Hiroshima is like a phoenix that has risen from the ashes of the horrors of World War II. The historic city overlooking the Hiroshima Bay and the Seto Inland Sea is a fascinating destination. Today, Hiroshima is the city of peace, with its wide, leafy boulevards dispelling any darkness that you might expect from it. Moreover, it is home to a majestic castle, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, memorials, and so much more. Hence, it continues to remain one of the top destinations in Japan for travelers. And since it gets so many tourists, Hiroshima has an excellent selection of hotels. The best hotels in Hiroshima range from luxurious digs from world-renowned brands to boutique hotels to ryokans (traditional Japanese inns). What’s more, Hiroshima is also known for its great range of capsule hotels and love hotels or rabuho, which are essentially no-tell hotels that have lots of amneities today.
Most hotels in the city lie either in the buzzing Downtown or around Hiroshima Station. Downtown is a great base for travelers who want to explore the city’s attractions. However, given the city’s good public transport system, staying near the station gets you across town quickly too. What’s more, there’s a hotel in every neighborhood for every kind of budget too. That being said, here’s an excellent list of 11 best hotels in Hiroshima.
RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima
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Travelers looking for a smart, upmarket hotel in Downtown Hiroshima will love the Rihga Royal Hotel Hiroshima. The hotel lies right next to the Hiroshima Castle and walking distance of both Hiroshima Memorial Park and Atomic Bomb Dome.
Guests can choose from a bevy of rooms, all of which have huge windows with gorgeous views of the city. However, they’re also quite huge as compared to typically cramped Japanese hotels. Dark wood furnishings, bold, vibrant bedcovers, ensuite bathrooms, and a set of good mod-cons make staying at any of the rooms very comfortable.
Apart from comfy accommodations, the hotel’s in-house restaurant offers great Chinese, French, and Japanese cuisines. Moreover, it sits on the 33rd floor and offers fantastic views of the city. There’s even a fabulous fitness center and a lovely swimming pool, although there’s a small fee to use them both. What’s more, a 24-hour front desk helps out with everything, right from airport rides to booking excursions and tours.
Sheraton Grand Hiroshima Hotel
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For the ultimate indulgence in Hiroshima, there’s no better place than the Sheraton Grand. The opulent five-star hotel boasts a host of lavish amenities while having a great location right next to Hiroshima train and tram station. So, most of Hiroshima’s attractions are merely five minutes away.
Perhaps the best aspect of the Sheraton Grand is its chic and luxurious accommodations. Each room comes with its own set of mod-cons as well as a lavish bathroom with a bathtub. However, it’s the communal amenities at Sheraton that the travelers particularly like. The hotel lays out a fabulously hearty breakfast buffet. What’s more, the restaurant son-site is known to serve delicious Japanese fare. Apart from luggage storage and laundry, the hotel even has a well-equipped fitness center and an indoor swimming pool perfect to spend a lazy day. Furthermore, the staff is especially helpful with lesser-known sightseeing and dining spots in the city.
Hotel Granvia Hiroshima
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If you’re looking for spectacular views at a well-connected hotel, then Hotel Granvia in Hiroshima is the best. The Michelin-rated hotel lies and is connected to Hiroshima Station and is a quick train trip from all the top things to do in Hiroshima.
Although the rooms are small keeping in line with Japanese standards, they are comfortable to boot. Light wood furnishings, a slew of mod-cons, and even sleeping stuff like pajamas and slippers are provided in each room. For more space, book a luxury suite that also has dark wood furnishings. That being said, all rooms boast of sweeping views of Hiroshima.
Apart from the above, the hotel is also dining-central. Six restaurants serve everything from Chinese to Japanese fare, while breakfast has both western and Japanese options. There’s even a 10% discount on lunch and dinner if one shows their room key. Likewise, the rooftop lounge is the perfect place to grab a sundowner and watch the sunset over the city’s skyline. Additionally, the hotel also offers massages, a gift shop, and even karaoke rooms.
Capsule Hotel Cube
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Travelers seeking a just-in-Japan staying experience will love the Capsule Hotel Cube in Downtown Hiroshima. Capsule hotels are nothing less than a savior for the budget-conscious traveling public. They offer private, enclosed beds and offer everything from basic to more luxurious amenities for much lesser money as compared to regular hotels.
