Hiroshima

Located in western Honshu and just above Shikoku, perhaps the first thing that comes to the minds of many when they hear the word “Hiroshima” is that it was the target of the first atomic bomb in history.

Claiming the lives of over 100,000 civilians, its catastrophic effects can be seen at the Atomic Bomb (Genbaku) Dome, which miraculously survived the bombing and is a World Heritage Site, and the moving Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum; both serve as moving reminders of the necessity of world peace.

But Hiroshima has so much more to offer – Miyajima island is the magical location of yet another World Heritage Site – Itsukushima Shrine and its “floating” torii gate at high tide, which is classified as one of the Three Views of Japan. Don’t forget to try Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki and the local oysters while you're there.