What are the first impressions of Hiroshima? Travelers who have visited this resilient city will tell you about the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Atomic Bomb Dome. This place made its mark on world history as one of the areas the United States chose to bomb during the Second World War.
Tourists will also speak about how Hiroshima has regained its composure and stood the test of time. The war-ravaged city is now a peaceful destination home to occasional luxury cars plying the road, flowing rivers, and lush vegetation.
It’s also the perfect place to go on sightseeing tours of its shrines, just like other cities in Japan. Not much of a traveler for shrines? You’re in the right place. Here are some of the best and must-visit shrines in Hiroshima.
1. Itsukushima Shrine
The best and perhaps the most important shrine in Hiroshima that you should never skip on your itinerary is the Itsukushima Shrine. Looking at its photographs, you can realize how it evokes themes in animes that are surreal, not the usual shows. It should be as if this shrine were a visual representation of Shinto, the ancient Japanese religion.
It was constructed following the architectural style of the Heian period, which ran from 794 to 1185. This period was a time of courtly refinement and poetic expression. The island where the shrine is located is regarded as holy, as a deity is believed to reside there. The hypnotic shrine and grand torii gate “floating” in the sea are magical.
Hours: 6:30 AM-6 PM
Address: 2-25-33 Minazawaicho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0051, Japan
2. Kiyomori Shrine and Nishi-Matsubara
Your eyes are not fooling you. Those two names go together. This shrine is relatively young, built only 60 years ago to honor Taira no Kiyomori, Taira clan’s head as featured in the famous epic account titled “Heike Monogatari.”
Sure, Kiyomori is a villain in the story, but his achievements are celebrated by Hiroshima’s people. While you’re here, take in the pine trees, stone lanterns, and the sandy beach.
Hours: 9 AM-2 PM
Address: 0-534 Nishimatsubara, Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan
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3. Shinsho-ji Zen Museum and Gardens
Not all shrines in Hiroshima are learning spaces, but this succeeds since it is a museum as well. The Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens comprises a teahouse, a spaceship-like structure designed in an ancient parallel Japanese dimension, and even areas where you can discover the daily lives of monks from Zen Buddhism. You should not miss tasting the udon here, the same way monks ate them in the past.
Hours: 9 AM-5 PM
Address: Kamisanna-91, Numakumacho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0401, Japan
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4. Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine
This shrine is among the many gogoku shrines in Japan. Shrines in this category are those constructed as places of worship for those who have perished in the war. The Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine, being located in a significant place during wars, was originally built in 1868 to offer prayers for Boshin War’s Hiroshima-han victims. The shrine you see today was a reconstruction since this got destroyed in 1945 by the atomic bomb.
Hours: 9 AM-4:30 PM
Address: 21-2 Motomachi, Naka, Hiroshima 730-0011, Japan
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5. Houkoku Shrine (Senjokaku)
This shrine is one of the oldest on this list. Built during the time of 16th-century samurai and daimyō Hideyoshi Toyotomi to honor fallen soldiers, it is famous for its over 100 ema or votive pictures of horses. Thought it was once left incomplete for over four centuries, its exterior is just as gorgeous as the interior where you will feel like you’re also visiting the temples and shrines in Southeast Asia.
Hours: 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Address: 1-1 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan
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6. Omoto Shrine
This is among the lesser-known shrines in Hiroshima, not too vast unlike the others here. However, it is significant since it is said to have been constructed before the Itsukushima Shrine, the flagship shrine in Hiroshima. Omoto Shrine hosts the Momotesai, the first day of archery, every January of each year.
Hours: 6:30 AM-6 PM
Address: Omoto, Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588, Japan
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7. Ebisu Shrine
Built in the 18th century, Ebisu Shrine has quite a story to tell. Legend has it that long ago, a mysterious glowing object was spotted on the nearby rocks each night. When a fisherman pulled it up to see what it was, he stumbled upon a statue of Hiruko, not the “Naruto” character, but the Japanese mythical god of fishermen and luck. He took the statue home and enshrined it, hence the shrine of Ebisu.
Hours: Flexible hours
Address: 249-1 Mitarai, Toyomachi, Kure, Hiroshima 737-2316, Japan
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Japan is famous for its stunning temples, but you should include visiting shrines on your itinerary, too. Popular travel publications like National Geographic separate shrines from temples. Japanese temples are usually houses of worship, while shrines are mostly built to honor Shinto deities. Experience a tincture of Japanese faith today.
Looking to dive deeper into Hiroshima’s rich culture and history? Join our local tour guides for our Hiroshima Free Walking Tour!
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