The Capsule Hotel Cube is a simple yet elegant hotel offering extremely comfy and modern cabin rooms with plush mattresses for a good night’s sleep. What’s more, there are also private cabins available, where there’s also a small desk and a chair in addition to two capsules stacked on top of another. Nonetheless, every room comes with a basket of ‘goodies’ that include slippers, towels, toiletries, and even sleep clothes! Furthermore, the male and female floors are separate, ensuring further privacy and safety.
Moreover, the capsule hotel comes with a good number of basic amenities like a 24-hour front desk, luggage storage, a vending machine stocked with drinks, lockers, and even a TV lounger area. Apart from late checkout, the capsule hotel is a mere 15-minute walk from Hiroshima Station and lies right on the tram line.
Oriental Hotel Hiroshima
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Enjoy a five-star treatment at the Oriental Hotel Hiroshima, a stylish, modern accommodation just 10 minutes from Hiroshima Train Station.
If you love views, then the rooms at the Oriental Hotel are made for you. Boasting lots of space, they also feature huge windows that not only let in natural light but also have killer views of Hiroshima. Keeping in line with Japanese traditions, the hotel provides guests with sleeping clothes, as well as standard mod-cons and a lovely bathroom.
Apart from comfy accommodations, what the Oriental Hotel is most known for is its rather different set of amenities. It can arrange for an in-room massage for those who want it and even has a beauty salon on-site as well. Apart from a business center, the hotel also boasts a 22nd-story Japanese restaurant and international cafe playing smooth jazz music.
Iwaso Ryokan Hotel
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For a completely different staying experience in Hiroshima, head to the UNESCO Heritage Site of Miyajima island to Iwaso Ryokan. Nestled in a soothing forest with a gushing stream nearby, the mid-19th-century-built ryokan radiates traditional elegance. Moreover, it is Miyajima’s oldest and most venerable Japanese inn.
Iwaso Ryokan is made up of the historical main building and the newer annex. Rooms in the newer wing feature shoji paper screens, low futon bedding, tatami (woven-straw) mat floors, as well as ensuite bathrooms. Rooms in the Cottage Annex and the main building are similar in all aspects, except they have shared bathrooms. While the newer wing ones are modern and wheelchair-accessible, the older rooms have full of character. If you’re looking for a bit of indulgence and privacy, we’d suggest the two quaint cottages on the grounds that are peppered with lovely Japanese antiques. Notwithstanding the kind of room chosen, all guests can be served traditional Japanese kaiseki dinners in the room itself. Since prices vary with rooms, views, and meals, make sure you have everything ironed out during booking.
The Japanese restaurant on-site is a haven for seafood lovers as they specialize in everything from conger eels to oysters. A karaoke room makes for a great entertainment factor, while the souvenir shop is the perfect place to pick up memorabilia. What’s more, the ryokan even offers free shuttle services to the Miyajima ferry port and back. The best part of the ryokan, however, is the hot-spring bath or onsen which boasts spectacular views of the Momijidani Park.
Hotel Restay
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Love hotels are no-tell, short-stay accommodations are unique to Japan. They not only feature all facilities of modern hotels but do so at lesser rates. In fact, love hotels have everything from hidden parking lots, minimum staff interaction, discreet entrances, and a sense of anonymity. So, love hotels are a unique experience that you should definitely try. And if you’re in Hiroshima, the best one around is the love hotel Restay. The modern hotel lies in Downtown Hiroshima and features all contemporary creature comforts as well as the privacy of a love hotel.
Guests can choose from a host of comfy, snazzy rooms here, all of which feature lovely sitting areas in addition to mod-cons. However, it is the lavish bathroom that will surprise you, each of which has a Jacuzzi-style bathtub complete with bath salts and bubble bath soap! So, you now know where the concept of ‘love hotel’ comes from! Apart from that, there’s also free Wi-Fi and room service.
Hiroshima Hana Hostel
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Budget-conscious travelers looking for a good hostel in Hiroshima will do well to choose the cheerful, friendly Hana Hostel from the able stable of the J-Hopper group. It lies just five minutes from Hiroshima Station and effusively blends chic modern comforts with traditional Japanese sensibilities.
