9 spots โ sorted by traveller rating
Itsukushima Shrine's iconic vermilion torii gate appears to float on the water at high tide, making this one of Japan's most photographed scenes. Miyajima Island also shelters sacred deer, a five-storey pagoda, and forested hiking trails leading to Mt. Misen's panoramic summit.
The symbolic heart of Hiroshima, this park surrounds the ruins of the Genbaku Dome โ the only structure left standing near the 1945 atomic bomb hypocenter. Wander cenotaphs, the Children's Peace Monument, and the eternal flame to absorb the city's profound message of peace and resilience.
One of Japan's most important museums, documenting the human toll of the 1945 atomic bombing through personal artifacts, photographs, and survivor testimonies. Deeply moving and essential for understanding modern history, the museum advocates nuclear abolition and world peace.
Onomichi's hillside lanes connect 25 temples and shrines via a scenic walking path loved by filmmakers and artists. The narrow alleys are famous for their cats, vintage shotengai shopping streets, and sweeping views over the Onomichi Channel and island-dotted Setonaikai.
Kure's maritime heritage shines at two world-class museums. The Yamato Museum displays a 1:10 model of the legendary battleship alongside wartime artefacts, while JMSDF Kure Museum (Iron Whale) lets visitors board a real decommissioned submarine for a unique inside look at naval life.
One of the Seto Inland Sea's best-preserved Edo-period port towns, Tomonoura's stone-walled harbour, old merchant houses, and evening glow over the sea inspired Hayao Miyazaki's Ponyo. Walk along the ancient quay and sip local bingo-mirin sake at a centuries-old brewery.
Rebuilt after the atomic bombing, Hiroshima Castle stands as a symbol of the city's remarkable recovery. The five-storey keep houses a museum of feudal history, and the surrounding moat and grounds burst with cherry blossoms every spring.
Perched on the slopes above Hiroshima, Seiryuji houses a striking 14-m bronze Daibutsu (Great Buddha) and commands sweeping city views. The temple grounds include an elaborate dragon gate, seasonal gardens, and colourful paper lanterns, making it an atmospheric escape from the urban centre.
Known as the 'floating castle', Mihara Castle was built on a small island in the Seto Inland Sea in 1582 and was once considered impregnable. The restored keep and surrounding old town preserve the atmosphere of a prosperous sea-trading castle town, best explored on a leisurely stroll.
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