Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden, and Okonomiyaki

Japan Trip Series, Part 9

​After visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the museum, I also spent time with a different side of Hiroshima: Its castle, gardens, and food.

​The Historical Site of Hiroshima Castle was a worthwhile stop. The original castle dated back to the late 1500s and was associated with Mōri Terumoto. Like so much else in Hiroshima, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bombing in 1945. The current main keep was rebuilt in 1958.

​I enjoy castles in Japan. They sit somewhere between architecture, history, and atmosphere. Even when reconstructed, they help you understand the older shape of a city before modern streets and buildings took over.

​From there, I visited Shukkeien Garden. The name is often translated as “shrunken-scenery garden”, which is a good description. It feels like a condensed landscape: Ponds, bridges, paths, trees, small views, carefully arranged scenes, and perspectives that give you the feeling of valleys, mountains, and forests.

​The garden was originally created in the Edo period for Asano Nagaakira, the feudal lord of Hiroshima. It was damaged in the atomic bombing, later restored, and remains one of Hiroshima’s peaceful green spaces.

​It was a nice change of pace. After heavier historical sites, Shukkeien offered quiet movement and beautiful nature. 

​Walk, pause, look across the water, take a photo…

​repeat.

​And then: Okonomiyaki. 😋

​Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is one of the city’s signature foods. Unlike Osaka-style okonomiyaki, where ingredients are usually mixed together into the batter, Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is typically layered, often with cabbage, noodles, egg, sauce, and other fillings.

​It is filling, savoury, and extremely satisfying after a long day of walking.

​The atmosphere made it even better. A small upper-floor restaurant with a stellar cook and host.

​This was the lighter side of Hiroshima for me: Castle grounds, garden paths, and a hot meal at the end of the day. 

​From there, it was time to catch the ferry to Miyajima Island. 

Note: All photos in this post were taken by me with an iPhone 17 Pro.