Those staying at the Hana Hostel can choose from both private Japanese-style rooms as well as mixed and female-only dorms with bunk beds. The private rooms feature tatami-mat floors as well as low futon beds, private, ensuite bathrooms, and even flatscreen TVs.
Apart from free Wi-Fi, this hostel has some great freebies for its guests. For one, the well-equipped shared kitchen is great for whipping up quick and cheap meals. The fact that a supermarket and a convenience store are nearby only helps with things. A shared lounge with comfy seating, books, etc. is a great place to catch up with fellow travelers. What’s more, the hostel even offers bicycles on rent for those who want to explore the neighborhood on their own. Finally, relax after a long day in the free-to-use massage chair.
Aioi Ryokan
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How about a hotel that combines excellent views of Hiroshima’s sights along with traditional Japanese living? Welcome to the Aioi Ryokan, which lies right next to Hiroshima’s Peace Park and beautifully blends Japanese aesthetics with modern living.
Aioi is perhaps one of the largest ryokans you’ll ever see with a bevy of 32 Japanese-style rooms to choose from. Aside from the fact that every room has ensuite bathrooms, each room also features shoji paper screens, low futon beds, and tatami mat floors, just like a traditional ryokan. One can kick back in a traditional yukata robe and enjoy great views of the city as well as the park from the comfort of their rooms. What’s more, the ryokan even serves traditional kaiseki in-room meals.
Aioi Ryokan does extremely well on the amenities too, despite being a city-central establishment. From its 7th floor, one can even luxuriate in the large communal bath or onsen. What’s more, the ryokan even serves western breakfasts to those who’d prefer them.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima
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The objective of the Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima is to make travelers feel that they’re at home while giving them an absolute treat of Japanese hospitality. This comfy, modern hotel is a mere five-minute walk from the Peace Memorial Park and makes an excellent base for exploring the neighborhood. What’s more, it lies close to the Hiroshima Train Station as well as the tram lines, making most of the city’s best places easily accessible.
If you’re in the mood to splurge, choose on the rooms on the upper floors of the building, which enjoy splendid views of Hiroshima and the mountains beyond. All rooms are spacious, come with their own plush bathrooms and a set of hi-tech mod-cons.
However, the best part about the hotel just might its food. A 25th-floor restaurant with jaw-dropping views serves delicious French cuisine. What’s more, foodies will love the hotel’s traditional Japanese fare too, as well as the hearty breakfast buffet with delicious coffee and western items. Apart from helpful staff, the hotel even offers guests rental smartphones to help them make their way through Hiroshima.
Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima
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Without a doubt, the grandest of all Hiroshima hotels is the aptly-named Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima. The hotel lies on Ujina Island, right next to Hiroshima Bay Marine, and enjoys magnificently unobstructed views of the Seto Inland Sea.
Modern minimalism rules the roost at the rooms of the hotel. White is the overwhelming palette, right from the walls down to the linens. The entire focus of the room is on the huge windows, which act as excellent frames for spectacular views of the sea. Light wood furnishings, flatscreen TVs, and spacious bathrooms make up the rest of this comfy room. Some rooms even have windows next to the bathtubs, that make luxuriating in the bathroom an adventure of its own.
Moreover, the hotel has plenty of amneities and activities to keep travelers occupied and happy. For one, there are five different dining options serving everything from Japanese to western cuisine. There’s even an on-site bar where sipping on a cocktail is a great way to spend a relaxed evening. The pool feels heavenly on hot, humid days. The icing on the cake is the sauna, salon, and spa, where you can pamper yourself with a long and luxurious massage.
Recommended Restaurants / Bars / Food Tours in Hiroshima:
- Hiroshima – Local Night Food Tour: Visit three smashing ‘izakayas’ in Hiroshima and dig into the city’s delicious local fare.
- Guttsuri-Tei: This restaurant is known to serve the freshest seafood that is out there, which includes everything from tempura to sashimi.
Recommended Activities In Hiroshima:
- Hiroshima – Peace Walking Tour of World Heritage Sites: Dig into the past, present, and future of Hiroshima on this historic tour.
- Hiroshima – Private Half-Day Miyajima Tour: Get onto a ferry to get to Miyajima a.k.a. Itsukushima island in Hiroshima Bay. It is known for its gorgeousness and ancient temples and forests.
