19 Historic sites in Hiroshima worth your time

Explore this unique atomic-bombed ruin, the only surviving army air defense room in Japan.

What it is

• Ruin of the Imperial Japanese Army Chugoku Regional Military Headquarters air defense operations room.
• Only existing former army air defense operations room in Japan.
• One of the existing atomic-bombed buildings.
• Constructed from late 1944 to early 1945.

What to see

• Semi-underground reinforced concrete single-story building.
• Located within Hiroshima Castle National Historic Site Park.
• Adjacent to the Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine grounds.
• Approximately 790m from the atomic bomb hypocenter.
• Internal viewing prohibited since 2017 due to safety concerns.

Read more about Ruins of the Chūgoku Regional Military Headquarters Air Defense Room

Explore a rare Yayoi burial mound, a National Historic Site with unique artifacts and Roman glass beads.

What it is

• A Yayoi period burial mound, Yadani Kofun.
• Designated a National Historic Site.
• Discovered during construction in 1977-1979.

What to see

• A square mound with four protruding corners.
• Mound measures 18.5 meters long, 1.2 meters high.
• Eleven burial facilities, including pit and stone coffins.
• Excavated jade magatama and glass beads.
• Special pottery vessels from the surrounding ditch.
• Glass beads from the ancient Roman Empire.

When to go

• Construction period: late Yayoi to early Kofun period.

Read more about Yadani Kofun

Explore a WWII underground naval facility, a testament to wartime engineering and history.

What it is

• Underground facility in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Built for air defense of mainland Japan.
• Constructed within the former Imperial Japanese Navy Kure Naval Base.
• Completed in April 1945.

What to see

• Semi-underground reinforced concrete structure.
• Measures 24.3m north-south, 22.7m east-west, 7.5m maximum height.
• Roof and outer walls are 1.5m thick.
• Designed to withstand a direct hit from a 250kg bomb.
• Designated a Civil Engineering Heritage Site in 2019.
• Added to the Japan Heritage list in 2018.

Read more about underground facilities in the former Kure Naval Base

This memorial is a surviving structure from the 1945 atomic bombing, worth visiting to process the tragedy.

What it is

• Atomic Bomb Dome, also known as Hiroshima Peace Memorial.
• One of few structures near hypocenter that survived 1945 bombing.
• Originally Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, opened 1915.
• Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

What to see

• Twisted steel of the building’s dome.
• Visibly blast-stained concrete walls.
• Lush grass surrounding the structure.
• Reflections in the Motoyasu River.

Getting there

• Located in the northeastern corner of Peace Memorial Park.

Read more about Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Explore a rare octagonal burial mound from the 7th century with a unique cross-shaped stone chamber.

What it is

• An octagonal burial mound, a kofun.
• Constructed around the late 7th century.
• Built on a ridge end in the Ashiura Valley.

What to see

• The octagonal shape of the mound, 10.5 meters in diameter.
• A horizontal-entry stone chamber.
• The unique cross-shaped plan of the three-chamber stone room.
• Granite cut stones forming the chamber.
• Plaster coating the interior of the stone chamber.
• A model of the kofun at Fukuyama City Shin'ichi History and Folklore Museum.

Read more about Oichi Kofun

Explore ancient burial mounds from the Kofun period, including rare shapes, within a scenic park.

What it is

• A cluster of ancient burial mounds (kofun).
• Dates from the middle to late Kofun period.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.

What to see

• Jōrakuji Kofun Cluster has 116 tumuli.
• One scallop-shaped tumulus is in Jōrakuji Cluster.
• Nanatsuzuka Kofun Cluster has 60 tumuli.
• One keyhole-shaped tumulus is in Nanatsuzuka Cluster.
• The surrounding area is a prefectural park.
• Old Shinno Family Residence is a National Important Cultural Property.

Read more about Jōrakuji-Nanatsuzuka Kofun Cluster

Atomic-bombed Hiroshima University building, a rare survivor, stands as a historical testament.

What it is

• Former Hiroshima University building, exposed to the atomic bomb.
• Completed in 1931 for the University of Literature and Science.
• One of few existing buildings from the former university.
• Currently located in Higashi-Senda Park.

What to see

• Three-story reinforced concrete structure.
• Building that survived the atomic bombing in 1945.
• Designed by the Ministry of Education's Architecture Division.
• Currently off-limits due to deterioration.

Read more about Former Faculty of Science Building No. 1 at Hiroshima University

Kitazuka Kofun is a late 7th-century burial mound with a unique stone coffin, offering a glimpse into ancient Japan.

What it is

• A kofun, or ancient burial mound, from the late 7th century.
• Designated a historic site of Hiroshima Prefecture in 1988.

What to see

• The kofun was built on a hill overlooking Hattori Oike.
• A granite stone coffin remains at the site.
• The coffin measures 2.34 meters long and 1.41 meters wide.
• The lid stone has rounded edges and rope-hook-like decorations.
• Excavated items include iron nails and Sue ware fragments.

Read more about Kitazuka Kofun

A rare atomic bomb survivor, this historic bank building showcases resilient architecture and history.

What it is

• Built in 1925 as Mitsui Bank Hiroshima Branch.
• Became Imperial Bank Hiroshima Branch after a merger.
• Survived the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
• Registered as an A-bombed building by the city.

What to see

• Western Renaissance style design by Uheiji Nagano's office.
• Exterior walls made of Manari stone from Okayama.
• Interior features Italian marble.
• Reinforced concrete structure from the Taisho era.

Read more about Former Imperial Bank Hiroshima Branch

Explore a large, ancient burial mound with a megalithic stone chamber and rare grave goods.

What it is

• A designated historic site in Hiroshima Prefecture.
• An ancient burial mound, or kofun.
• Constructed in the late 6th or early 7th century.
• Designated a historic site in 1948.

What to see

• A double-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber opens to the south.
• The chamber is 11.7 meters long.
• Megalithic granite stones form the chamber.
• Grave goods include a gold ring and two Sue ware bowls.

Read more about Osako Kofun

This building survived the atomic bomb blast and shows a blend of Western and Japanese architecture.

What it is

• Memorial to Confucian philosopher Rai Sanyo.
• Built in 1931 for his centennial.
• Survived the atomic bomb blast.

What to see

• Building with Western and Japanese architecture.
• Kurin Tower warped by bomb heat.
• Two cherry trees scorched in the bombing.
• Japanese tiled roof on reinforced concrete walls.

Getting there

• Next to Tamonin Temple.
• At the foot of Hijiyama Hill.

Read more about San'yō Buntokuden

Explore the ruins of a medieval port city that traded with Korea and China.

What it is

• A medieval port city in Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Existed for 300 years, Kamakura to Muromachi periods.
• Prospered as a logistics hub at the Ashida River mouth.
• Confirmed by river works around 1930, excavated from 1961.

What to see

• Excavated artifacts at Hiroshima Prefectural History Museum.
• Artifacts are national important cultural properties.
• Many medieval wooden tablets were excavated.

Read more about Kusado Sengen

Explore an early 7th-century burial mound, a Hiroshima Prefecture historical site.

What it is

• An ancient burial mound, known as a kofun.
• Dates to the early 7th century.
• Designated a prefectural historic site in 1983.

What to see

• A circular or square burial mound.
• Mound measures 14 meters in diameter, 5 meters high.
• Double-sleeved horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Stone chamber opens to the southeast.
• Chamber is 11.3 meters long.
• Granite megaliths form the stone chamber.

Read more about Daibo Kofun (Fukuyama)

Explore a large 7th-century burial mound with a unique stone chamber, a designated historic site.

What it is

• A large 7th-century burial mound, part of the Osayama Kofun Group.
• Designated a Hiroshima Prefecture historic site in 1948.
• It is the largest kofun in its group.

What to see

• A square or circular kofun, 12 meters on each side.
• A double-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber opens to the south.
• The stone chamber is made of cut granite.

Read more about Osayama Shiratsuka Kofun

Explore a 5th-century burial mound, a designated historic site with unique ancient artifacts.

What it is

• A round burial mound, or tumulus.
• Designated historic site of Hiroshima Prefecture.
• Built around the early 5th century.
• Oldest mid-period kofun in the Matsunaga Bay area.

What to see

• A burial mound with a 65-meter diameter.
• Mound surface has fukiishi (pavement stones).
• Mound surface has haniwa (clay figures).
• A moat surrounds the burial mound.

Read more about Matsumoto Kofun

Explore the reburied remains of an ancient provincial government office and its excavated artifacts.

What it is

• Site of Bingo Kokufu, a local government office.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• Excavations began in 1967, ongoing since 1982.

What to see

• Reburied remains of buildings with partition ditches.
• Reburied large pillar buildings and a garden.
• Reburied 6-meter-wide ancient Sanyo Road.
• Excavated inkstones, ritual pottery, and copper seals.

Read more about Bingo Kokufu

Explore ancient burial mounds from the 5th century, including the largest in Shobara Basin.

What it is

• A cluster of ancient burial mounds.
• Designated a Hiroshima Prefecture historic site.
• Dates to the mid-to-late 5th century.

What to see

• One keyhole-shaped tomb, 61.7 meters long.
• Eleven round tombs, 5.5 to 16.2 meters in diameter.
• The largest and oldest tomb in Shobara Basin.
• Cylindrical and figurative Haniwa excavated from the main tomb.

Read more about Furudera Kofun Cluster

Explore a 6th-century burial mound in Hiroshima, revealing ancient artifacts and a unique stone chamber.

What it is

• A historic burial mound from the mid-6th century.
• Designated as a Hiroshima Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• A circular mound, 12 meters in diameter, 4 meters high.
• A single-sleeved horizontal stone chamber, 6.35 meters long.
• The stone chamber opens to the south.
• Excavated gilt bronze beads, Sue ware, and Haji ware.

Read more about Yamanokami Kofun

A reburied Jomon-era shell mound, offering a glimpse into ancient Hiroshima's history.

What it is

• A shell mound from the late to final Jomon period.
• Designated a prefectural historic site in March 1950.
• Confirmed during the Taisho era, first excavated in 1932.

What to see

• An information board installed in 1984.
• The reburied shell mound itself.

Read more about Hijiyama Shell Mound