Hiroshima and Miyajima

📅 Itinerary Day 1: History and Reflection. Peace Memorial Park & Museum This is the heart of Hiroshima. The museum is sobering—expect to walk through stories that are heavy but necessary. Outside, the Peace Memorial Park balances that weight with calmness: the A-Bomb Dome, the Cenotaph, the eternal flame. You don’t “sightsee” here, you witness. Tip: Go early before school groups arrive. Bring tissues. Afternoon – Hiroshima Castle (Carp Castle) Reconstructed but still evocative, the castle grounds offer a break from the emotional intensity of the morning. The interior museum gives you context on Hiroshima’s samurai past. The views from the top are worth the climb. Evening – Downtown Hondori Street Neon, shopping, izakayas, and more okonomiyaki joints than you can count. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is layered (not mixed, like Osaka’s) and piled with noodles, cabbage, and meat. Otafuku sauce everywhere. It’s a must-eat. Day 2: Islands, Shrines, and Perspective Morning . Took the ferry speed boat about an hour to– Miyajima Island (Itsukushima Shrine) A short ferry ride takes you to one of Japan’s most iconic sights: the giant red torii gate rising from the sea. The shrine itself is ethereal, especially at high tide when it looks like it’s floating. - Friendly wild deer roam the island like they own the place. Evening – Hiroshima-style nightlife,. Hiroshima isn’t Tokyo when it comes to after-dark chaos, but it’s got a cozy scene. Try the small sake bars tucked into alleys near Nagarekawa. Locals are friendly once you break the.