A Perfect Japan Day Trip: Osaka to Hiroshima

Intro

Ever since they lifted their COVID restrictions in October 2022, Japan has become one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, and for good reason. Japan’s rich history, stunning nature, thriving cities, humbling culture, and warming people make it one of the best countries I’ve ever visited.

My first time traveling to the land of the rising sun came in 2023 when my wife and 2 friends decided to take our first big trip together in the newly post-COVID world. Since we only had 2 weeks, we decided to cover 3 major cities, Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, with day trips to other destinations. If you want the full itinerary of our trip, you can find it here!.

There was one day trip that topped them all: our day in Hiroshima from Osaka. Hiroshima is an obvious choice due to its significance during WWII, and as a part-time history buff, it was high on my list.

This day trip became possibly the most memorable travel experience we had. Not just because of our humbling experience at the Peace Memorial Museum, but also because of some of the incredible food stops we made along the way. Let’s dive in.

Morning Shinkansen

It goes without saying, Japan has mastered the bullet train. The Shinkansen runs throughout the entire country and can cover ground extremely quickly, making the 330 km trip between Osaka and Hiroshima fly by. At just 1 hour and 20 minutes, it was an easy decision to make this trip.

Queue the 9:30am train from Shin-Osaka station. I’d recommend grabbing some train snacks to eat for breakfast from one of the many vendors or convenience markets within the station. You’ll find all kinds of fun goodies. If you don’t already know, Japan crushes the convenience store game.

Along the way, make sure to take in the countryside views. Maybe there’s a thought or two to get off early at the Kobe or Okayama stations for some extra exploring. As tempting as it may be, you’ve got to save some adventure for next time.

Okonomiyaki Lunch

Just like that, you’ve arrived at Hiroshima station! You’re going to need some food in your belly before you can take in the deep thoughts at the Peace Memorial Museum. In my view, there is only 1 plausible option, Okonomimura in Hiroshima’s Nako ward. Only a 1.5 KM, 24 min walk from the train station, this sprawling okonomiyaki focused food hall is filled with seemingly dozens of vendors who have perfected their own interpretations of Hiroshima style okonomiyaki.

Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake usually made with cabbage, some type of meat or seafood, eggs, and topped with scallions, bonito flakes, and savory sauces. If you’ve never tried this before, you’re in for quite a treat. Hiroshima style okonomiyaki is slightly different than traditional Osaka style in that the ingredients are layered into the pancake instead of being all mixed together. They also use yakisoba noodles to give the batter more texture, which might be the kicker for me.

Pick your poison at Okonomimura. The highest quality and most popular spots fill up early, so be prepared to wait if you want to sample the best.

Once you pick your spot, have a seat in front of the teppanyaki grill and watch the master go to work. You might have to riff a little since most of the menus aren’t in English but be patient with them and you’ll figure it out.

Peace Memorial Museum

Now that you’ve fueled up, it’s time to get real. The Peace Memorial Museum is one of the most culturally significant places I’ve visited. Simply walking the grounds around it and meandering past the Atomic Bomb Dome, which still stands as a reminder for the damage that was caused by the blast, is an eerie feeling.

Without going into too many details of our experience at the museum, I’d encourage you to take your time and listen to the stories, meet the people, and immerse yourself in the exhibits.

Give yourself 2-3 hours at the museum and for walking the grounds of Peace Memorial Park. That should be plenty of reflection for the day, and probably for the whole trip.

Snack and (Optional) Miyajima

You’ve probably worked yourself up quite the appetite. Good news is there’s an awesome spot right across the bridge from the park specializing in onigiri called Onigiri Nitaya. Think of onigiri as a fist sized ball of rice stuffed with virtually anything you can think of. From different varieties of classic tuna and salmon to funky offerings like nato (fermented sticky soybeans) and marinated black fungus mushrooms, you can find it all here.

Once you fill up, you now have the option to explore the famous island of Miyajima. Miyajima is best known for the Itsukushima Jinja shrine, which you’ve probably seen in your favorite Japan IG inspo posts. This seemingly floating shrine is partially covered by water during high tide giving it the illusion that it is sitting out in the middle of the water.

You can reach the island of Miyajima by ferry that runs a few times a day and takes about 45 minutes each way. It costs ~$25 round trip but can sometimes be cancelled due to low tides. There are a few other things to do on the island such as shopping at the Omotesando shopping street and a cable car ride up to the Shishiiwa Observatory which offers sweeping views of the island and mainland. Definitely easy to spend a few hours here.

Head Home

If you chose to explore Miyajima, grab your ferry back to the mainland and head back to Hiroshima station. Make sure you research the Shinkansen times to catch the right train back to Osaka. They only run a few times per day so timing it out should be a part of your decision making for the day.

Overall, Hiroshima has a ton to offer. Much more than can be seen in 1 day. However, if you do only have a day to see and eat as much as possible, I hope I’ve given you some good options to think about. After my experience here, I can’t recommend you visit enough. From cultural experiences to unbeatable food, park space, and shopping, Hiroshima should be high on your “must see” Japan list.