Hiroshima & Nagasaki

Two cities made infamous during WWII. Visiting these two cities is a must do for anyone interested in WWII History. Each city has memorials and museums dedicated to the atomic bombing events that devastated the people living here during that time and for decades since.

Most Recent Visit

April 2025

How to Get Here

Both are easily accessed by train from Tokyo or other cities throughout Japan as well as having their own airports nearby. Our recommendation is always train as it is a great way to view the countryside while you are in transport and is extremely reliable.

Trip Length

We spent 2 nights in Hiroshima (with a day trip to Miyajima) and 1 night in Nagasaki. While there were things we certainly could have done if we had stayed longer, we felt like this was the perfect amount of time for us. Expect full days as the museums take a few hours.

Where to Stay

There are a range of lodging options around the country. For a budget experience, try a capsule hotel where you have a small ‘cube’ to sleep in and shared common areas. For a classic cultural experience, stay at a ryokan. Ryokans are traditional inns that offer a unique cultural experience, featuring tatami rooms, kaiseki meals, and typically hot spring baths. Ryokans were slightly more expensive during the time we visited but we plan to try one on our next visit. And of course, hotels ranging from budget to luxury are available. Staying true to our mid-range budget style, we chose ‘chain’ hotels that were located near the train stations (3–10-minute walks). While the rooms and beds were on the small side, we spent so little time in the rooms it wasn’t a problem for us. If you’re the type of traveler that likes to spend some time in the room decompressing or relaxing, you may want to look at more luxurious options. We paid anywhere from $59-$144/night USD (in 2025) and stayed at various Hotel Mystays, Sotetsu Fresa Inns, and APA Hotels (all booked through our Expedia travel agent site).

In Hiroshima, we stayed at APA Hotel Hiroshima Ekimae Ohashi (5 min walk to the train station) and in Nagasaki, we stayed at Hotel Wingport (7 min walk to the train station).