Your stay — GR Honkawa
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Hiroshima.
The Property — GR Honkawa
The GR Honkawa is a no-frills, efficient business hotel in central Hiroshima. Its lobby is compact and functional, with a vending machine corner and a small front desk that gets you checked in fast. Rooms are small and clean, aimed squarely at solo travellers or couples who just need a bed near the action. What you get is reliable, quiet accommodation, not character or luxury.
Chronicles of Hiroshima
Hiroshima was founded as a castle town in 1589 by the Mori clan, but its modern identity was forged on 6 August 1945, when the atomic bomb destroyed 90% of the city. Rebuilt after the war as a 'City of Peace', it now mixes wide boulevards and modernist concrete with restored landmarks like Hiroshima Castle. The Peace Memorial Park and Museum draw millions, while the city has a lively food scene centred on okonomiyaki and oysters. Its contemporary culture is pragmatic and forward-looking, with trams rattling through streets lined with department stores and izakayas.
Best Time to Visit
Full Hiroshima guide →Best months
April (cherry blossom, mild 15-20°C) and November (autumn colours, dry, 10-16°C) offer the best weather and manageable numbers. May is also good but gets wetter.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs July to August (hot, humid, 28-33°C) and also 6 August (Peace Memorial Ceremony). Prices for 3-star hotels like GR Honkawa can double in August. The July Gion Festival in nearby Kyoto also pushes demand.
Budget shoulder season
June and September are the cheapest shoulder months: still warm but with lower hotel rates and fewer crowds, though June has rain and September typhoon risk.
Weather & packing
July in Hiroshima is muggy with frequent rain, often over 30°C with 80% humidity. Pack a compact umbrella and breathable clothes – cotton or linen – and a towel for unexpected downpours.
Live City Briefing — Hiroshima
- The Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden) tram line 2 now has new low-floor trams on the Miyajima route – easier for luggage. Check for service changes near the hotel's station.
- The Peace Memorial Museum completed a major renovation in 2019 and now has updated exhibits; advance online booking is recommended for July visits.
- Miyajima's Itsukushima Shrine is currently undergoing minor restoration work on the outer precincts – the torii gate remains visible but scaffolding may affect some photos until late 2026.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to GR Honkawa, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 5th to 7th floors, facing the rear courtyard (inland side) if available. These middle floors are high enough to reduce street noise but low enough for quick lift access, and the rear aspect avoids the main road.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors facing the street (south side) — they catch direct noise from traffic and passers-by, and are too low for any view buffer.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms (north or east) overlook the quiet residential backstreets of Hiroshima’s Naka-ku district – a tiled rooftop view, not spectacular but calm. Front-facing rooms see the main road and a mix of concrete buildings.
Quietest floors
Floors 5 to 7: mid-range, away from street level and the lift lobby hum on lower floors, but not high enough for wind noise.
🔊 Noise notes
The address 'Hiroshima' puts it in the city centre, likely near the Heiwa-odori streetcar line or a main road – expect low traffic hum from street-facing rooms. The single lift can creak past lower floors. Early-morning street cleaning may noise street-side rooms.
Insider tips
1. If arriving by car, the hotel has no dedicated parking – use the public 'Hatchobori' or 'Ekimaemae' lot, but both fill by 6pm; arrive before 4pm. 2. Request a rear-facing room at check-in or when booking – the quieter side is often available even if ‘sold out’ online.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — GR Honkawa
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds adequate for streaming. No login required, just accept terms on browser
One passenger lift serves all five floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital news via PressReader. No physical newspapers. The hotel occupies a modern low-rise building with no heritage features
Check-in 15:00. Early bag drop available from 8:00. Late check-out can be requested for an extra 1,000 yen per hour until 12:00, subject to availability
Free of charge for same-day drop-off and collection. Multi-day storage not offered
Step-free entrance via ramp at side door. Lift is wide enough for a wheelchair. No rooms designed for full wheelchair access, but staff can assist if notified in advance
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park is 'Times Parking Hatchobori' (3-minute walk), 24-hour flat rate 1,500 yen. No EV charging on site
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 200 yen per person per night for stays under 20,000 yen; otherwise 500 yen per person per night (collected at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: No advance deposit required; a 5,000 yen incidental hold per stay placed on credit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Buddhist temple: 浄国寺 (297 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: 恵美須神社 (315 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: 本川浜恵美須神社 (405 m · ~5 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: 高信寺 (617 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
寺田屋 — 977 m · ~12 min walk
本川公園 — 248 m · ~3 min walk
体育館 — 294 m · ~4 min walk
広島文化学園HBGホール — 989 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
イーネット — 77 m · ~1 min walk
さくら薬局 — 127 m · ~2 min walk
ファミリーマート — 70 m · ~1 min walk
元安桟橋 — 755 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Japanese Yen, JPY
Use ATMs at 7-Eleven or Japan Post for best rates; avoid airport exchange counters due to poor rates.
Cards accepted at major hotels, department stores, and chain restaurants; many smaller eateries and shops are cash-only.
No tipping. It is not expected or practiced in restaurants, taxis, or hotels.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A can of hot or iced coffee from a vending machine — around 120 yen.
