Best places to stay in Hiroshima for tourists

If you are visiting Hiroshima, you will need to book your accommodation before your trip. But which area is the best to stay in? Should I stay in Hiroshima or Miyajima? Which hotels? These questions can be overwhelming, especially for first-time visitors.

Not to worry, as in this article, I will help you find the best places to stay in Hiroshima for your vacation.

Hiroshima is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. The city is best known for the atomic bomb which destroyed the city in 1945, making it a must-visit for those who are interested in the history of the Second World War.

You can visit the famous Peace Park, Atomic bomb museums, the castle, take a day trip to nearby Miyajima to see Itsukushima, or to Okunoshima Rabbit Island.

In addition to historic attractions, when in the city, you must try okonomiyaki in Okonomimura, enjoy street food such as Hiroshima-Style Tsukemen in Omotesando, or go to a baseball game if you are a baseball fan.

My Overview of best areas to stay in Hiroshima for tourists

Hiroshima Station and Downtown Hiroshima are the most popular places to stay in Hiroshima for tourists, especially first-time visitors. These areas provide plenty of accommodations, easy access to major sights, and excellent connections to public transportations.

Personally, I prefer staying in Downtown Hiroshima as its central location puts me within walking distance to famous landmarks like Peace Memorial Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, and Memorial Museum. Hiroshima Station is only a short distance away as well as the ferry port for the ferry to Miyajima.

Downtown also has a high concentration of restaurants, bars, and pubs, so I can minimize time traveling from these venues to your hotels. Downtown is home to many popular okonomiyaki restaurants like Nagataya. Most of them are concentrated in Okonomimura.

Hiroshima Station is also a convenient base to stay in Hiroshima. It offers easy access to the shinkansen bullet trains, JR trains, city buses and streetcars where you can use public transportation to get to almost anywhere in the city. The shinkansen will take you to Hakata, Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo. There are some of the city’s best hotels around Hiroshima Station.

In addition to Downtown and Hiroshima Station, many visitors choose to stay on Miyajima island. Miyajima is a beautiful island known for its shrine and large torii gate, located only 10 min ferry ride from the mainland.

Is it better to stay in Hiroshima or Miyajima?

I would say it is better to stay in Hiroshima if you want more things to do at night, especially in winter when the days will be shorter. Hiroshima is more lively with many dining and entertainment options. Most shops and restaurants in Miyajima shut down in the evening, and you’ll need to eat your ryokan.

You can consider staying in Miyajima for a night, especially if you want a quiet ryokan experience and peaceful atmosphere when most tourists are gone at night. You can arrive in the evening the first day, then wake up early the next morning to see the tide go out, have a full day to see sights and go hiking.

I also find that accommodations in Miyajima are limited and more expensive compared to Hiroshima. You can find more accommodations in Hiroshima with cheaper prices, while you can also wake up early to head to Miyajima in only 10-15 mins ferry ride + 40 mins train ride.

In terms of safety, Hiroshima, as many cities in Japan, is generally safe to visit. According to the city of Hiroshima, the radiation levels in Hiroshima and nearby Nagasaki are safe and have no effect on human bodies.

Where to stay in Hiroshima for first-time visitors

1. Downtown Hiroshima

Downtown Hiroshima is one of the most popular bases in Hiroshima for visitors due to its central location and close proximity to the famous Peace Memorial Park. This area is packed with restaurants, shops, izakayas, and bars.

The downtown is only 20 mins walk from Hiroshima Station or a 5 minutes tram ride away. We arrived the Hiroshima Station by shinkansen bullet train from Kyoto and took the hop on hop off sightseeing bus to the Peace Memorial Park, which cost only 220 yen one ride.

The main section of Downtown is the lively Hondori district that centers around a pedestrian shopping arcade. It is lined with clothing stores, cafes, restaurants, karaoke bars, and gaming arcades.

Hondori and the nearby Aioi streets are busy at all times of the day, with many noodles and sushi bars served late into the night. Be sure to check out a food hall with multiple booths called Okonomimura, where you can enjoy delicious Hiroshima style okonomiyaki pancakes.

The Peace Memorial Park is located just west of Downtown Hiroshima. It is a huge memorial park dedicated to the victims of the atomic bomb and advocating for world peace.

Within the park, you can visit The Peace Memorial Museum to have a deep understanding of the impact of the atomic bomb. You can visit a structure that partially survived WWII atomic-bomb blast called The A-Bomb Dome (a UNESCO World Heritage Site); Children’s Peace Monument and Memorial Cenotaph.

Within a short distance from the Peace Park area, you can take a look at Hiroshima Castle. It isn’t original, as it was rebuilt from a destroyed 16th-century castle, but it’s still a fun place to check out.

