Hiroshima Castle

広島城

Hiroshima

CastleFlatland castle (hirajiro)Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 73

What makes this castle distinctive

The keep felled by the atomic bomb was rebuilt in concrete as a symbol of recovery. In 2026 that keep closed its doors, and the city is now studying a rebuild in wood.

Why?

Hiroshima Castle's keep collapsed in the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945. In 1958 a reinforced-concrete keep recreating the original exterior was built. That keep in turn closed on March 22, 2026, because of deteriorating concrete and aging equipment. A city-appointed panel judged a wooden reconstruction of the keep complex the most promising option, and detailed surveys begin in fiscal 2026, but no final decision has been made.^[1][2]

Three things not to miss

The closed keep, seen from outside

Where: The northwest corner of the main enclosure (honmaru), viewed across the inner moat or from inside the enclosure.
What to look at: The five-tiered keep's exterior, its stone base, and the sites of the south and east sub-keeps.
Why it's interesting: The original keep was a main tower linked by corridors to two smaller keeps, and Hiroshima City says it was second only to Osaka Castle's keep in size when built. Today's keep, rebuilt in 1958, recreates only the main tower's exterior; the smaller keeps were never rebuilt. It closed in March 2026, but there are currently no plans to demolish it, and you can still view it from outside.^[1][2][4]
Can you see it?: Partly visibleExterior only. The keep has been closed inside since March 22, 2026.

The second enclosure, rebuilt in wood

Where: South of the main enclosure; cross the Gomon Bridge and enter through the Omote Gomon gate.
What to look at: The wooden Omote Gomon gate and the Hira, Tamon and Taiko turrets, inside and out.
Why it's interesting: The second enclosure was an umadashi, a small walled area guarding the entrance to the main enclosure. Edo-period gates and turrets stood here until the war, but the atomic bomb destroyed everything except the stone walls. Between 1989 and 1994 they were rebuilt in wood to their Edo-period appearance, based on pre-war photos, drawings and excavation results. You can go inside for free.^[5][6][7]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideInteriors open free of charge; remove your shoes to enter.

Traces of the atomic bombing

Where: The Nakagomon gate site between the second and main enclosures, the eucalyptus in the second enclosure, and around the Imperial Headquarters site in the main enclosure.
What to look at: Stones reddened and cracked by the heat of the fires, and trees that survived within 1 km of the hypocenter.
Why it's interesting: The castle stood about 1 km from the hypocenter: the keep collapsed and the gates and turrets burned. The stones at the Nakagomon gate site still show the red scorching of those fires. Trees such as the eucalyptus in the second enclosure (about 740 m from the hypocenter) and a holly tree in the main enclosure survived amid the devastation.^[4]
Can you see it?: Visible from outsideFreely visible in the castle park.

At a glance for visitors

Nearest station: from Kamiya-cho-higashi / Kamiya-cho-nishi tram stops
Climb: No climb
Time neededEditors' estimate: About an hour for the castle park and the second enclosure.
Admission: Free
Hours: April–September 9:00–17:30; October–March 9:00–16:30 (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Access: Partly open
The castle park is free to walk. The keep closed on March 22, 2026, and cannot be entered, though its exterior can be viewed. The rebuilt buildings of the second enclosure are open free. The former air-defense command room cannot be entered. The official site says the Japan 100 Castles stamp is in the covered passage in front of the keep's entrance.

Checked: 2026-10-03

View on map Open in Google Maps Hiroshima Castle official site Closure of the keep (Hiroshima City)Studies on restoring the keep (Hiroshima City)

The story of this castle

Historical record

A castle on a river delta

Hiroshima Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) built on the delta at the mouth of the Ota River, where small islands and sandbars once dotted a deep inlet. Mori Terumoto, who ruled much of western Honshu, met Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1588 and then chose the head of Hiroshima Bay, an area his grandfather Motonari had valued, as the site for a castle and town to govern the whole region. Construction began in 1589.^[8][2]

Historical record

A main keep with two smaller keeps

The keep complex Terumoto built had a five-tiered main keep with three-tiered smaller keeps to its east and south, joined by corridors. When built it was second in size only to Osaka Castle's keep, and as a keep surviving from before the Battle of Sekigahara it was named a National Treasure in 1931.^[2][4]

Historical record

An unauthorized repair costs a lord his castle

After the Battle of Sekigahara, Fukushima Masanori replaced the Mori as lord in 1600. When floods damaged the castle in 1617, Masanori repaired it without the shogunate's permission. He was rebuked and, having failed to fully meet the conditions imposed, lost the castle in 1619. Asano Nagaakira took over, and the Asano family ruled until the Meiji era. In the northeast of the main enclosure, a stretch of wall thought to have been dismantled on Masanori's orders still remains.^[9][4]

