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Hiroshima
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Nation / PlaceJP

Hiroshima

Japanese city and capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, destroyed by the first atomic bomb in 1945

Hiroshima's coast is drawing defence shipbuilding: Onomichi Dockyard, in Hiroshima Prefecture, will build Bulwark Dynamics' uncrewed Caravel landing craft, Naval News reported on 21 September 2026. Since 1 April 2026 the city has also charged visitors an accommodation tax of ¥200 to ¥500 a night.

Last refreshed: 7 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic

Key Question

Does Hiroshima now charge an accommodation tax and how much is it?

Timeline for Hiroshima

#13 21 Sept
#3 1 Apr

Activated accommodation tax rates of ¥200 to ¥500 from 1 April 2026

Nomads & Communities: Japan's lodging tax wave goes structural
View full timeline →

Background

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan's Chugoku region, a city of about 1.2 million people and the home of carmaker Mazda. Its prefecture's Seto Inland SEA coast is a shipbuilding region: Onomichi Dockyard will build Bulwark Dynamics' Caravel-35 and Caravel-15 uncrewed landing craft, Naval News reported on 21 September 2026. In the city itself an accommodation tax of ¥200 to ¥500 a night took effect on 1 April 2026.

At 8:15am on 6 August 1945 a US B-29 dropped the first atomic bomb used in war on Hiroshima. Injury and radiation brought deaths to between 90,000 and 140,000 by the end of that year. The ruined Genbaku Dome, now the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The city's name now also carries a policy brand. Hiroshima hosted the G7 summit in May 2023, which launched the Hiroshima AI Process; G7 digital ministers held to that framework when they met in Paris in May 2026.

Common Questions
Does Hiroshima charge a hotel tax for visitors in 2026?
Yes. Hiroshima activated an accommodation tax of ¥200 to ¥500 per night from 1 April 2026.Source: Euronews
Is Hiroshima a good place to live for a digital nomad in Japan?
Hiroshima offers a compelling combination of historical significance, lower living costs than Tokyo or Osaka, good bullet-train connections (under 90 minutes to Osaka), and a modern rebuilt city centre with reliable broadband infrastructure.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
What is the average rent in Hiroshima compared to Tokyo?
Central Hiroshima rents average ¥50,000–80,000 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, roughly 40–50% lower than equivalent Tokyo accommodation.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
Does Hiroshima have co-working spaces for remote workers?
Hiroshima has a growing co-working sector, including publicly subsidised spaces as part of regional revitalisation initiatives; the city centre and Naka ward have the highest concentration of facilities.Source: nomads-and-communities topic context
When was Hiroshima hit by the atomic bomb?
At 8:15am on 6 August 1945. Deaths reached 90,000 to 140,000 by the end of that year.Source: Wikipedia: Hiroshima
What is the Hiroshima AI Process?
The G7's AI-safety framework, launched at the Hiroshima summit in 2023. G7 digital ministers held to it in May 2026.Source: G7
Which shipyard in Hiroshima Prefecture will build robot landing craft?
Onomichi Dockyard, a shipbuilder founded in 1943, will build Bulwark Dynamics' Caravel-35 and Caravel-15 uncrewed landing craft, Naval News reported in September 2026.Source: Naval News; Maritime Executive
Source Material