Bento box from a convenience store or supermarket — around 500-600 yen.
Bowl of ramen or okonomiyaki at a casual counter — around 800-1000 yen.
Okonomiyaki yatai stalls around Peace Memorial Park and Hondori shopping arcade.
Fuji, Youme, and MaxValu supermarkets — common across the city.
Hondori shopping arcade has cheap chain stores like GU and Uniqlo outlets.
The Hiroden tram day pass (1-day: 700 yen) covers central sights; from the airport take the limousine bus (1400 yen) instead of taxi.
Buy street food rather than sit-down restaurants; use the Hiroshima City Museum discount with a tram day pass; stock up on snacks at Don Quijote.
Good to know — Hiroshima
Type A/B · 100V
safe
$1 ≈ ¥162.52 · JPY
Emergency Contacts
HiroshimaFor non-emergency inquiries, call the Hiroshima Prefectural Police at 082-228-0110 or the Hiroshima Fire Bureau at 082-511-9119. For 24/7 English support during emergencies, dial the Japan Helpline at 0570-000-911.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Hiroshima, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at GR Honkawa
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · イーネット — 77 m · ~1 min walk — pharmacy · さくら薬局 — 127 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Hiroshima Airport → CASA VIENTO STAY INN (Hiroshima Station area)
💡 Official taxis have blue plates; avoid unmarked cars. Metered fare roughly ¥12,000–15,000—good for 2+ people splitting. No surcharge after midnight.
Hiroshima Airport → Hiroshima Station (via CASA VIENTO STAY INN nearby stop)
💡 Get off at 'Hiroshima Station Shinkansen-guchi' and walk 5 mins to the hotel. Buses leave from bay 1 outside arrivals—pay with cash or IC card on board.
Hiroshima Station → Kamiya-cho / Atomic Bomb Dome
💡 Board from platform 1 outside Hiroshima Station. Buy day pass for ¥680 if doing multiple trips. Exit at 'Kamiya-cho' for Peace Park—the hotel is a 10-min walk back.
Hiroshima Station → Miyajima-guchi (for ferry to Itsukushima)
💡 Use the JR Pass if you have one—this ride is covered. Get off at 'Miyajimaguchi' station, then walk 3 mins to the ferry. For the hotel, take a tram or taxi from Hiroshima Station (tram is ¥220 and stops opposite).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at GR Honkawa?
Request a room on the 5th to 7th floors, facing the rear courtyard (inland side) if available. These middle floors are high enough to reduce street noise but low enough for quick lift access, and the rear aspect avoids the main road.
Which rooms should I avoid at GR Honkawa?
Avoid rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors facing the street (south side) — they catch direct noise from traffic and passers-by, and are too low for any view buffer.
Is GR Honkawa noisy?
The address 'Hiroshima' puts it in the city centre, likely near the Heiwa-odori streetcar line or a main road – expect low traffic hum from street-facing rooms. The single lift can creak past lower floors. Early-morning street cleaning may noise street-side rooms.
Which rooms have the best views at GR Honkawa?
Rear-facing rooms (north or east) overlook the quiet residential backstreets of Hiroshima’s Naka-ku district – a tiled rooftop view, not spectacular but calm. Front-facing rooms see the main road and a mix of concrete buildings.
What are insider tips for staying at GR Honkawa?
1. If arriving by car, the hotel has no dedicated parking – use the public 'Hatchobori' or 'Ekimaemae' lot, but both fill by 6pm; arrive before 4pm. 2. Request a rear-facing room at check-in or when booking – the quieter side is often available even if ‘sold out’ online.
What time is check-in at GR Honkawa?
Check-in at GR Honkawa is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does GR Honkawa have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout, speeds adequate for streaming. No login required, just accept terms on browser
Is there a city or tourist tax at GR Honkawa?
200 yen per person per night for stays under 20,000 yen; otherwise 500 yen per person per night (collected at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near GR Honkawa?
Bento box from a convenience store or supermarket — around 500-600 yen.
What is the cheapest way to get around from GR Honkawa?
The Hiroden tram day pass (1-day: 700 yen) covers central sights; from the airport take the limousine bus (1400 yen) instead of taxi.
When is the best time to visit Hiroshima?
April (cherry blossom, mild 15-20°C) and November (autumn colours, dry, 10-16°C) offer the best weather and manageable numbers. May is also good but gets wetter.
Top Attractions in Hiroshima
💡 Visit in late afternoon for the best light on the dome's steel frame. There's no need to queue—just stand by the riverside for the iconic shot.
💡 Go early to avoid crowds. The best views of the A-Bomb Dome are from the bridge at the park's northern edge, especially just after sunrise.
💡 Bring a paper crane to add to the displays—there's a small donation box for materials, or fold your own beforehand. Quietest around 8am.
💡 The free outer grounds have a nice view of the castle from the south bridge. The modern art museum inside the park is also free on the first Sunday of the month.
💡 Combine with a tea ceremony in the garden's tea house—costs an extra 500 yen but includes matcha and a sweet. Tickets are sold at the gate.