Walk the Peace Memorial Park. Start at the A-Bomb Dome, the skeletal hall left standing as a witness, then cross the park past the Children's Peace Monument — strung with thousands of paper cranes — to the cenotaph and eternal flame. Entry to the park is free.
Visit the Peace Memorial Museum. The exhibits tell the story of 6 August 1945 through belongings, photographs and survivor testimony. Entry is only about ¥200 ($1.20). Allow 1.5-2 hours and expect it to stay with you.
Take the ferry to Miyajima. The island's Itsukushima Shrine and its great torii appear to float at high tide; tame deer wander the streets, and the ropeway up Mount Misen adds a panorama over the Seto Inland Sea. Try momiji manju (maple-leaf cakes) fresh off the griddle on the shopping street.
Eat Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki. The local version layers noodles into the savoury pancake. Okonomimura, a building stacked with small counters, is the easy place to try it — most fillings can be made vegetarian if you ask, though check for fish flakes and sauces.
If you stay overnight, Hiroshima Castle and the Shukkeien garden fill a relaxed second morning.
