¥900–¥1,800
Setoda Lemon products Setoda; Hiroshima Station basement ¥500–¥1,500
Kumano brushes (Hiroshima’s famous makeup brushes) Kumano Brush Village or Hiroshima Station; world-class quality ¥1,500–¥10,000+
Hiroshima sake Saijo brewery or station food hall ¥1,200–¥3,000
Itsukushima shamoji (sacred rice paddle) Miyajima Omotesando ¥500–¥3,000
Onomichi cycling-themed goods U2 Onomichi shop ¥500–¥3,000
Hiroshima Carp baseball merchandise Hondori arcade or Mazda Stadium shop ¥1,000–¥4,000

Spa & Wellness

  • Otome no Yu (Miyajima) — public bath at a ryokan with Itsukushima views, ¥1,200
  • Yumotokan Spa (city centre) — hotel day spa
  • Setoda Azumi spa — luxury experience, by reservation

Kumano Brushes

Hiroshima Prefecture’s Kumano village produces the world’s most prized makeup and calligraphy brushes — used by major cosmetics brands and Olympic champions alike. The Kumano Brush Festival (autumn) is the best time to visit; otherwise, you can buy world-class brushes at the Kumano shops or Hiroshima Station basement.

Suggested Itineraries

Three-Day Sampler

  • Day 1: Miyajima full day with overnight ryokan
  • Day 2: Morning at Miyajima, afternoon in Hiroshima city (Hondori + Okonomimura)
  • Day 3: Onomichi day trip, return to Tokyo/Osaka

Five-Day Setouchi Deep Dive

  • Day 1: Hiroshima city — Peace Park, Castle, Hondori
  • Day 2: Miyajima with overnight ryokan
  • Day 3: Onomichi & Cat Alley; overnight at U2
  • Day 4: Setoda lemon island; overnight Azumi Setoda (luxury) or return to Onomichi
  • Day 5: Tomonoura day trip, return to Hiroshima or onwards to Kyoto

Practical Tips

  • Best season for photos: Late March to early April (cherry blossoms) or mid-November (autumn maples)
  • Hotel booking: Miyajima ryokan and Azumi Setoda book up 3–6 months in advance — plan ahead
  • Cash: Smaller cafes and shops on Miyajima and Onomichi are often cash-only
  • Footwear: Onomichi temple walk has many stone steps; Miyajima also requires comfortable shoes
  • Weather: Inland Sea is generally mild but bring layers — sunsets cool down quickly even in summer
  • Group photos: The famous torii shot is the most-photographed spot in Hiroshima — plan for some patience or arrive at sunrise for empty frames