Best Time to Visit Hiroshima
Recommended: Mar to May
When to go
March to May and October to November for mild weather and (in late March/early April) cherry blossoms along the rivers and in Peace Park. Summer is hot and humid, and August 6 (the anniversary of the bombing) draws large crowds to Peace Park for the memorial ceremony, book ahead if visiting that week. Winter is quiet and cheap but cold for ferry crossings to Miyajima.
Month by month in Japan
Hiroshima sits in Japan, so the country's broader seasonal pattern applies. Late March to early April for cherry blossoms and late October to November for autumn colour are the two peak windows, with the best weather and the biggest crowds and prices. June to mid-July is rainy season; August is hot, humid, and typhoon-prone.
Jan-FebCold, dry, clear skies. Cheapest hotel rates outside Sapporo's Snow Festival week.
Mar-AprCherry blossom season, peaks late March to early April in Kyoto/Tokyo. Book 4-6 months out.
MayComfortable and green, but Golden Week (late Apr-early May) is the busiest domestic travel week of the year.
Jun-JulRainy season (tsuyu) across most of the country, hot and humid by July.
AugPeak heat and humidity, typhoon risk builds. Festival season (Obon, fireworks) offsets the discomfort.
Sep-OctTyphoon risk tapers through September, October brings cooler, drier, comfortable days.
NovAutumn foliage peaks, similar crowd levels to cherry blossom season.
DecCold and clear, illuminations and Christmas lights in cities, quieter than spring or autumn.