Hiroshima Castle Guide 2026: What to See After the Keep Closed, Admission and Hours, the Ninomaru and A-Bomb Sites, and the Winter Wander Projection Mapping

Hiroshima Castle in Naka-ku, Hiroshima, was begun by Mori Terumoto in 1589 and is also known as “Rijo” (Carp Castle). The keep, whose exterior was reconstructed in 1958, closed on March 22, 2026, and its interior can no longer be entered. That does not mean the castle can no longer be visited: the reconstructed Ninomaru buildings are open free of charge, and the keep's exterior, moats, stone walls and traces of the atomic bombing can still be seen. On the evenings of December 18, 2026 to January 11, 2027, “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” (free) also takes place on the keep. Here is how to explore Hiroshima Castle after the closure, based on official information from Hiroshima City and the castle.

What is Hiroshima Castle? From Mori Terumoto to the atomic bomb and reconstruction

Hiroshima Castle was begun in 1589 by Mori Terumoto, who ruled most of the Chugoku region, at the mouth of the Ota River. After the Mori moved following the Battle of Sekigahara, Fukushima Masanori and then the Asano family became lords of the castle, which served as the seat of the Hiroshima domain. The keep was designated a National Treasure in 1931, but was toppled by the blast of the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945.

After the war, a temporary keep was recreated for the 1951 Physical Culture Exposition, and the castle site was designated a national Historic Site in 1953. The present keep was reconstructed in reinforced concrete, replicating the exterior, as a venue for the 1958 Hiroshima Reconstruction Exposition; after the exposition it opened as the Hiroshima Castle Local History Museum and was long loved as a museum.

The keep closed in March 2026: what you can still see

According to Hiroshima City, the keep closed as of March 22, 2026. The castle's official website explains that it was closed for safety reasons due to problems such as deteriorating concrete and ageing facilities. Future plans, including a possible wooden reconstruction, are still being studied and have not been decided.

Even after the closure, the keep's exterior can be viewed from outside. The reconstructed Ninomaru buildings, the museum shop and the “Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru” area on the south side of the castle remain open.

The reconstructed Ninomaru buildings: free admission

The Ninomaru is the enclosure that serves as the castle's entrance, reached through the Omote Gomon gate. The Hira-yagura, Tamon-yagura and Taiko-yagura turrets were reconstructed in 1994, restoring the Ninomaru's original appearance.

According to the official website, admission to the reconstructed Ninomaru buildings is free. Opening hours are 9:00–17:30 from April to September and 9:00–16:30 from October to March, with last entry 30 minutes before closing. In 2026, they are closed on Tuesday, December 8 and from Tuesday, December 29 to Thursday, December 31.

Traces of the “military city” and the atomic bombing in the Honmaru

The Honmaru (main enclosure) also preserves traces of history from the Meiji era onward. When the First Sino-Japanese War began in 1894, the Imperial General Headquarters was set up in the Honmaru. In its lower section is the site of the air-defence operations room of the Chugoku Regional Army Headquarters (an A-bombed building), which directed air defence for the Chugoku region at the end of the Pacific War. It was exposed to the bombing about 790 metres from the hypocentre, and it is said that mobilised female students working there sent out the first report of the damage. The interior is currently closed to visitors due to deterioration.

The Honmaru is also home to Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine, rebuilt there in 1956.

Sannomaru and the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum, opening in June 2027

“Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru”, on the south side of the castle, opened on March 31, 2025, offering Hiroshima food and souvenirs as well as experiences such as kyudo archery and samurai-style tea culture.

The collections stored and displayed in the keep will move to a new museum, the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum. According to an announcement on October 1, 2026, it opens on June 1, 2027, starting with the first-floor general guidance and experience areas, tourist information centre and museum shop, and a second-floor viewing space overlooking the keep. Exhibition rooms presenting the keep's collections, a folding screen of the Hiroshima castle town and a full-scale recreation of a tea room from the Sannomaru residence are scheduled to open on October 1 the same year. June 1 is also the anniversary of the day the keep, reconstructed in 1958, opened as a museum.

Winter nights: “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” and the first projection mapping on the keep

From Friday, December 18, 2026 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday), from 17:30 to 21:00, “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026” takes place (closed December 31 to January 3). Images of the rivers flowing through Hiroshima, nishikigoi carp, carp streamers and ukiyo-e depicting Itsukushima Shrine are projected onto the keep, the Omote Gomon gate and stone walls within the castle grounds, while Gomon Bridge and the Honmaru are lit up. According to Hiroshima City (as of October 2026), this is the first projection mapping on the keep. It is free to watch and needs no advance registration. Hiroshima Dreamination and museum exhibitions in the city this winter are covered in our Hiroshima art guide.

As the reconstructed Ninomaru buildings close at 16:30 (October to March), you can tour the Ninomaru by late afternoon and watch the Winter Wander after dark. See our Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026 article for details, our winter 2026–27 events guide for related events at Tsuruga-jo Castle, in Osaka and in Gifu, and our guide to photographing projection mapping for shooting tips.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still go inside Hiroshima Castle's keep?

The keep closed on March 22, 2026, and its interior cannot be entered. The exterior can be seen from outside.

Is there an admission fee?

Admission to the reconstructed Ninomaru buildings is free, and you can also see the keep's exterior and the Honmaru sites free of charge.

What are the opening hours?

The reconstructed Ninomaru buildings are open 9:00–17:30 from April to September and 9:00–16:30 from October to March (last entry 30 minutes before closing).

Where can I see the keep's exhibits?

The keep's collections will move to the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum, which opens on June 1, 2027; the exhibition rooms presenting the collections are scheduled to open on October 1, 2027.

Facility overview

【Name】Hiroshima Castle (National Historic Site: Hiroshima Castle Site)
【Address】21-1 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
【Keep】Closed on March 22, 2026 (exterior viewing only)
【Reconstructed Ninomaru buildings】Free admission. April–September 9:00–17:30, October–March 9:00–16:30 (last entry 30 minutes before closing). Closed December 8 and December 29–31, 2026
【Access】From the south exit of JR Hiroshima Station, take the tram (lines 1, 2 or 6) about 10 minutes to Kamiya-cho-higashi, then walk about 12 minutes via the underground passage
【Official website】https://hiroshimacastle.jp/
*Information as of November 9, 2026. Please check the official website for the latest information.

*Top image: Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026 (from a HITOHATA, INC. press release)

*This article was compiled by the TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team based on materials published by Hiroshima City (notice of the keep's closure and the castle's chronology), the official Hiroshima Castle website (viewed November 9, 2026), Hiroshima Prefecture's official tourism website “Dive! Hiroshima”, the announcement on the opening of the Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru History Museum (October 1, 2026) and official announcements for Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026.

Text: TOKYO ART SPHERE Editorial Team

A note from the publisher

*Disclosure: “Hiroshima Castle Winter Wander 2026”, featured in this article, is an event planned and produced by HITOHATA, INC., an affiliate of HITOHATA ASSOCIATION, the general incorporated association that operates TOKYO ART SPHERE (About us).