World Heritage and History of Hiroshima

Itsukushima Shrine is a famous shrine located on Miyajima Island in the Hatsukaichi city limits of Hiroshima Prefecture. Itsukushima Shrine was initially built in the year 593, but it was not until the year 1168 that the military leader Taira no Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine into its present magnificent state. The gods enshrined at the shrine are known as the Munakata Sanjojin. (Three Goddesses of Munakata) They are believed to have power over maritime safety, fishing, traffic safety, and business prosperity. In 1996, Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Atomic Bomb Dome.

(Admission Fee)
Adult – ¥300
High School student – ¥200
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥100
(Admission & Treasure House
set)
Adult – ¥500
High School student – ¥300
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥150
※ If you are a student, please
present your passport or
school ID at reception when
purchasing your ticket.

The Miyajima Aquarium is the only aquarium on Miyajima Island, and is a popular tourist spot for both domestic and international visitors. The aquarium is divided into 15 areas, where you can see the rare fish and aquatic creatures that live in the Seto Inland Sea, where Miyajima is located. A sea lion show is held every day in a special pool outside the facility. Watch the sea lions perform tricks, see their powerful jumps and experience a great view as you watch them swim up close.

August 6, 1945. The world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. To this day, the Atomic Bomb Dome conveys the horror of the bomb’s destructive power and the extent of the damage it caused. The Atomic Bomb Dome avoided total destruction, although it was only about 160 meters from the blast’s hypocenter. However, all the people inside the building died instantly, and the beautiful Western-style exterior and interior were utterly destroyed, with only the building’s steel frame remaining intact. In 1996, the Atomic Bomb Dome was registered as a World Heritage Site to be an architectural reminder of the horrors of nuclear weapons.

Orizuru Tower is a tourist attraction located next to the Atomic Bomb Dome. The walls of the building are decorated with illustrations of a paper cranes, which represent a symbol of peace. There are also occasionally peace related events that are held inside the building. The first floor has a café and souvenir shop, and the 12th floor has a “Paper Crane Plaza” where visitors can try their hand at making paper cranes. From the rooftop, there is an observation floor called “Hiroshima-no-kaze” where you can enjoy a panoramic view of Hiroshima City and spend time relaxing.

The Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is located on the site of Hiroshima Castle, and is the largest shrine in the city center. Various festivals are held at the shrine, including the Toshidansai (New Year’s Day Festival) held every year on January 1st. Another popular festival is the Tondomatsuri. Held on January 15, every year it attracts many people who come to see the huge bonfires to pray for good health and family safety. If you are lucky, you might also see a wedding ceremony in the traditional Japanese kimono style, however you will have to watch from a distance.

Kure City was once the location of the largest naval arsenal in Japan. During World War II, the city built the great Battleship Yamato, which was one of the world’s largest battleships at the time. After the war, the city built many of the world’s largest trading tankers, and today Kure continues to flourish as a shipbuilding town. The Yamato Museum, located a five-minute walk from Kure Station, is a museum that introduces the modern history of Kure’s use as a military port and Kure’s world-class shipbuilding and their application of science and technology over the ages. The museum has valuable artifacts such as a full-size Type 62 Zero fighter plane and an exhibition room that explains shipbuilding and other scientific advancements in a step-by-step manner that is easy to understand for everyone.

(Exhibition Admission Fee)
General (University students
and above) – ¥500
High School students – ¥300
Elementary/Junior High School
students – ¥200
Preschoolers – Free
※ If you are a student, please
present your passport or
school ID at reception when
purchasing your ticket.

The Kure Hi Kara Shokudou is a café-restaurant located about a three-minute walk from Kure Station. The restaurant is reminiscent of the inside of a submarine and offers a variety of dishes such as Kure’s famous “Maritime Curry.” The Kure Hi Kara Shokudou serves the same curry served on the Sōryū-class submarines, which was originally a weekend dinner for submarine crews.

The Mihara Castle Ruins are the ruins of the great Mihara Castle that once existed in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Although only a part of the castle still exists, such as the castle tower (the stone foundation of the castle tower), the moat surrounding the castle, and the Funairi Tower, it is known as a popular tourist spot visited by most of the tourists who come to Mihara City for sightseeing due to its convenience of being just a short walk from JR Mihara Station. This is one of the few places in Japan where you can see part of the castle ruins from the platform of JR Mihara Station, or even from the JR train.