Downtown Hiroshima

Hiroshima has a bustling downtown area that most visitors pass through between the Peace Park and other attractions, but it deserves time on its own merits. The main feature is Hondori Street, a pedestrian arcade closed to traffic and lined with shops, restaurants, cafes, and local boutiques. It starts near the Peace Park and stretches east about half a kilometer. Running parallel to Hondori is Aioidori (Aioi Street), the main vehicular and tram street, where a few large department stores provide more conventional shopping.

The rebuilt downtown is a testament to Hiroshima’s recovery — the entire area was flattened in 1945 and what exists today was constructed in the decades that followed. The covered arcade has the cheerful, slightly chaotic energy that characterizes Japanese shotengai (shopping streets), with everything from chain fashion stores to family-run tea shops to pachinko parlors.

The essential food stop in downtown Hiroshima is Okonomimura (Okonomiyaki Village), a small complex just south of the eastern end of Hondori devoted entirely to Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. The building houses multiple floors of individual okonomiyaki restaurants, each with counter seating where you can watch the chef build your meal on the iron griddle.

Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki differs significantly from the Osaka version. Rather than mixing all ingredients into a batter, the Hiroshima style layers them: a thin crepe of batter, a mountain of shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, pork belly slices, and a layer of yakisoba noodles, all pressed together on the griddle and finished with an egg and sweet-savory sauce. The layered construction and the noodles are what distinguish it. A standard serving with all toppings runs 900-1,200 yen.

Beyond Okonomimura, the downtown area has strong drinking and dining options. The streets south of Hondori, particularly around Nagarekawa, form Hiroshima’s entertainment district with izakayas, bars, and late-night restaurants. Hiroshima is also known for its oysters (the Hiroshima Bay area produces most of Japan’s oyster harvest), and many downtown restaurants serve them grilled, fried, or raw.

Access: Downtown is a 5-minute tram ride from Hiroshima Station on tram lines 1, 2, or 6, or a 20-minute walk west. Okonomimura and the eastern end of Hondori are best accessed from the Hacchobori tram stop. The area is also served by the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus (Meipuru-pu).