A five-minute walk west from the Kamiyacho intersection in the center of Hiroshima City will take you to the Atomic Bomb Dome, where you will find “Orizuru Tower” in front of the dome.
The building is based on the theme of “origami cranes” as a symbol of Hiroshima as a city of peace, and the large design of origami cranes on the wall is eye-catching.
The Orizuru Tower commands a panoramic view of Peace Memorial Park, and many live broadcasts of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima last month were broadcast from the tower. This may be how many of you came to know about this place.
We hope that people from other prefectures will also drop by Orizuru Tower when they come to Hiroshima and visit the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park.
With this in mind, I have taken pictures of the inside of the tower on a previous visit, and would like to share with you the hours of operation, standard hours of operation, and other details about the facility.
What is Orizuru Tower like?
Orizuru Tower is located near the Kamiyacho intersection in the center of Hiroshima City. It is based on the Hiroshima Tokio Marine Building, which was constructed in 1978, and was completely renovated in July 2016.
The location overlooks the Atomic Bomb Dome immediately to the west across the river and Peace Memorial Park beyond.
*We took a video of the exhibits and the scenery of the Atomic Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Museum, etc. on the observation floor (about 2 minutes).
Based on the theme of “Orizuru,” a symbol of peace, the building consists of a product hall on the 1st floor, rental meeting rooms on the 2nd floor, an observation floor on the 12th floor, and event space. (Floors 3 through 11 are offices.)
The first thing you will notice when you come here is the large glass wall on the side facing the train street (we call it the “Orizuru wall”).
You can throw in origami cranes folded on the 12th floor, and you can see them accumulating from the outside. According to a staff member, as of June 2019, there are approximately 350,000 cranes there.
Opening hours and fees for the Orizuru Tower are
Opening hours may vary slightly each month. The latest opening hours are posted on the “Notice” page of the official website of the Orizuru Tower, so it is better to check there for certain.
Click here for the official website .
Below are the business hours for June 2023 for your reference.
1F Product Center, 12F Observation Deck
- Rooftop Observation Deck Opening Hours
-
10:00-18:00
- Last Ticketing
-
17:00
- Business hours of product pavilion
-
10:00-18:00 (Example for June, 2023)
1F Handshake Cafe-PARK SIDE
- Business hours
-
Regular 10:00-18:00 FOODS L.O. 17:00 DRINK L.O. 17:30
- Reservations after 18:00
-
Possible by day
- Banquet Reservations
-
Available by day (Example for June, 2023)
*Please note that many days are reserved for private parties.
Rooftop Handshake Cafe-WIND SIDE
- Business hours
-
Regular hours: 11:00 – 16:00 (Example for June, 2023)
ROOF TOP BAR
For a limited time, a bar will be built on the rooftop.
In 2023, from Monday, March 20 to Saturday, September 30.
- Scheduled to be open
-
March 20~July 24: “Closed on Tuesdays
July 25-September 30: Open every day (except August 6)
- Business hours
-
18:30-23:00
- Banquet Reservations
-
Available by day (Example for June, 2023)
*The periods and hours of operation listed are examples for June 2023.
*Please note that business hours are subject to change.
*Please check the “Notice” on the homepage for the business hours of the 1F Products Museum and 12F Observation Deck as they will be updated from time to time.
For the latest information on business hours of the “1F Rooftop Handshake Cafe” and “ROOF TOP BAR, ” please click here.
Admission Fee
Basic admission fees are as follows
Adults 2,200 yen, Junior and senior high school students 1,400 yen, Elementary school students 900 yen, Infants (4 years and older) 600 yen
(100 yen will be charged separately for putting cranes into the wall of cranes.)
Visitors may re-enter as many times as they wish on the same day.
Eating and drinking are allowed on the observation deck, but only with food purchased inside the museum (no food brought in from elsewhere).
*Photography is allowed inside the museum, but tripods are prohibited.
How long does it take to fully enjoy Orizuru Tower?
Next, how much time do you need to fully enjoy the Orizuru Tower?
The last time I was there, I think my total stay was about 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Buy tickets on the first floor
↓↓.
