Before I visited Hiroshima Orizuru Tower for the first time, I had one question: is an observation deck really worth ¥2,200?
You pay another ¥100 if you want to add your own paper crane to the Orizuru Wall. And, of course, snacks and drinks at the cafe cost extra.
I live in Hiroshima, so the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park are familiar sights. I wondered whether seeing them from a slightly higher angle would really justify the admission fee.
By the time my wife and I left, though, I was thinking something completely different: I’d happily come back.
I still wouldn’t call it cheap. But between the rooftop view, the cafe, folding and dropping a paper crane, the artwork, and even a slide, it felt less like an ordinary observation deck and more like an art-filled place where you can actually play.
Is Hiroshima Orizuru Tower worth the admission fee?
My answer: yes, if you make time for the whole experience. ¥2,200 is a lot to pay just to look at a view for a few minutes. But I enjoyed much more than the view, and that changed how I felt about the price.
- See Hiroshima, the Atomic Bomb Dome, and Peace Memorial Park from the rooftop observation deck.
- Take a break at the cafe with the city spread out in front of you.
- Fold a paper crane and add it to the Orizuru Wall.
- Explore the indoor experiences and artwork.
- Walk down the Sampo spiral slope and try its slide.
- Browse Hiroshima souvenirs on the first floor.
Tickets, opening hours and location
| Visitor information (checked November 2026) | Details |
|---|---|
| Adult admission (18+) | ¥2,200 |
| Adding a paper crane to the Orizuru Wall | ¥100 extra |
| Regular observation deck hours | 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. |
| Last admission | 30 minutes before closing |
| Address | 1-2-1 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima |
| Dedicated visitor parking | None; use nearby paid parking |
Hours may change for events and private bookings. Before visiting, check the official ticket information and current opening hours.
Getting there is easy if you’re exploring central Hiroshima: take the Hiroshima Electric Railway streetcar to Genbaku Dome-mae (Atomic Bomb Dome) stop, then walk about a minute. The tower is immediately east of the Dome. Official directions
Getting around Hiroshima: tram or rental car?
If you are visiting Orizuru Tower, the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, you don’t need to rent a car. These sights are close together, and Hiroshima’s streetcars and walking routes make exploring the city centre easy.
But if your plans include a longer road trip through Hiroshima Prefecture or the wider Chugoku region, a rental car can give you more freedom to stop at smaller towns, scenic viewpoints and places that are harder to reach by public transport.
Compare rental car options for your trip to Japan on DiscoverCars
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Before booking, make sure your licence is valid for driving in Japan. International Driving Permit requirements depend on where your licence was issued. See the National Police Agency’s official driving guidance.
Our first visit: there’s more to do than I expected
I’d passed this building so many times without ever going inside. From the street, I assumed it was mainly an observation deck.
Once we got in, it became obvious that the place had other plans for us: paper cranes, art, interactive displays, food, a long spiral walkway, and a slide. That’s quite a lot for a building I had mentally filed under “nice view.”
Starting on the first floor: souvenirs before the adventure
The first floor has a cafe and a shop full of Hiroshima gifts, and you can browse this area without buying a ticket for the observation deck.
I took a quick look, decided we’d come back for souvenirs later, and headed for the entrance gate.
Just beyond the gate, I had to make a decision: take the elevator or start up the spiral walkway?
After thinking about it for far too long, I settled on elevator up, spiral walkway down. It turned out to be a good choice. We reached the rooftop quickly and saved the artwork and the leisurely walk for the way back.
The rooftop: where my doubts about ¥2,200 began to disappear
As soon as the elevator doors opened, I liked the atmosphere. We stopped at Akushu Cafe and ordered a Hiroshima honey-and-lemon squash and Namachi, freshly fried potato chips.
We found seats, settled in with our snacks, and looked out over the city. The chips were even better than I expected.
But the best part was the view itself.
I’d never looked down on the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park from this angle before. I’ve lived in Hiroshima long enough to think I knew this scenery, yet from the rooftop it felt entirely different.
I remember thinking, “So this is what Hiroshima looks like from up here.” I was genuinely impressed.