Historical record

A military base, then the atomic bomb

In the Meiji era the grounds filled with military facilities, and during the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894 the Imperial General Headquarters moved here along with Emperor Meiji. On August 6, 1945, the keep, about 1 km from the hypocenter, was toppled by the atomic bomb, and the remaining gates and turrets burned. The main enclosure still holds the foundation stones of the headquarters, fire-scorched stones and trees that survived the bombing.^[10][4]

Historical record

From a recovery symbol to plans for a wooden rebuild

The castle site became a National Historic Site in 1953, and for the 1958 Hiroshima Reconstruction Exposition a reinforced-concrete keep recreating the old exterior was built and opened as a museum. The gate and turrets of the second enclosure were rebuilt in wood between 1989 and 1994. The keep closed on March 22, 2026, and its museum role passes to the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum, due to open in 2027. A city panel concluded that rebuilding the entire keep complex in wood, as it looked in the late Edo to early Meiji period, would be most desirable. From fiscal 2026 the city will carry out detailed surveys lasting at least about five years (to around fiscal 2030) before deciding on a plan.^{[1][2][6][10][11]}

People of this castle

Lord who built Hiroshima Castle

Mori Terumoto

毛利輝元

1553–1625

Grandson of Mori Motonari. Under Toyotomi rule he governed eight provinces in western Honshu and was one of the Five Elders. After serving as nominal commander of the losing Western Army at Sekigahara, he was reduced to two provinces, Suo and Nagato, and built Hagi Castle.

Lord who lost the castle over an unauthorized repair

Fukushima Masanori

福島正則

1561–1624

A warrior who served Toyotomi Hideyoshi from childhood and one of the famed "Seven Spears of Shizugatake." He sided with Tokugawa at Sekigahara and in 1600 became lord of Aki and Bingo provinces, based at Hiroshima Castle.

First Asano lord of Hiroshima, whose family ruled until the Meiji era

Asano Nagaakira

浅野長晟

1586–1632

Son of Asano Nagamasa. Moved from Wakayama to become lord of Hiroshima in 1619, after which the Asano family ruled Hiroshima until the Meiji era.

Lord

Mōri clan

毛利氏

Lord

Asano clan

浅野氏

Timeline

1589
Mori Terumoto begins building the castle^[8][2]
1600
Fukushima Masanori becomes lord after Sekigahara^[9]
1619
Masanori is removed; Asano Nagaakira takes over^[9]
1894
Imperial General Headquarters moves into the castle during the First Sino-Japanese War^[10]
1945
August 6: the keep is destroyed by the atomic bomb^[1][2]
1958
A reinforced-concrete keep recreating the old exterior is completed^[1][10]
2026
March 22: the keep closes to visitors^[1][3]

Buildings and remains

The keep today

Exterior restored

Destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945 and rebuilt in reinforced concrete in 1958 to match the pre-war exterior; the smaller keeps were not rebuilt. Closed on March 22, 2026, with no public access inside. There are currently no plans to demolish it, and the city is studying options including a wooden reconstruction.

The site today

The main and second enclosures survive with the inner moat as a castle park (Hiroshima Castle National Historic Site); the outer moats have mostly become city streets. The main enclosure holds the keep (now closed); the second enclosure has gates and turrets rebuilt in wood. On the former third enclosure to the south, the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru area is being developed.

Main buildings

Exterior restored

Main keep

Rebuilt in 1958; closed March 22, 2026; exterior viewing only.^[1][4]

Lost

South and east sub-keeps

Torn down in the Meiji era; only their sites remain.^[4]

Rebuilt in wood

Second enclosure: Omote Gomon gate, Hira, Tamon and Taiko turrets

Destroyed in 1945; rebuilt in wood 1989–94. Interiors open free.^[6][7]

Site only

Hiroshima Imperial Headquarters site

Site of the building used as Imperial Headquarters in 1894–95; destroyed in 1945, foundations remain.^[4]

Site only

Nakagomon gate site

Stones scorched red in the post-bombing fires remain.^[4]

Key facts

Type: Castle
Setting: Flatland castle (hirajiro)built on flat ground, defended by moatsEditorial article
Period: Early modern (1570s–1871), ModernEditorial article
Keep (tenshu): Exterior restoredthe outside follows historical records; the inside is a modern building, often a museumEditorial article
Built by: Mori TerumotoJapan Castle Foundation
Built: 1589Japan Castle Foundation
Main lords: Mōri clan, Asano clanJapan Castle Foundation
Abandoned: 1871Wikipedia (ja)
Remains to see: Stone walls, Moats, Gates, Turrets or turret bases, Baileys / enclosures (kuruwa), Keep base (tenshudai)Editorial article
Designation: National Historic Site (Hiroshima Castle ruins) (1953)Editorial article
Selection: Japan's 100 Fine Castles No. 73Japan Castle Foundation

Visiting

Access

Partly open

The castle park is free to walk. The keep closed on March 22, 2026, and cannot be entered, though its exterior can be viewed. The rebuilt buildings of the second enclosure are open free. The former air-defense command room cannot be entered. The official site says the Japan 100 Castles stamp is in the covered passage in front of the keep's entrance.