Here are some of my recommended hotels in Downtown Hiroshima:

THE KNOT HIROSHIMA, this is a popular 4-star hotel located in a prime location in Downtown Hiroshima, located next to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Short walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Castle, and Myoei-ji Temple. The hotel has a nice rooftop bar with stunning views, self service laundry, and luggage storage space.

Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima, great mid-range hotel located within 5-10 mins walk from the city’s most iconic landmarks like the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Park, Museum of Art, and Hiroshima Castle. It has easy access to the airport bus, several tram lines, and ferry to Miyajima. You can find many shops and restaurants nearby Honidori.

Smile Hotel Hiroshima, 3-star hotel in central Hiroshima, with plenty of dining and entertainment options nearby. It is also close to several bus stops and various points of interest like Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum. Easy access to the nightlife area. It has spacious rooms and a great bathroom.

2. Hiroshima Station

The Hiroshima Station Area is a convenient location if you want to stay near the train station. It is where you will arrive in the city. It has plenty of tourist amenities like hotels, shops, and restaurants. It is the transport hub, so you’ll have easy access to street trams, buses, and taxis to get to Downtown.

Here are some of of the best places to stay near Hiroshima Station:

Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel, 5-star hotel, one of the best hotels in Hiroshima, conveniently located right off Hiroshima Station. The hotel has an indoor pool, a fitness center, and top-notch breakfast. The rooms are clean and spacious. There are several hop-on-hop-off bus services nearby that take you to all local attractions. You can find a taxi and airport limousine pickup right outside the hotel.

Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, great mid-range hotel located near Hiroshima Station, featuring multiple restaurants serving different cuisines, and comfortable rooms for solo travelers, couples and family. You can walk to Peace Park, Hiroshima castle, and Shukkeien Garden. Miyajima Island is easy to access from Hiroshima Station. I think it is a good base for train travelers.

Sotetsu Fresa Inn Hiroshima, 3-star hotel situated only 5 mins walk from Hiroshima Station and 10 mins walk from Myoei-ji Temple. It has connecting rooms which are convenient for families with children. You can find a 24hr convenience store nearby. There is a buffet breakfast with a good choice of Japanese and Western dishes.

3. Miyajima island

Miyajima is a popular day trip from Hiroshima and a day is usually enough to see the highlights of the island, including Itsukushima Shrine with the floating Torii, do some hiking to Mt Misen, explore the temples, meet the wild deer, and try some local food like grilled oysters.

The main mountain of the island has an amazing view from the top. I think hiking to the summit is pretty strenuous, and is best suited for people who are fit. You can consider taking a gondola which is around 2000 yen for a round trip.

You can consider staying in Miyajima island for a night to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere when all day-strippers leave the island and visit Itsukushima Shrine after dark.

Miyajima is easily reachable by train and ferry, and direct boat. You can take JR Sanyo Line or tram no 2 from Hiroshima to the ferry port at Miyajimaguchi, where ferries depart for Miyajima. There are direct boats between Miyajima and Hiroshima Peace Park, which is a more expensive way to travel.

Miyajima Ferry Port in The Peace Memorial Park

Here are some of the best hotels and ryokans in Miyajima island:

Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto, great 4-star traditional Japanese resort hotel in Miyajima, only 5 mins walk from the famous Itsukushima Shrine, Goju-no-To and Senjokaku Hall. It has an outdoor hot spring bath, karaoke, and a free shuttle from Miyajima Pier. You can choose to stay in rooms with traditional futon bedding on a tatami floor for an authentic experience. You can enjoy amazing food for dinner and breakfast.

Sakuraya, affordable Japanese-style accommodation located right in between the ferry port and the town. The hotel has its own private onsen, so you can relax after a day of walking around. It is a 10-15 mins walk from Itsukushima Shrine, Momijidani Park, and Miyajima Ropeway. The hotel has a nice view of the pier, and comfortable rooms for couples and families.

Ryoso Kawaguchi, this is a good value for money 2-star ryokan in Miyajima, offering views of the five-story pagoda of Itsukushima Shrine. It is only a 10 mins walk from Miyajima Ferry Terminal, or you can use the hotel’s free shuttle. It has a private indoor onsen, where you can take a relaxing hot bath after climbing Mount Misen. Many guests said the hotel has fantastic Japanese breakfast.

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Hiroshima is a small city, and it has excellent public transport, so you can easily explore the city no matter where you choose to stay. If you find a hotel that is good value for money, just go for it and have fun.

I hope you found helpful information after reading this post on where to stay in Hiroshima. Have you found any hotels to stay at yet? What is your favorite area? Feel free to comment down below. I love to hear your thoughts!