Hiroshima Castle is a castle located in Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Hiroshima Castle, also known as the “Carp Castle” due to its unique shape resembling a carp, is one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. It was originally built in the 1590s but was destroyed by the atomic bombing in 1945. The current castle tower was rebuilt in 1958 and serves as a museum of Hiroshima’s history and culture. The castle is surrounded by a moat and a park, and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the top floor of the castle tower.
Admission fee for castle tower
Adult : 370 yen
High school students : 180 yen
Elementary and junior high school students : free
Opening hours
9:00 ~ 18:00 (March to November, last admission is 17:30)
9:00 ~ 17:00 (December to February, last admission is 16:30)
※ Closed on December 29th and 30th
※ Opening and closing times may change due to events
Access
Walking: about 20 min from JR Hiroshima Station
Tram: about 10 min from JR Hiroshima Station and 10 min walk.
※Details are described below
Attractions
Castle tower
Hiroshima Castle’s castle tower, which was reconstructed in 1958, is five stories tall and has a beautiful black and white exterior. The interior of the castle tower features exhibits about the castle’s history and the samurai culture that existed during the castle’s heyday. Visitors can learn about the various aspects of samurai life, including their weapons, armor, and strategies. The fifth floor of the castle tower offers a stunning view of Hiroshima City.
In addition, Hiroshima Castle is lit up from sunset to 22:00. It’s not a flashy illumination, but the white and black Hiroshima Castle floating in the dark at night is worth seeing.
On a full moon night, you may be able to see Hiroshima Castle illuminated by the moonlight.
Inside the castle tower
Inside the castle tower, visitors can see various exhibits that showcase the history and culture of Hiroshima. Visitors can also see the old shachihoko, a decorative fish-like ornament that was once installed on the top of the castle tower, and onigawara, decorative tiles with the face of an ogre that were believed to ward off evil spirits. Some of the exhibits are introduced here.
If you have a smartphone, you can listen to the guide for free. In addition to Japanese, it supports various languages such as English and Chinese.
One of the interesting features is the stone dropping window (ishi-otoshi), which was used to drop stones on enemies climbing the castle walls.
The castle town of Hiroshima and the lives of the people who lived there are displayed in addition to cultural aspects such as education, art, and entertainment, as well as actual materials, restored buildings, and videos.
There is an observatory on the 5th floor of the castle tower, from which you can see the cityscape of Hiroshima. Depending on the weather, you may be able to see the streets of Miyajima and the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Ninomaru (二の丸)
Ninomaru of Hiroshima Castle refers to a small section surrounded by a moat, which protects the entrance and serves as a base for sorties to the outside.
The interior of Ninomaru is also open to the public, and there are various exhibits inside, so you can enjoy not only the internal structure but also the exhibits.
One notable feature is the gun port (teppo-sama), which was used by samurai to shoot guns at enemies during battles.
There is also an exhibition of models made of wood.
Visitors can also see the shachihoko, a decorative fish-like ornament that was once installed on the top of the castle tower.
Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine (広島護国神社)
Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is a symbol of remembrance and a place of worship for those who sacrificed their lives for their country. It was first established in 1868 and was destroyed during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 but was later rebuilt inside of the moat of Hiroshima Castle. It is also the shrine that receives the largest number of hatsumode visitors in the Chugoku region every year, with more than 500,000 hatsumode worshipers each year from January 1st to 7th. Many people visit for hatsumode because it is located in the center of the city and has good transportation.
In front of the main hall of Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine, there is a statue of a large carp climbing up the waterfall. The statue is said to have amulets related to achieving goals. If you have a contest or an exam, it might be a good idea to visit here and pray.
Access
You can access Hiroshima Castle on foot, by tram, or by bus from Hiroshima Station.
If you access on foot
Take the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station and head west. The distance is about 1.5 km, so it takes about 20 minutes. The time required is not so long when using a tram, so I recommend walking. I think it’s fun to walk while looking at the city of Hiroshima. On the way to Hiroshima Castle, there is Shukkeien Garden (縮景園), it is good to visit there as well.
If you use the Tram
① JR Hiroshima Station, South Exit A Platform, No.1, 2 or 6 tram
↓ 10 minutes
② Get off at Kamiya-cho-higashi Station
↓ 10 minutes
③ Walk north and get Hiroshima Castle
Time : about 20 minutes
Fare : 220 yen (adult), 110 yen (child)
Summary
Hiroshima Castle, also known as Carp Castle, is a symbol of Hiroshima and an important cultural property. Although the castle tower was destroyed during the atomic bombing in 1945, it was reconstructed in 1958 and now stands as a reminder of the city’s resilience. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the top floor of the castle tower. If you are planning to visit Hiroshima, be sure to add Hiroshima Castle to your itinerary.
コメント