Address

21-1 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0011^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Nearest stations and how to get there

Kamiya-cho-higashi / Kamiya-cho-nishi tram stopsHiroden streetcar (lines 1, 2 or 6 from JR Hiroshima Station, south exit)

No climb

From the tram stops, use the underground passage toward the castle (no official walking time given). By bus, take a bus via Godo Chosha-mae from stop 7 or 8 at Hiroshima Station's south exit.^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hours and admission

Rebuilt buildings of the second enclosure

Hours: April–September 9:00–17:30; October–March 9:00–16:30 (last entry 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: In 2026: December 8 and December 29–31
Admission: Free^[5][7]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Hiroshima Castle keep

Hours: Closed since March 22, 2026 (no entry)
Closed: Closed
Admission: None (closed)^[1][5]

Checked: 2026-10-03

By car / parking

About 20 minutes from the Hiroshima interchange on the Sanyo Expressway. There is no parking in the castle grounds; the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru car park north of Jonan-dori (210 yen per 30 minutes) is about a 5-minute walk from the keep. Tour buses should reserve the Central Park bus lot.^[3]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Grounds opening hours

Not confirmed. Illumination runs from sunset to 22:00.^[13]Checked: 2026-10-03

Time neededEditors' estimate

About an hour for the castle park and the second enclosure.

Steps, slopes and footing

A flatland castle with no major slopes; there are steps between the upper and lower levels of the main enclosure.^[4][12]

Wheelchairs and strollers

Not confirmed (shoes must be removed in the second-enclosure buildings).^[7]Checked: 2026-10-03

Toilets and rest

Not confirmed

English signs / audio guide

The official site offers an English map of the castle grounds (PDF).^[7]

Seasons

About 350 cherry trees, mainly Somei-Yoshino: 237 inside the grounds and 109 around the outer edge of the moat (2025 count). The keep and second enclosure are lit from sunset to 22:00.^[13]

Photography

Shoots that use the park require prior consultation with the park manager (Hiroshima Castle Associates) and a permit application. Rules for personal snapshots are not confirmed.^[14]

Works, closures and restrictions

The keep closed on March 22, 2026 (exterior viewing only). The Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum, which takes over its museum role, is due to open on June 1, 2027, with its second-floor permanent and special exhibition rooms opening on October 1, 2027.^[1][11]Checked: 2026-10-03

Around the castle

Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Garden begun in 1620 by Asano Nagaakira, lord of Hiroshima, for his villa, designed by his senior retainer and tea master Ueda Soko. About 13 minutes' walk from the castle.^[15][13]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Experience

Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru

A new area being developed on the former third enclosure. Phase 1 opened in March 2025, and the Sannomaru History Museum and Phase 2 are due to open on June 1, 2027.^[11]

Checked: 2026-10-03

Editors' guide

An editorial guide based on sources and confirmed information — not a first-hand visit report.

Who will enjoy it

Good for those who want to understand the castle alongside Hiroshima's postwar story, visitors combining it with the Peace Memorial Park, and anyone keen to step inside wooden reconstructed turrets.

What makes it interesting

View the closed keep from outside, along with its base and the sites of the smaller keeps. Go inside the wooden gate and turrets of the second enclosure. The scorched stones at the Nakagomon site, the A-bombed trees and the Imperial Headquarters site show how the castle lived through war and the atomic bomb.

Before you go

The keep closed on March 22, 2026 and cannot be entered. For museum exhibits, you will need to wait for the Sannomaru History Museum, due in 2027. There is no parking in the castle grounds.

Ways to enjoy it

Admire the keep across the inner moat, then cross the Gomon Bridge and enter through the Omote Gomon gate to follow the old approach to the castle. The Atomic Bomb Dome is about 18 minutes' walk away, so it pairs well with the Peace Memorial Park. On weekends a costumed samurai troupe parades and performs.

Photos

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Open questions

Hiroshima City reports its panel's view that a wooden reconstruction is the most promising option, but no plan has been decided. A decision is expected only after surveys lasting at least about five years from fiscal 2026, and the reconstruction drawings are described as provisional.
Hiroshima City describes the 1958 keep as "restored" or "rebuilt," while the official castle site and the Japanese Castle Association call it an "exterior restoration."
The official site places the 100 Castles stamp in the covered passage in front of the keep's entrance, but how this works since the keep closed could not be confirmed. Check before you go.
The second enclosure's closing days are listed differently on the official home page (December 8 and 29–31) and in the FAQ (New Year holidays). Walking time from the tram stops, toilets and barrier-free access could not be confirmed.