Although most people will only know Hiroshima for its devastating nuclear disaster, this amazing city has so much to offer. Hiroshima and its locals are known for promoting peace, making it a very important place to visit in Japan. Since Hiroshima is part of the Golden Route, it’s easy to add it to your itinerary after spending some time in Osaka or Kyoto.
Hiroshima has a fantastic culinary scene, vibrant nightlife, and some important sights to see, including the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the atomic bomb dome, Hiroshima Castle and more. Spending more than one day here is a great idea, especially if you also want to take a day trip to Miyajima.
Over the years, I’ve spent a few weeks in Hiroshima and stayed in different hotels and areas in the city. That’s why I thought I’d put this guide together on where to stay in Hiroshima if you’re visiting for the first time!
As I travel through Japan often, I’ll keep updating this guide after every trip to include new hotels I find, try and like. All hotels included are thoroughly researched or have been recommended by people I trust. If I personally stayed at the hotels, I’ve highlighted them below.
In a Rush? The Best Places to Stay in Hiroshima
In a rush and don’t have time to read the full article? Here is a quick overview of my top accommodation picks in Hiroshima:
| Best For… | Hotel | Book Now |
|---|---|---|
| Best Hotel | Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima | Check Availability |
| Best Ryokan | Hiroshima no Yado Aioi | Check Availability |
| Best Apartment Stay | Nekoyacho | Check Availability |
| Best Budget Stay | Hiroshima City Bunka Koryu Kaikan | Check Availability |
Before getting into my recommendations on where to stay in Hiroshima, I’ll go over a few important notes on how I selected these hotels.
In my usual guides on where to stay in bigger cities in Japan, like Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, I break down my recommendations into different areas. However, Hiroshima isn’t as big as some of these other cities. Since I think it’s best to stay somewhere near the main sights in downtown Hiroshima or near the main train station, there are only two main sections in this guide.
The main sights in Hiroshima are a little further from the main station, so my personal recommendation is to stay a bit closer to downtown. However, if you’re only visiting for a day or two, you may want to stay closer to the main train station. This way, you can easily drop your luggage off at the hotel before exploring the city. It’s also a good idea if you’re planning to take day trips from Hiroshima.
Ideally, your hotel would be no further than a 5-minute walk from the closest tram station. You can get around in Hiroshima on foot, but it’s best to have access to the tram, especially if you’re carrying suitcases with you!
I also always look at the size of the rooms and beds. Japanese hotel rooms are notoriously small. Sometimes there’s not even enough room to fully open your suitcase. If you’re on a budget in Japan, you may not mind dealing with the small rooms, but it’s important to know what you’re signing up for.
Anyways, here are my top picks for where to stay in Hiroshima.
1. Downtown Hiroshima
Best for first-time visitors and people staying for a few days.
Why Stay in Downtown Hiroshima?
The heart of Hiroshima is, in my opinion, the best place to stay in Hiroshima if you haven’t visited before. Most of the main sights are located in this area, including the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
Other popular sights like Hiroshima Castle and Gokoku Shrine are also within walking distance of this area. It’s the perfect spot to stay if you want to explore Hiroshima.
As Hondōri Shopping Street is also located here, there will be more than enough restaurants, bars and shops nearby to enjoy. Perfect to try the popular Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
Having stayed in this area multiple times myself, I especially loved being able to walk around in the evening. Walking through the Peace Park and wandering around the shopping area after going for dinner adds a lot to your stay here.
Where to Stay in Downtown Hiroshima?
Here are our top picks for staying in downtown Hiroshima:
Apartment – Nekoyacho
This is probably my favourite place in Hiroshima I’ve stayed in so far! Located in a quiet neighbourhood next to the Peace Park, Nekoyacho offers multiple large, modern apartments with two large double beds, a private kitchen and bathroom.
The bathroom includes a washing machine and a quick-drying system in the washing area that’s perfect for drying your clothes. Especially if you’ve been travelling through Japan for a bit before getting to Hiroshima, having this inside your own apartment is a huge advantage.
The apartment is large enough to comfortably open your suitcases (not always the case in Japanese hotels!), and you can easily walk to some of the main sights in Hiroshima from here. It’s also very reasonably priced (we paid £277 for a whole week) – I couldn’t recommend it more!
