Hiroshima Castle
By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: October 3, 2026 · Facts verified: October 3, 2026
Hiroshima Castle (広島城) is the site of the castle Mori Terumoto began in 1589, in central Hiroshima. Its 1958 concrete keep closed to visitors on March 22, 2026, and is now seen only from outside. What remains to visit is free: the moats and stone walls, the inner grounds around the keep, and the reconstructed Ninomaru gate and turrets. Allow about an hour, and pair it with Shukkeien Garden, 10 to 15 minutes east on foot.
- Area
- Naka, Hiroshima
- Best For
- History, Photography, Cherry Blossoms
What a castle visit involves now
Mori Terumoto began the castle in 1589 on the delta at the mouth of the Ota River, and the city of Hiroshima grew up around it; the Asano family ruled from here from 1619 until the end of the feudal era. After 1868 the grounds became an army base. The original keep, by then a National Treasure, was destroyed by the atomic bombing in 1945.
The keep you see today is a concrete reconstruction completed in 1958. It housed a history museum for 68 years, until the city closed it on March 22, 2026, because of deteriorating concrete and aging facilities. It has not been demolished, and the city is still studying its future, including a possible wooden rebuild, without a schedule.
That changes what a visit is. There is no ticket, no climb and no top-floor view. The castle is now an outdoor stop: the moat and the stone walls, the inner grounds where the keep stands, and the Ninomaru, a reconstructed gate, turrets and walls that are free to enter. The former keep museum's collection is moving to the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum, scheduled to open in stages from June 1, 2027.
Go if you like castle grounds and old stonework, or to break up a day between Peace Memorial Park and Shukkeien Garden. If the keep's interior was the reason to come, there is nothing to replace it until the new museum opens.
What you can still do at Hiroshima Castle
See the Keep from the Grounds
The main keep closed to visitors on 22 March 2026 because of concrete deterioration and aging facilities. It has not been demolished, and the exterior can still be viewed and photographed from the honmaru grounds and from across the moat.
Go inside the Ninomaru
The reconstructed Ninomaru, the second enclosure in front of the inner grounds, has a gate, turrets and connecting walls you can walk through. It is free and open 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM from April to September and 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM from October to March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing.
Walk the moat and stone walls
The stone walls are the oldest part of the castle that still stands. A walk along the inner moat gives the best views of the walls and of the keep reflected in the water.
Visit Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine
The shrine stands inside the castle's inner grounds, near the keep, and is open to visitors.
Come for cherry blossoms
Cherry trees around the moat and inner grounds make the castle one of the city's busiest hanami spots in late March and early April.
See the keep lit up
The keep and the Ninomaru are lit from sunset to 10:00 PM, which makes an evening walk worthwhile after the Ninomaru buildings have closed.
Plan for the Sannomaru History Museum
Hiroshima City has scheduled the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum to open on 1 June 2027, starting with a guidance area and a space with views of the keep. Its exhibition rooms, including items from the former keep museum, are scheduled to open on 1 October 2027. Until then there is no indoor castle museum to visit.
How to Get to Hiroshima Castle
The castle is in the north of central Hiroshima, between Peace Memorial Park and Shukkeien Garden, and is reached by streetcar or on foot.
From Hiroshima Station
Take Hiroden Line 1, 2 or 6 to Kamiya-cho Higashi or Kamiya-cho Nishi, then walk north for 10 to 15 minutes. Use the underground passage at Kamiya-cho to cross the main roads.
From Shukkeien Garden
Walk west for about 10 to 15 minutes; the two are easy to combine.
From Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome
Walk north for about 15 to 20 minutes, or take a streetcar to Kamiya-cho.
By sightseeing loop bus
The Meipuru-pu sightseeing loop bus from Hiroshima Station also stops near the castle.
- •Kamiya-cho Higashi and Nishi tram stops (Lines 1, 2 and 6) are 10 to 15 minutes from the castle on foot; take the underground passage to cross the main roads.
- •Shukkeien Garden is 10 to 15 minutes east on foot, and Peace Memorial Park about 15 to 20 minutes south.
- •There is no keep to enter, so you can arrive at any time; only the Ninomaru buildings keep set hours.
For IC cards, tickets, and full transit basics for Hiroshima, see the complete transportation guide.
Getting Around Hiroshima →Best Time to Visit Hiroshima Castle
Late March to early April for cherry blossoms; evening for the lit keep.
- •Cherry blossom season, around late March and early April, is the castle's busiest and best-looking time.
- •The keep and Ninomaru are lit from sunset to 10:00 PM, so an evening walk works after the Ninomaru buildings close.
- •In rain there is little to do here now; the Peace Memorial Museum is the better indoor choice.
Sakura trees around the outer moat bloom in pale pink, reflecting across the water beside the castle keep.
Trees along the moat and castle grounds turn red and gold, contrasting with the dark wooden keep.
The keep and the Ninomaru are lit up in the evening, with reflections across the surrounding moat. The keep's exterior stays lit after its March 2026 closure.
Entry Fee & Hours
| Category | Price (JPY) | Approx. (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Castle grounds | Free | Free |
| Ninomaru restored buildings | Free | Free |
The main keep closed to visitors on 22 March 2026 and can be viewed from outside only, so there is no keep ticket. The castle grounds and the restored Ninomaru buildings remain free.
- •The outer castle grounds and moat-side paths are flat and manageable for wheelchairs and strollers. The main keep, which had stairs only, has been closed to all visitors since March 2026.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Hiroshima Castle on the same day
Shukkeien Garden
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Atomic Bomb Dome
Castle and garden in a few hours
The castle grounds and Shukkeien sit 10 to 15 minutes apart and make an easy afternoon after the Peace Memorial area.
Garden first, castle before the Ninomaru closes
Afternoon
Shukkeien Garden, about an hour around the pond
Late afternoon
Walk west to Hiroshima Castle: the Ninomaru before it closes, then the moat and the keep from outside
Evening
The lit keep, then dinner downtown at Okonomimura
Frequently Asked Questions
Planning Your Hiroshima Trip?
See the full Hiroshima destination guide or browse Japan itineraries that include this city.
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