Hiroshima Castle

I won’t add much to what has already been said. The castle is a must-visit for anyone interested in Japanese history. Although it was rebuilt, it still offers a meaningful historical experience. The castle even has its own mascot, and there are lots of exhibits related to the samurai era. There are also other historical buildings around that are worth exploring. Visiting the castle should definitely be on your list if you are in Hiroshima.

The castle ground is huge. The most around the castle has some very nice Japanese Koi in them and it is free to roam around the castle ground. The admission fee to the castle mueseum is a token fee of ¥370 and we bought our tickets on arrival. The many levels of display are interesting including stories of the castle and it's builder + samurai. You can even put on a real samurai helmet and pick up a real samurai sword (locked down in a display cabinet). The top level allows you to go out on onto the balcony which gives you a nice view of the surrounding buildings and mountains. Allow at least 1.5 hours to explore the castle museum. Overall, a great experience.

Hiroshima Castle was only seen from the outside because we arrived shortly before closing time. It was interesting to experience how organized the entrance system is, with clear timing announcements for the last entry. The castle park and the surrounding structure are very beautiful and relaxing, perfect for a peaceful walk. Even just seeing it from outside gives a sense of its historical presence and elegance.

Lots of history and has a museum on site. Often called Carp Castle (Rijō), is a rare "flatlands castle" that serves as a powerful symbol of the city's pre-modern heritage and its post-war resilience. Unlike typical Japanese castles perched on hills, it was built on a delta to utilize water transportation and defense. Feudal Governance: After the Mōri clan was displaced following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, the castle was ruled by the Fukushima clan and later by the Asano clan, who governed for 12 generations throughout the Edo period. Military Center: Following the Meiji Restoration, the castle transitioned from a feudal residence to a critical military base, serving as the Imperial General Headquarters during the First Sino-Japanese War (1894–1895). Tragedy and Rebirth: On August 6, 1945, the original 16th-century wooden structure was completely leveled by the atomic bomb. The current five-story keep is a 1958 reconstruction made of ferro-concrete with a traditional wooden-clad exterior. Interactive History Museum: The keep's interior houses an extensive museum chronicling Hiroshima's development, featuring samurai armor, weapons, and scale models of the original fortress. Observation Deck: The top floor provides 360-degree panoramic views of the city, including sights of the Atomic Bomb Dome and Shukkeien Garden. Survivor Trees: Living reminders of the blast, three "A-bombed" trees—a willow, a eucalyptus, and a holly—still grow within the castle walls, symbolizing the city's ability to flourish after devastation. Restored Compounds: Beyond the main keep, visitors can explore the Ninomaru (second circle of defense), which was reconstructed in 1994 using traditional timber techniques to recreate the main gate and turrets.

Hiroshima Castle is beautifully preserved, showcasing its rich history and cultural significance. The museum inside offers fascinating insights into past events, and from the top, the panoramic view is truly extraordinary. A remarkable destination that blends heritage with scenic beauty—well worth the visit.

Hiroshima Castle, or 'Carp Castle,' is a beautiful and moving symbol of the city's resilience. While the original 16th-century structure was lost in 1945, the 1958 reconstruction is stunningly photogenic with its dark wooden facade and scenic moat. If you are visiting in early 2026, don’t miss the chance to go inside the main tower, as it is scheduled to close on March 22, 2026, for major renovations. The museum inside offers a great look at samurai culture, featuring authentic armor and swords. The top-floor observation deck provides a fantastic panoramic view of the modern city and even Miyajima on a clear day. Even after the main keep closes, the grounds remain well worth a visit. You can explore the reconstructed Ninomaru towers for free and see the A-bombed 'survivor trees' that still stand today. Also, be sure to check out the new Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru area (opened in 2025), which has excellent local food like Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and traditional archery experiences. A must-visit stop between the Peace Park and Shukkeien Garden!"

No doubt if ur coming to hiroshima, this place is a must. The interior is basically a museum. Calm and green surroundings. Once u enter the castle, take a ticket of 370 yen, pick a pamphlet and start the tour of the 5 floors. Amazing views from the top floor😍. Lots of interesting history stuff inside (there is also a samurai hat to try on😁 and a real samurai sword that u can hold in ur hands 😆). If there is a festival there will be food stalls also, I went on new year, there were tons of different food, lots of people enjoying the first snowfall of the year.