The Orizuru Wall: an adult who had forgotten how to fold a crane
Next, we went to make a paper crane. I approached the table confidently, then realized I couldn’t remember how to fold one at all.
My wife had to show me. Eventually I produced a crane, although my lack of origami talent was very much on display.
The idea is simple: fold a crane, carry it to the Orizuru Wall, and drop it into the tall glass-sided space where visitors’ cranes collect.
For some reason, watching that little crane fall was surprisingly fun. It drops quickly, so a video works well if you want to capture the moment.
The glass makes it easy to see down, but anyone uncomfortable with heights might feel a little nervous.
The way down: a spiral walk full of art, views and a slide
For the return trip, we took the Sampo spiral slope. The full walk is about 450 metres, so there’s time to enjoy changing views and the enormous murals as you descend.
Yes, I tried the cool-cool-cool slide
At the centre of the spiral walkway is a slide called “cool-cool-cool.” I couldn’t resist trying it, even though I’m a fully grown adult. I rode it for just one floor.
Did I act my age? Absolutely not. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely.
The slide has safety rules and age restrictions, so check the official slide guidance before trying it.
After that, I walked the rest of the way, taking in the art. I’m not an art expert, but the huge works along the walls were worth slowing down for.
I’m glad we didn’t simply look at the view and take the elevator straight back.
One final stop: picking up Hiroshima souvenirs
When we reached the first floor again, it was time to keep my earlier promise to myself and look through the souvenirs.
By then we’d looked, eaten, folded, dropped, walked, slid and wandered through the artwork. Not bad for a visit I had originally expected to be little more than a trip up to an observation deck.
Who will enjoy Orizuru Tower the most?
- First-time visitors to Hiroshima: the view puts the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park into a wider cityscape.
- People who enjoy photography: there are rooftop views, paper cranes and plenty of visual details.
- Visitors who like a relaxed pace: the cafe is a pleasant place to pause.
- Families: paper cranes, interactive experiences and the slide add variety beyond sightseeing.
- Hiroshima locals: seeing familiar places from above can be unexpectedly moving.
If your plan is to race up, take one photo and leave, ¥2,200 may feel expensive. If you can spare time for the crane experience, cafe and spiral walkway too, the visit makes much more sense.
My verdict: I thought it was expensive. Now I want to go back
I went in thinking ¥2,200 sounded steep. I still think it’s not a small amount of money.
But after sitting with a snack overlooking Hiroshima, folding a rather wonky crane, watching it fall, and taking the long way down past the art and slide, I’d enjoyed myself much more than I expected.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was how a familiar hometown could look so new from above.
Would I pay ¥2,200 to visit again? Yes. Next time, I’d love to see Hiroshima as the evening lights come on.
A note from a Hiroshima local: please enjoy the city, too
Orizuru Tower stands just steps from the Atomic Bomb Dome. People visit the Dome to learn about a terrible part of Hiroshima’s history. But the streets around it are also part of a living, welcoming city.
Visitors from Japan and around the world stop to take photos of the Dome. Right next door, tourists and Hiroshima locals like me have fun at Orizuru Tower.
On the tower’s first floor, okonomiyaki is cooked on a griddle. Along the nearby river, events bring people together. Ordinary moments of enjoyment happen right beside a place that remembers so much pain.
When I see this, I think of the generations who rebuilt Hiroshima after the devastation. They kept the memory of what happened, yet made this a city where people could live, laugh and welcome visitors—not simply a place defined by resentment. I have enormous respect and gratitude for them.
To me, there is something deeply peaceful about that: remembering the past without letting it take away the joy of the present.
So if you’ve come to Hiroshima from overseas, I hope you’ll learn about the history of the Atomic Bomb Dome. And I hope you’ll enjoy the city around it, too. Try the okonomiyaki, take photographs, visit Orizuru Tower and walk by the river.
Please enjoy Hiroshima. That’s something I genuinely want to share as a local.
This is a firsthand visit by a Hiroshima local. For updates on tickets and opening hours, use the official Orizuru Tower website. Read the original Japanese article.
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