The "Carp Castle" with a feudal-history museum; admission 370 ¥.
Hiroshima Castle, known as Rijōkaku or Carp Castle, was erected between 1589 and 1599 by order of Mori Terumoto. The original was completely destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945 —the hypocentre was just 740 metres away— and the reconstruction opened in 1958 faithfully replicates the five-storey keep. The interior is now an excellent museum of feudal history with samurai armour, katanas, models of the city in the Edo era and objects on the history of the Chugoku region. From the top floor there are good views over the moat and the castle park. Admission costs 370 ¥ for adults; under-18s free. The castle grounds —moats, walls and gardens— have free access. Hours: 9:00-18:00 (until 17:00 from December to February). It is reached by tram to Kamiyacho-higashi (line 6) and then a 15-minute walk, or a 20-minute walk from Hiroshima station. A 15-minute walk from the Memorial Park.