★★★★☆ | A Powerful Symbol of Resilience Hiroshima Castle stands as a profound testament to the city's ability to rebuild and reclaim its history. While it is a meticulous concrete reconstruction, don't let that fool you into thinking it lacks authenticity. The value of this castle isn't in ancient, original timber; it's in its powerful story. The main keep houses an excellent museum dedicated to the castle's history, samurai culture, and life in feudal Hiroshima. The artifacts and informative displays are engaging, but the most poignant moment comes when you reach the top floor. The viewing platform offers a stunning 360-degree panorama of the modern city, a view that is both beautiful and deeply moving. To look out over this vibrant, peaceful metropolis, knowing it once was ashes, is an unforgettable experience. Its proximity to the Peace Memorial Park makes it an essential part of a day of historical reflection. You move from the profound tragedy of the Atomic Bomb Dome to the inspiring resurrection symbolized by the castle.

Hiroshima sightseeing... Since our time in Hiroshima was much shorter than we hoped the time to see everything that we wanted to was so short but we're so lucky to have family who took us to every single spot and Hiroshima Castle was one though it was very very brief. Many of the sights were very close but on this day it was Hiroshima Gokoku Jinya that we wanted to visit and it's right next to the castle and yes it does have free parking that was amazing so very little walking but as the Sakura Trees are everywhere it was just a stunning sight to see and with other areas like the Peace Memorial Park just a short distance away taking in the peaceful city of Hiroshima is easy and very humbling. どうもありがとうございます！

We hoped on the bus and got off at Hiroshima castle. 370 ¥ for adults 180¥ for seniors and ages 16-18 Worth a visit if you're going to explore Hiroshima peace memorial anyway. But I wouldn't make a trip of its own. It's a lot smaller in comparison to the Osaka Castle. Beware coming in on a rainy day, it was unpleasant to explore in the rain and to have to dodge puddles.

A beautiful area to walk around and look at in Hiroshima. We went for a walk late in the afternoon so we didn't get to see inside but you're still able to walk the grounds of the castle. It wasn't too far from the A-Bomb dome so the surrounding area made for a great evening stroll.

HIROSHIMA CASTLE This was an interesting castle to visit. I enjoyed learning about the history of Hiroshima and seeing so much ancient history. They have real samurai uniforms. There are 5 floors of the castle that you can walk through, and on the top floor there is a balcony that you can go outside for a view. I would recommend maybe one or two hours here, depending on how fast you like to go to museums.

I came here on a trip in the fall and the weather was spectacular. Incredible views especially at night when there aren't any people around. Historic spot with some good eats nearby as well. Looking forward to swinging by again next time I am around!

Wonderful place to visit in the heart of Hiroshima. It is not far from ground zero/ Peace Park if you walk. Please visit this piece of Japanese history!

Not as big or grand as others I've seen, but a good place to stop by should your travel brings to Hiroshima. Inside is not much to see but they have samurai and shogun clothes available to try and take pictures. I dressed up in samurai clothes and had fun taking pictures. Train is available but it wasn't JR or street car, I needed to purchase a new ticket to ride this segment of train from downtown to this train station.

What a fantastic visit on a beautiful Spring day! We entered the Hiroshima Castle grounds and had to stop to take a look at all the beautiful koi fish when crossing over the little bridge. After that we trekked through the castle grounds and passed by a building, which I assumed was a place to watch a bit of theater shows. Continuing on, we eventually reached the castle. I didn't think we could go inside, but to our surprise it's a museum with all types of cool artifacts inside. You can go to the very top and take a look around the castle grounds as well, which was a beautiful sight!

I recommend visiting Hiroshima Castle when you are in the area. We came here on a weekend afternoon, and surprisingly there were no long lines or huge crowds. We were able to enjoy the view around the castle as well as on the grounds. There is a free exhibit on your way to the castle (and you'll need to take off your shoes for viewing). There's a moat nearby with koi in the waters. There's a short walk up to the castle with some steps. We didn't get a chance to go inside but I think there might be an admission fee. Overall, a good place for sightseeing.

The grounds are beautifully maintained and the most was clean. They clearly take great pride in the monument. There's a moderately priced museum in the tower itself, which is packed with interesting information about the history of the castle, the area and the people. The top floor is a viewing deck, which affords a lovely vista of Hiroshima and is well worth the entrance fee. Definitely not one to be missed, particularly if you're interested in Japanese architecture, history and samurai!

Although it's not authentic as the main tower was rebuilt after WWII, it was rebuilt precisely what it was before. (Well, interior has been modernized, however) Not only main tower, the main gate and watch towers were also rebuilt and they are quite beautiful. Although I did go inside of the main tower(360 yen admission fee), I was more interested in observing from outside. Walking around the moat, enjoying magnificent looking buildings. Even if you were swinging by this area, I think it'll stop you for a moment and go "Wow... that looks beautiful.." Yes, it's that beautiful. I think this one became one of my favorites.

