Hiroshima Cruise Port Guide
Japan · in-depth port guide, sources shown throughout
Across Japan — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in Japan — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- Zero tolerance of drugs — penalties are severe (trafficking convictions of 6 to 17 years plus multi-million-yen fines); even a small quantity received by post triggers arrest.
- It is illegal to possess or use some common prescription and over-the-counter medicines under anti-stimulant laws — check before you travel, as ignorance is no defence.
- Always carry your passport (or residence card) — police can arrest you without it.
- You can be arrested and detained without charge for up to 23 days, even for a minor offence.
- Smoking on the street is illegal in Tokyo and some other cities — use designated smoking areas.
- Many pools, hot springs (onsen), beaches and gyms may refuse entry or ask you to cover tattoos.
Drones
Drones are regulated by Japan’s civil aviation authority (MLIT/JCAB). Any drone of 100g or more flown outdoors must be registered on the DIPS2.0 system and carry a registration ID and Remote ID. The general ceiling is 150m above ground, and flying in prohibited airspace or over densely-inhabited districts and crowds needs prior flight permission. Register and check the rules on DIPS2.0 before you travel.
via MLIT / JCAB (Japan Civil Aviation Bureau) — Flight Rules for Unmanned Aircraft · 28 Jun 2026
Scams to watch
Watch for drink-spiking and credit-card fraud in nightlife districts (Kabukicho, Roppongi, Shibuya, Ikebukuro in Tokyo). Do not follow street touts (“kyakuhiki”) into bars, where you can face inflated bills and be unable to leave — confirm prices before entering. Inappropriate touching and upskirting have been reported on commuter trains.
Health hazards
The FCDO names mosquito-borne dengue, biting insects and ticks, and whooping cough (pertussis) among the health risks in Japan — use insect-bite precautions in summer. (It also lists altitude sickness for parts of Japan; that applies to the mountains inland, not the coastal cruise ports.)
via UK FCDO travel advice — Japan (health) · 28 Jun 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — Japan · checked 24 Jun 2026
Traffic drives on the left. Look right first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Hiroshima
Cruise ships dock at Ujina Foreign Trade Berth 5 on Hiroshima Port's Ujina wharf, next to Hatoba Park. Larger vessels may instead use the Itsukaichi quay.
- Ujina Foreign Trade Berth 5 (Hiroshima Port) — On the Ujina waterfront in southern Hiroshima, next to Hatoba Park (Hiroden streetcars and city buses connect the port area with central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Station)
- Itsukaichi Quay
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Streetcar / bus — Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) streetcars and city buses connect Ujina / Hiroshima Port with central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Station.
- Ferry — High-speed boats run from Hiroshima Port direct to Miyajima (Setouchi Sea Line); the terminal also serves ferries to Etajima, Ninoshima and Matsuyama.
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: Most cruise calls use the Ujina berth in Hiroshima Port; some larger ships use the Itsukaichi quay further west — confirm which your ship uses before arranging transport ashore.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Hiroshima
Getting around
Hiroshima's main sights are reached by Hiroden streetcars and city buses from the port area, and a direct high-speed boat links Hiroshima Port with Miyajima (Itsukushima).
- Streetcar / bus — Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) streetcars and city buses connect Ujina / Hiroshima Port with central Hiroshima and Hiroshima Station.
- Ferry — High-speed boats run from Hiroshima Port direct to Miyajima (Setouchi Sea Line); the terminal also serves ferries to Etajima, Ninoshima and Matsuyama.
Must-see sights
- Itsukushima Shrine — World Heritage Site
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Atomic Bomb Dome — World Heritage Site
- Hiroshima Castle
- Shukkeien Garden
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Local know-hows in Hiroshima
Money
- Currency
- Japanese yen (JPY, ¥).
- Cards
- Credit, debit and prepaid cards of international brands are generally accepted, though Japan is still partly cash-oriented and some smaller shops and eateries are cash-only. Prepaid IC cards (ICOCA, Suica, PASMO) are handy for transport and convenience stores.
- ATMs
- Foreign cards work at Japan Post Bank and Seven Bank (7-Eleven) ATMs, which are widely available.
- Tipping
- Tipping is not customary in Japan and is not expected — you simply pay the amount shown on the bill.
Practicalities
- Language
- Japanese. English signage is common at major sights and stations, but spoken English can be limited.
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink. The City of Hiroshima's Waterworks Bureau draws its supply from the Ota River and tests it against the national Waterworks Law standards (51 water-quality criteria) from the source through the treatment plants to the tap.
- Plugs
- Type A sockets, 100 V, 60 Hz (western Japan). Many overseas appliances need a plug adapter.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in Hiroshima
Usually quiet
Hiroshima is a large city and cruise callers spread out to Miyajima, the Peace Memorial Park and the castle, so the port and centre rarely feel crowded — though the port authority notes roads around the Ujina berth can get busy on ship days.
- Large city
- Attractions spread across the area
- Roads near the berth busy on call days
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Hiroshima — and when
We last checked the facts on this page on 13 Jul 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 13 Jul 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 13 Jul 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit · 13 Jul 2026
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically