Named a World Heritage Site in 1996, Itsukushima has long been renowned as a holy island. With Itsukushima Shrine actually standing on the water, it provides a breathtaking view of the sea that looks truly spiritual.

The torii gate is placed out at sea, and during high tide, the shrine sits in the water, allowing for a pristine ocean view, while at low tide, people can walk right up to it. Visitors come to Itsukushima Shrine for a historical and cultural experience and see a spectacular sight rarely seen anywhere else.

Almost directly above this building, the Atomic Bomb Dome, at 8:15 on August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb in human history was dropped.

The Dome survived the blast, and today, thanks to the efforts of the residents, it stands as a tragic reminder of the devastation of war and atomic weapons. Thousands of visitors from abroad come every year to Hiroshima to see the Atomic Bomb Dome.

For a more in-depth education about the impact of the atomic bomb and the suffering caused by war, you can visit the Cenotaph for Atomic Bomb Victims and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum nearby.

While the Omotesando may be the bustling main shopping street of Miyajima Island these days, for a true taste of Miyajima, one must step back into the winding backstreet of Machiya.

This nostalgic avenue was the original main street of the island, and its history and culture seep through the multitude of cafes and art galleries lining old Machiya. A stroll down this street is a must during your visit to Miyajima.

Hiroshima Castle is Hiroshima City's best-kept secret.

Located in the city's heart, Hiroshima Castle formed the backbone of the region's military history. The original building was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945 but rebuilt in 1958. The interior houses many artifacts detailing the history of the city and the castle, including a bunker from where Hiroshima made its first radio contact after the atomic bomb.

Located on the Kamikamagari Island as part of a string of islands draped across the Seto Inland Sea, Kenmin-no-Hama is one of Japan's top 100 beaches.

This vast stretch of sand is over 400m long and 100m at its widest – plenty of space for everyone. There are also lots of facilities, including a spa, gym, and tennis courts. There's also overnight accommodation, allowing you to see the famously clear night skies from the nearby observatory.

The pagoda at Toyokuni Shrine was originally constructed in the 15th century and was crafted with not only traditional Japanese style designs but also Chinese ones. 27 meters in height, the upper part of the pagoda's inside column has drawings painted in gold. Within the inner wall, there are magnificent Buddhist paintings.

This large Japanese garden follows the traditional "Chisenkai-yu" style, featuring a central pond encircled by a path from which to enjoy the tranquil scenery. Sankeien was designed to look like the mountains and canyons of Hiroshima and the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea. It is divided into three different zones: a mountain zone, country zone, and ocean zone.

Sankeien is also exciting to visit throughout the seasons.

In June, 95 kinds of Japanese irises and 10,000 flowering plants come into bloom. Autumn is celebrated with a Maple Festival.

About a quarter of an hour from Tadanoumi Port, Takehara City, this small island, just 4 km in circumference, is known for being home to some 700 wild rabbits. It attracts tourists from all over the globe seeking solace and healing.

The Poison Gas Museum and the various related sites around Okunoshima tell of the history of how the island was once known for housing a poison gas factory, and the importance of never again fighting wars. The island is currently part of a national park, and contains a number of facilities such as the National Vacation Village Okunoshima, which offers accommodation, a hot spring, and local delicacies, as well as a campsite and the Okunoshima Visitor Center. In addition to cycling, tennis and fishing, visitors can enjoy sea bathing and outdoor pools in summer.

The Shimanami Kaido is a 59.4 kilometer-long expressway for cars equipped with a walkway for pedestrians and bicycles.

It connects six islands floating on the Seto Inland Sea. The road starts from Onomichi City to Mukaishima Island, which is in front of Onomichi City, then to Innoshima Island and Ikuchi Island. From here, it enters Ehime Prefecture to Ōmishima Island, Hakata Island, and Oshima Island before connecting with Shikoku Island.

Each island is connected with unique bridges with different shapes. Visitors can enjoy a sweeping view of the Seto Inland Sea from observatories, and also this is a perfect course for cycling. Each island along the course is blessed with a mild climate thanks to the surrounding ocean, and each has different attractions and sights.

Bicycle rental stations are located around JR Onomichi Station and Imabari Station.

Kagura is the Shinto theatrical dance based on some stories, performed by dancers, who dressed in gorgeous costumes and expressive masks, and by musicians who play drum and pipe.

It has been performed for ages as religious services dedicated to the "Ujigami" - the guardian god of a particular place in the Shinto religion. And it is also performed as a Shinto ceremony to pray for good harvest and fish catches and recovery from illness.

Kagura is performed every week so that you can see the wonderful Kagura in Kagura-monzen-toji-mura. And depending on the day, you may be able to try wearing the Kagura costume after a performance in the night.

Also, there is a museum that shows Kagura costumes and exhibitions of Kagura history so that you can touch on the interesting tradition of Kagura. There are also hot springs, restaurants, and accommodation too in the facility.

There are a number of amazing stones on which some unique decorative designs are carved around Hibayama Mountain. This is known as a mythical mountain that was introduced in the oldest Japanese chronicle, theKojiki, as the summit where Izanamino-mikoto, who is the mythical goddess giving birth to Japan, was buried.

These amazing stones are lying on the corner of Taishaku National Park, called Joko-Seki (stone), on which some geometric decorative designs are carved in the width of 5-10m, depth of 2-5m. The Joko-Seki lying around the summit of Mount Toriboshi, in the northern Mount Hiba range, points to the Hibayama tomb (where Izanamino-mikoto is said to be buried). These designs are said to relate to an ancient religion.

Shukkeien Garden was originally built in 1620 by Ueda Soko, a renowned master of the tea ceremony, as a villa garden for Asano Nagaakira, a feudal lord of Hiroshima.

The garden's name literally means contracted scenic beauty, which is said to have been modeled after Xi Hu (West Lake) in Hangzhou, China. In 1940 (Showa 15), it was designated as a National Scenic Spot and famous for its beautiful plum trees and cherry blossoms.

At 535 meters this mountain is the highest on Miyajima Island.

You can see views of the Inland Sea and the Shikoku Mountains from the top. Mt. Misen has been worshipped as a deity mountain, and its virgin forests are designated as a national monument. The Gumonjido hall founded by Kobo Daishi, the Sankido hall, and the Dainichido hall are near the summit, which has many strange rocks and bizarre stones indicative of the scenic beauty of a vast wilderness.

Okonomiyaki is the dish of Hiroshima. A hearty soul food, Okonomiyaki is a savory pancake usually consisting of cabbage, pork, egg, and noodles, such as soba or udon.

This flexible dish can be found everywhere in Hiroshima, with over 2000 restaurants in Hiroshima City alone. The famous "Okonomimura" building is crammed with four floors of nothing but Okonomiyaki-dedicated eateries. To taste Okonomiyaki is to taste history, as it was this food that helped the city back on its feet after the war.

Oysters (kaki in Japanese) are the seafood specialty of Hiroshima.

After Okonomiyaki, oysters are the dish that you'll find all over the area and in a number of varied forms of preparation. Popular ways to eat oysters are kaki-no-dotenabe (oyster hotpot) and kaki-furai (oysters fried in breadcrumbs). Head to Miyajima Island for yet more variations for your tastebuds!

The spectacular Miyajima Water Fireworks Festival (late August) sees 5,000 fireworks launched across the strait of water between the island and the mainland, doubling the light and color with reflections in the water.

Each year follows a different theme. The sight of pyrotechnics exploding behind the silhouette of the famous "floating torii gate" of Miyajima shrine is one of the most photogenic sights Japan has to offer.

Every year in early May during Golden Week, with over 1,000,000 visitors from all over Japan, the Hiroshima Flower Festival is one of the largest events in the country.

For three days along the Hiroshima Peace Boulevard, people take to the streets to celebrate with music, dancing, parades, and, of course, flowers. Entire towers of them!
The celebration even continues into the evening featuring lighted candles that contain messages of peace and hope written by local community members.