Across the street from the Genbaku Dome in Hiroshima stands the 14-floor Orizuru Tower. It’s known for its specialty souvenir store and organic café, which you can easily access from the street. But at the very top is an observation deck that offers sweeping views of the entire Peace Memorial Park. And that’s not all—there’s a spiral walkway that you can take back down with giant murals on each floor and even a slide.
Orizuru Tower takes its name from the Japanese word for “origami cranes.” It was originally an office building, but was converted into a mixed-facility complex that opened in 2016. Standing 50-m (164 ft) high, it’s one of the few tall buildings around the Peace Memorial Park. The areas in the tower open to the public include a shop, restaurant, café, exhibition space, and observation deck.
Named Hiroshima Hills, the 14th-floor deck is open-air, surrounded by just a wire mesh net, through which you can enjoy some pretty impressive views. These include the Peace Memorial Park, A-Bomb Dome, and Gate Park, and even as far as Miyajima on a clear day. Plus, there’s a little café, so you can enjoy the scenery with a cup of coffee or two.
On the 12th floor is Orizuru Square, an interactive exhibition space that uses the latest video technology to bring a host of different information and content to life. This includes the Orizuru Wall, to which visitors can add their own paper crane creations.
My favorite part of the tower, though, it the Sampo Spiral Slope that takes you from the observation deck back down to the ground floor. Spanning 9 floors, the total walking distance is about 450 m (1476 ft). Each floor features a huge mural as part of the 2045 Nine Hopes project. The project asks artists to share their wishes for the year 2045, which will mark 100 years since the end of World War II.
You can walk down the Sampo Spiral Slope, or you can use the “Cool-Cool-Cool” slide. Yep, the walkway is fitted with a 70-m (230 ft) slide for children and adults. It runs continuously from the 12th to the 1st floor, but you can also exit at each floor if you wish. Don’t forget to grab a slide sheet at the start to ensure your smooth sailing.
Visit Orizuru Tower
Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is just across the street from the A-Bomb Dome. You can buy a ticket for the observation deck at the ticket counter on the first floor. Tickets are valid for reentry, but only for the same day as purchase. The tower is an 11-min bus ride and 30-min walk from Hiroshima Station.
Admission (Observation Deck + Exhibition): 2,100 yen
Hours: 10:00~18:00
