Where to Stay in Hiroshima & Miyajima: Choosing the Right Area

The area around Hiroshima Station, a stop on the Sanyo Shinkansen and the terminal for airport limousine buses. The station building has a cluster of okonomiyaki restaurants, and streetcars and JR trains run to the city center and Miyajimaguchi.

Best for

• ✓Travelers getting around by shinkansen
• ✓Those also heading to Okayama, Yamaguchi or elsewhere in the region
• ✓Families with lots of luggage

Keep in mind

You will need a streetcar or other transport to reach Peace Memorial Park and the entertainment district.

Nearest stations

🚉 JR Hiroshima Station; Hiroden Hiroshima Station streetcar stop

Hiroshima's city center, with department stores and the Hondori shopping arcade, plenty of okonomiyaki restaurants and people out until late at night. Hiroshima Bus Center is here, and Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima Castle are within walking distance.

Best for

• ✓First-time visitors to Hiroshima
• ✓Those who want to enjoy dining in the evening
• ✓Anyone who wants to sightsee on foot

Nearest stations

🚉 Hiroden Hatchobori, Kamiyacho-higashi and Kamiyacho-nishi streetcar stops; Astram Line Hondori Station

The area around Peace Memorial Park, home to the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, with green spaces along the rivers. Boats to Miyajima leave from the park's pier, making it easy to combine city sightseeing with Miyajima.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to visit Peace Memorial Park at an unhurried pace
• ✓Anyone who wants to travel to Miyajima by boat

Nearest stations

🚉 Hiroden Genbaku Dome-mae and Chuden-mae streetcar stops

The mainland area across from Miyajima, with the ferry pier for the island and a row of anagomeshi (conger eel rice) restaurants. JR and Hiroden trains make it easy to reach Hiroshima City, so it works as a base for seeing both Miyajima and the city.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to cross to Miyajima first thing in the morning
• ✓Travelers visiting both Miyajima and Hiroshima City

Keep in mind

There are not many places to stay, so it is best to look early.

Nearest stations

🚉 JR Miyajimaguchi Station; Hiroden Hiroden-miyajima-guchi Station

An island home to Itsukushima Shrine and Daisho-in, with ryokan clustered around the Omotesando shopping street and along the waterfront. In the evening and morning, after the day-trippers have left, you can quietly take in the great torii gate standing in the sea.

Best for

• ✓Those who want to relax at a ryokan
• ✓Anyone who wants to see Miyajima's morning and evening scenery
• ✓Those who want to climb Mt. Misen

Keep in mind

Many shops on the island close in the late afternoon, so a stay with dinner included is convenient.

Nearest stations

🚉 Miyajima Pier (JR West Miyajima Ferry, Miyajima Matsudai Kisen)