Rich with history, Hiroshima is a vibrant city. The Atomic Bomb Dome, an icon of Hiroshima’s painful history, is a must-see. To take a look even deeper into the city’s past, make sure you take more time to visit the elegant Hiroshima Castle.
The icon of Hiroshima, the Atomic Bomb Dome
Hiroshima Castle, or Hiroshimajou in Japanese, is also known as Carp Castle. It was first built in 1590 and rebuilt after being destroyed in the 1945 atomic bombing. The castle lies about three kilometers from the Atomic Bomb Dome, and walking between the two takes around 20 minutes.
The gate of Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle is located in a corner of a wide garden. I saw a shrine with a horse statue just before the shrine near the entrance gate. The gate isn’t big as the one at Osaka Castle, but it has a bridge and town landscape behind it. This is something unique about Japan, keeping its history amid its modernity.
The main building of Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle is an elegant, dark-colored building that provides a striking contrast with the sky on sunny days. Admission into the castle costs 360 yen, but it costs nothing if you only visit the garden and view the castle from outside. The castle’s design is so impressive, I took 20 minutes just sitting in front of the castle before entering.
A shrine at the entrance gate
Every castle has its own history, sword, armor, artifacts, and more, and Hiroshima Castle is no different. If you enjoy Japanese history, going inside is worth it. In addition to enjoying the beautiful structure, you can learn about the history of Japan and Hiroshima.
Hiroshima city view
I needed about an hour to enjoy the castle interior, but I preferred enjoying the architecture rather than taking in the history. I came on a weekday, so there was no exhibition of people in Edo period costumes. It is better visiting on the weekend, when you can take a photo with samurai. There are also commemorations of the Hiroshima bombing each August, and it’s recommended to take a break while visiting the castle to visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and pray for world peace.
Bridge into Hiroshima Castle
[cft format=0]
