Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum: How to Visit (Tickets, Timing and What to See)

Quick answer: Book a timed online ticket for the Peace Memorial Museum (¥200) and go first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, when it’s quieter. Allow 1.5–2 hours for the museum and another hour to walk the park: the A-Bomb Dome, the Cenotaph, the Flame of Peace and the Children’s Peace Monument, where you can leave paper cranes. Come back after dark to see the Dome lit up.

My family is from Hiroshima, and I’ve visited the Peace Park and the museum myself. It’s the reason many people come to Hiroshima, and it deserves time and care. This guide covers the practical side — tickets, timing and the route — so you can focus on the visit itself.

The Peace Memorial Museum

Hours (2026)

• The first and last hour are for reserved tickets only. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing.
• Closed 30–31 December and for a few days in mid-February.

Tickets

• Adults ¥200, high school students ¥100, junior high and younger free.
• Book online (international visitors through Klook), up to 90 days ahead, in timed slots. The early and late reserved slots are only sold online.
• Even with a ticket, you may queue at busy times.

When to go

The museum welcomed a record 2.58 million visitors in the year to March 2026. May and August are the busiest months, and school groups visiting on study trips fill it at certain times of year. In my experience, it’s much quieter first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon. Avoid the middle of the day if you can.

Inside

• An audio guide in 15 languages costs ¥500 (about 70 minutes).
• Photography is allowed without flash. No tripods or selfie sticks, and large bags must go in the coin lockers.
• Some exhibits are distressing. Take your time, and step out if you need to.

Walking the park

The park sits on the delta where the city centre stood before 1945. A suggested route from the museum:

1. Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims — the arched monument in front of the museum. Look through it to see the Flame of Peace and the Dome lined up.
2. Flame of Peace — burning until all nuclear weapons are gone.
3. Children’s Peace Monument — dedicated to Sadako Sasaki and the children who died. About 10 million paper cranes are offered here each year; you can leave yours in the booths beside it.
4. Peace Bell — visitors may ring it.
5. Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall — a quiet underground memorial with names and testimonies. Free.
6. Memorial to the Korean victims.
7. A-Bomb Dome — across the river, the ruined Industrial Promotion Hall. It’s the Dome itself (not the whole park) that was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Come back after dark

The A-Bomb Dome is lit up at night, and seeing it from the riverbank in the evening is very different from the daytime. I’d recommend it.

Free guides and survivors’ stories

• Volunteer guides (including English) lead free walks in the park, daily 10:30–15:30. Book by phone (082-541-5544).
• The museum holds free talks in English by trained successors who pass on survivors’ testimonies — check the museum’s website for times.

6 August

The Peace Memorial Ceremony is held every year on 6 August from 8:00 to 8:50, with a minute of silence at 8:15, the moment of the bombing. The public can attend; expect bag checks and very large crowds. Hotels fill up months ahead.

Orizuru Tower

Next to the Dome, Orizuru Tower has a rooftop deck overlooking the park (¥2,200 for adults) and a wall where you can drop a paper crane you’ve folded.

Getting there

• Streetcar to Genbaku-Dome-mae (lines 2 and 6), ¥240 flat fare. See my Hiroshima streetcar guide.
• The Hondori shopping arcade starts right at the park’s eastern edge.

See Hiroshima Day 2 for what to do next, and Where to Stay in Hiroshima for nearby hotels.

FAQ

How long do I need?
About 1.5–2 hours for the museum and an hour for the park.

Is it suitable for children?
Some exhibits are graphic. Parents should decide; many school groups visit.

Can I take photos?
Yes, without flash, in most of the museum.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.