It was a spur of the moment decision to visit Hiroshima Castle and I'm extremely happy we did. We waited until late afternoon ( after 3 ) to head out because we had just arrived in Hiroshima from Fukuoka and after checking in, unpacking, getting lunch and cooling down, the timing worked out perfectly. We took a cab ( ¥1020 from the Sheraton ) because with 3 year old twins in tow the subway really isn't as time efficient as one might hope, plus there isn't a subway stop nearby. To get to the castle, you need to take the bus (get off at the Hiroshima Bus Center or the Kamiya-cho stop) or streetcar (get off at Kamiya-cho-higashi or Kamiya-cho-nisi) then WALK 15 minutes to the castle (in the HEAT). In contrast, the cab ride took less than 10 minutes and it was A/C. Speed . . . . . . CHECK! Comfort . . . . . . CHECK !! The area surrounding the castle was interesting with paths which took you through the ruins of the original castle grounds (including the moat, towers, turrets, gates, etc.), To me, however, this was nothing compared to the castle itself. It was BEAUTIFUL !! The wood and tile pagoda was rebuilt in 1958 after the atomic bomb leveled the original on August 6, 1945. The admission is ¥360 for adults and the rug rats were FREE (there are also discounts for seniors and students). Bear in mind, there are NO elevators inside so the climb up to the observation platform on the 5th floor might not be for those that are horribly out of shape. For me ( being OBESE by HMSA standards ) it was fine, well except for the achy knees because I ended up throwing the heaviest my two twin daughters on my shoulders for the trip down. The stairs are SUPER steep, so be careful. Each floor has informative displays related to the castle (including samurai armor and swords) which gives you a short break between each flight of stairs. FYI no photos are allowed inside ( I'm pretty sure that's not enforced though ) Hiroshima Castle is a fascinating place to visit if you're interested in history or architecture (or if you just like castles and samurai).

It's just okay. Lots of stairs to climb, but it's a good exercise. Not much going on here. I'm glad it is walking distance from our hotel. Quiet neighborhood. Some items on display are allowed to try on and take photos.

It was a nice walk from the bus to the castle. The bus stop is right outside of the entrance. A little history of Hiroshima, in 1589 during the ground breaking ceremony, they chose the character Hiro from the name Oeno Hiromoto, an ancestor of the Mori family (Mori Terumoto the first Lord of the Castle). Shima was taken from Fukushima Motonaga who guided Terumoto to the site of the castle. The castle wasn't completed until 1591 when Terumoto entered the castle to govern 9 provinces. In 1600, Fukushima Masanori became lord. However after restoring the castle after the 1619 flood, he was sent away and Asano Nagaakira became lord. For 12 generations the Asano family ruled the area. On August 6, 1945 the castle was destroyed by the atomic blast. Sometime between 1945 and 1958 (the present replica of the castle) the castle was rebuilt as backdrop for a festival. Once it was over, they tore down the castle. Hiroshima Castle is also called "Carp Castle" because the area where the castle was built was then called Koinoura ( Koi Sea Shore).

A really beautiful sight, especially from the top. A lot of cool stuff on each floor. It was a bit busy when we went but it wasn't that bad. There were some neat exhibits for kids too. I'd definitely recommend going there once.

This is the 1st castle I've ever visited in Japan. There were some exhibits inside about life in the castle. The climb to the top of the castle was the best part for me. Nice view from up top.

...such a nice castle surounded by a very nice environment and nature. A spot to relax in Hiroshima. I was not in time there to see the castle from the inside (approx 9am till 6pm). Anyways; you have a wonderful view as the castle is located a bit higher than the rest of this spot. The whole park belonging to the castle is open 24h and can be visited! Go for it!!!

Unfortunately arrived to late to be able to get inside the actual castle, but the outside of the castle and the surrounding area were still well worth the visit! Came there quite late afternoon (18:00) in late November and I think seeing it in daylight probably is the right way to go about it to be able to catch all of it in its rightful glory. Especially as the surrounding areas of the castle, the park and the gates and so forth are really badly lit at nightfall. It was not worth taking any photos except of the castle at late afternoon, which is a real shame with such a big landmark. It would also be much nicer walking the area at the evening if there were more lightning.

Unfortunately, when I've arrived, the castle is closed. I'm giving the rating based on the castle itself. The architecture of the castle was quite cool.

This place is great especially for kids. They get to even try on a samurai uniform. The top has a 360 degree view of city.

A bit of a disappointment. First of it is a replica (it's clearly stated but I heard many folks note their surprise at the fact that it was a fairly new construction (surprising given the atomic bomb). Nice views but overall don't think it deserve the current yelp rating. There's isn't much to see inside, no AC given it looks like a building from the 80s inside. It's a quick check the box visit. Didn't get much info or insight from this visit. Spend more time at the memorial museum and walking around the city