There are multiple apartments in this building, all run through Nekoyacho, but they all have their own listing on booking.com. The link below takes you to the one I stayed in, but if it’s not available for your dates, it’s worth having a look at booking.com‘s map to see if you can find any of the other listings for similar apartments in this building.
Hotel – Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima (4*)
If you’d rather stay in a hotel, Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima is a great choice. The hotel comes with spacious rooms and great views of the city, along with an indoor swimming pool, fitness centre and six on-site restaurants. The location is also a winner, as you’ll be just minutes away from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Hiroshima Museum of Art.
Ryokan – Hiroshima no Yado Aioi (3*)
Hiroshima no Yado Aioi is a more traditional place to stay in Hiroshima. The traditional Japanese-style rooms are quite spacious. Some of the rooms even offer views of the Atomic Bomb Dome! The rooms are very reasonably priced, especially considering the location of this beautiful inn.
Hotel – Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima (4*)
This gorgeous hotel is one of the best places to stay in Hiroshima. The rooms are very affordable, and some offer jaw-dropping views of the city. There’s also an on-site restaurant that offers fantastic views of Hiroshima, which you can enjoy while you dine. While staying at Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima, you can enjoy a buffet breakfast. The hotel also offers parking.
Hotel – Hiroshima City Bunka Koryu Kaikan (3*)
A more budget-friendly option in Hiroshima is Hiroshima City Bunka Koryu Kaikan. You’ll still be treated to a lovely view of the Hon River, all whilst staying on a budget. The hotel has two restaurants on-site, serving both European and Japanese dishes. Breakfast is also available at the property.
2. Hiroshima Station Area
Best for a short visit or easy access to the JR Station for day trips.
Why Stay in Hiroshima Station Area?
Staying near Hiroshima Station is a good option if you’re not staying in Hiroshima for very long. The main JR Station in Hiroshima will most likely be the place you’ll arrive at. And since almost all the sights in the city (think the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Peace Memorial Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum) are located downtown, it can be annoying having to drag your luggage all the way downtown for just one night.
If you stay near the station, you can drop your luggage off quickly after arriving and head towards downtown Hiroshima afterwards.
This area is also perfect if you’re planning on using Hiroshima as a base for taking day trips. Even though there is a lot to see in Hiroshima, there are some great spots to explore nearby. For example, Miyajima, Iwakuni, Onomichi, Okunoshima (the rabbit island) and Tomonoura can easily be reached from Hiroshima on a day trip.
Where to Stay in Hiroshima Station Area?
Here are our top picks for staying near Hiroshima Station:
Hotel – KOKO HOTEL Hiroshima Ekimae (3*)
Located just outside of the neighbourhood, you’ll find KOKO HOTEL Hiroshima Ekimae. It’s just a short walk from Hijiyama Park and Myoei-ji Temple, so there are plenty of cool spots to visit nearby. The rooms here are cosy and very affordable, perfect for those on a budget. There’s a restaurant on-site, breakfast is available, and there’s also a 24-hour front desk.
Hotel – Nest Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae (4*)
Nest Hotel is a chain in Japan that I’ve had to pleasure of staying in a few times. Located pretty much next to the station, Nest Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae has modern rooms with an expensive feel for a very reasonable price. The rooms are a decent size, large enough to comfortably open your suitcase. On top of that, there are washing machines available in the hotel that you can use for an additional fee.
Hotel – Daiwa Roynet Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae (4*)
Another chain hotel in Japan that I’ve stayed at multiple times. Daiwa Roynet in Hiroshima sits next to the station and offers great rooms for a very reasonable price. The rooms are a bit smaller than some of the other hotels listed above, but if you’re only staying for a couple of nights, that shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
Conclusion – Where to Stay in Hiroshima
Choosing between downtown Hiroshima and the Hiroshima station area should be relatively easy. It all depends on how long you want to stay in Hiroshima and how close to the main sights you want to be. My personal recommendation is to stick with downtown Hiroshima.
Now you know the best places to stay in Hiroshima, it’s time to finalise your Japan itinerary. We have a Hiroshima itinerary that helps you see all the main sights, and a one day Miyajima itinerary that helps you take a day trip from Hiroshima.