Take the elevator to the 12th floor (5 minutes so far)
↓ Go up to the 12th floor
Visit the exhibits on the 12th floor (20 minutes)
↓ ↓ Fold origami cranes
Fold paper cranes and throw them into the throw space on the wall (10 minutes)
↓ Go to the
Go up to the rooftop “Hiroshima Hill” and enjoy the breeze.
Enjoy the view of Peace Park and the city of Hiroshima (15 minutes)
↓ Go down to the 12th floor
Go down to the 12th floor.
Enjoy participatory project mapping (10 minutes)
↓ Go down to the 1st floor
Go down to the 1st floor
↓ Go down to the 1st floor
Browse souvenirs and other items at the gift shop (20 minutes)
↓ Go back
Return home
I was alone, so this is how it looks like, but if you go with friends or family and have a relaxing meal, tea or relax at the “Handshake Cafe” or “ROOF TOP BAR” on the first floor and rooftop, you can add that extra time to your visit.
Especially for those who come from outside of the prefecture, I would like them to take their time and enjoy the view of the city.
Here is a view of the Orizuru Tower
Please take a look at the inside and outside of the Orizuru Tower that I have photographed.
First floor
Entering from the 1st floor entrance
Information on the first floor. Tickets are also purchased here.
Handshake Cafe
1st floor, Product Hall
The left side of the entrance is the product hall, where various souvenirs and prefectural products are sold.
Go to the observation floor on the 12th floor
Elevator hall to go up to the 12th floor. The sign is also beautiful.
The inside of the elevator is also designed with origami cranes.
When I got off the elevator, I found a spacious space with a variety of facilities.
Peace Poster
There was a special exhibition.
It was interesting to have participatory project mapping.
Fold a crane and throw it into the wall of the Orizuru
Go to the information desk and show them your ticket for 100 yen for the origami cranes, and they will give you a piece of paper.
We will fold cranes with it at several tables set up.
If you don’t know how to make it, you can fold it while watching a very clear explanation on the tablet that is placed there. (I made mine by asking the staff.)
If you tell the staff that you have folded it, they will take you directly above the wall of cranes.
It is scary even if you think it is absolutely safe because the place you walk on is clear glass (laughs).
Then, the ball is dropped from here. They fell down in a beautiful dance.
According to the staff, there are now about 350,000 birds, about half of the total number, or about the height of the sixth floor.
It is a handshake cafe on the 12th floor -WIND SIDE-.
To the rooftop “Hiroshima Hill
The “Hiroshima Hill” on the rooftop. It was very pleasant because it was designed to allow the wind to blow through.
Access
Orizuru Tower is a short walk from the Hiroshima Electric Railway’s Atomic Bomb Dome-mae Station on the city streetcar line.
It is also a 3 or 4 minute walk from the Kamiyacho Nishi and Bus Center of the city tram.
It takes about 20 minutes from Hiroshima Station to A-Bomb Dome-mae Station by train, about 40 minutes from Hiroshima Port to A-Bomb Dome-mae Station by train, and about 40 minutes from Miyajima-guchi Station to A-Bomb Dome-mae Station by train.
Address: 1-2-1 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 082-569-6803
At the end – My impression of Orizuru Tower
People often say about the Orizuru Tower that the admission fee is expensive: the first floor is free, so in essence, it costs 2,200 yen for an adult to go to the 12th floor and the rooftop (2,300 yen if you include the paper crane fee).
If there is a project mapping or special exhibition, you can see it, but the main thing is to enjoy the surrounding scenery.
I honestly thought 2,200 yen and 2,300 yen were a bit expensive.
However, after all, this is one of the symbols of Hiroshima, a city of peace. Located right next to the Atomic Bomb Dome, a World Heritage Site, it is a place where you can pray for peace and feel the present Hiroshima.
I felt that some of the fee should be paid as a token of one’s appreciation for peace.
It would be nice to think about the burnt-out Hiroshima, the preciousness of peace, and the future of Hiroshima as the wind blows in the wind.
I also thought it was wonderful that all the staff members were very courteous and pleasant to deal with.
I was very impressed with the service and the staff was very polite and courteous! (*^_^*)
I would definitely like to visit there again.
Please come and visit us again.
Macckey I would definitely like to visit there again.
Please come and visit us again.
Here is a list of Hiroshima-related articles in this blog. You can jump to each article from here, including sightseeing spots in Hiroshima, if you like.
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