Entertainment

As one of Japan's major tourist destinations for foreigners and Japanese alike, Hiroshima possesses a wealth of options to keep everyone entertained.  From somber history to outdoor tranquility, there is much to explore.

World Heritage Sites

Hiroshima's two internationally famous "World Heritage Sites" are the city's major tourist attractions. The first is the Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome, set in beautiful green surroundings in the central city and dedicated to world peace. This is the site of the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony held each August 6th in memorial to the victims and survivors of the 1945 atomic bomb attack. The ceremony is attended by guests from all over Japan and the world. That evening, Peace Park comes alive with music groups and the Lantern Floating Festival, where wishes are written on colorful paper lanterns and then floated down the Ota River, giving the impression of a sea of bright lights.

The second World Heritage Site is Itsukushima Shrine at Miyajima, also classified as one of the "three most scenic spots" in Japan. The shrine and its gateway, which stands farther out in the waters of the Seto Inland Sea, are the focal point here, but Miyajima is also a wonderful spot for taking in the seasonal colors or hiking up Mt. Misen for a view of the Seto Inland Sea and the many nearby islands.

Festivals

Festivals are as much a feature of Hiroshima life as they are elsewhere in Japan. Summer equates to fireworks, a popular form of entertainment in any Japanese city, but the sheer number of ports and rivers here makes fireworks festivals an integral feature. Among the biggest and most attended fireworks displays is the Miyajima Suichu Hanabi Taikai. The seaside port town of Onomichi is also famous for its Sumiyoshi Festival. Other city summer festivals include Tokasan, the Kaki Matsuri and the Yukata Matsuri. For both of these events, one of the main streets is closed to vehicles and used instead for dance performance and as a place for groups of young girls to walk around displaying their colorful yukata (summer robe) fashions.

Sports

Another favorite summer pastime for Hiroshima residents is baseball. The regular Hiroshima Carp games at the Municipal Baseball Stadium can be heard all over the city, as excited fans cheer their home team. The baseball stadium also doubles as a performance venue that was the site of the opening ceremony of the 15th National Culture Festival in 2000.

Also related to sports, Hiroshima's Big Wave and Big Arch are certainly the largest and newest facilities for large events. Both were constructed in time to host the Asian Games in 1994. The Big Arch stadium now hosts a variety of events, such as home games of the local J-League Soccer team, San Frecce. The Big Wave complex has a 50-meter/164-foot indoor swimming pool, which doubles as an ice skating rink in winter. Another large sports and event venue is the prefectural sports facility, or Green Arena, which regularly hosts live concerts. Away from the city, the construction in recent years of a new international airport in Higashi Hiroshima has led the way for significant development in that area.  One such initiative is the sprawling Hiroshima City Forestry Park, a haven for cyclists, runners and recreational walkers or picnickers.

While you may not imagine Hiroshima to be much of a skiing paradise given its southern location, you may be surprised to learn that there are over 30 ski fields in the prefecture, many of them an easy 90-minute drive from the city center. Sundays in January and February see even the smallest of these become packed with skiers and snowboarders from as far away as Kyushu.

Museums

For art lovers, the city is home to the Hiroshima Museum of Art, the Prefectural Art Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. The latter is a striking new facility atop Mt. Hijiyama, and well worth the visit not only for its fine exhibitions but also its park-like surroundings and city views. The Prefectural Art Museum is located downtown right next to the Shukkeien Garden, a beautiful Japanese garden that can be enjoyed by the whole family, and a great escape from the bustling city.