Hiroshima Castle — Reconstructed Fortress & Samurai Museum

Hiroshima Castle (広島城), nicknamed 'Carp Castle' (鯉城, Rijō) for the carp that once swam in its moats, is a reconstructed five-story castle in central Hiroshima, originally built in 1589 by feudal lord Mori Terumoto. The castle served as the administrative and military center of Aki Province (modern Hiroshima) until the Meiji Restoration (1868), and during World War II, it housed the Imperial General Headquarters. The original castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945 — located 1km from the hypocenter, it was obliterated instantly, with only stone foundations remaining.

The current structure is a 1958 concrete reconstruction faithfully replicating the original's five-story exterior with white walls, dark wooden accents, and elegant curved rooflines. The interior houses a museum documenting Hiroshima's feudal history, samurai culture, and castle architecture, with exhibits on Mori clan governance, Edo-period city life, and wartime history. The top floor observation deck offers 360° views of Hiroshima City, Peace Memorial Park, and the Seto Inland Sea. The castle grounds feature original stone walls (surviving the atomic bomb), two reconstructed turrets, and Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine — a Shinto shrine honoring war dead. Cherry blossoms (late March–early April) transform the grounds into a hanami spot, with 370 cherry trees creating a pink canopy over moats and pathways.