Miyajima/Itsukushima

After taking a walk through Itsukushima Shrine, walk up to the Five Story Pagoda and have a seat in the Senjokaku hall - an old, peaceful wooden pavilion dedicated to decorative tatami mats. For one of the most beautiful views in all of Japan, take the rope way (or hike it yourself) up to the summit of Mt. Misen. Although the rope way won't take you to the official summit, the landing spot of the car is nearly just as miraculous as the top. Still, hike your way up there if you're interested in a more 360 version. 

Make sure you try age momiji manju, or fried maple leaf-shaped cakes stuffed with a variety of choices, before you leave. Lastly, there are an incredible amount of deer roaming the island. If you see them eating plastic or a map, take it from them! The deer of Nara are suffering heavily from these circumstances, and it would be best for the deer of Miyajima to not end up like many plastic-bellied marine life.

Take a JR to Miyajimaguchi or a direct ferry from Peace Park.

Peace Park

Let's get the big ones out of the way. There's already a ton of information online about these sites, so I'll just add this: don't miss them! Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome are not to be taken for granted. Thousands of people wander through the park and the Peace Memorial Museum weekly, and rightfully so. The museum has been open since 1955 (only ten years after the bomb) and has since housed hundreds of artifacts left behind from that infamous event. One can wander around the dome for hours and still find some new area of twisted metal in which to fix their gaze on. The park itself is full of interesting installations. One of the more popular ones is The Children's Peace Monument dedicated to Sadako Sasaki - a child protagonist made globally known by the Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes story book most westerners read in grade school. Stroll the park's outer sidewalks to make sure you see all of the smaller installations as well. It's also important to check the museum event schedule for the opportunity to see and hear a hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor) give a testimony. Events like these usually occur on the lower floors of the main exhibit building. 

Before you leave, stop by Orizuru Tower to get a nice roof-top view of the park from above. This is also an ideal place for souvenirs and for one-on-one assistance with crafting a paper crane. 

Peace Park can be accessed by street car, bus, or taxi. For public transport, I recommend taking any of these to Hondori to enter from the dome side. Of course, admission to the park is always free.

Extras (in no particular order)

Hiroshima Castle

Believe it or not, people do leave without ever visiting Hiroshima Castle. Sure, it's not one of the twelve-originals, but it's still a castle! A replica of the previously bombed, Hiroshima Castle was officially rebuilt in 1959. It's surrounded by a wide mote full of hungry koi and passenger tour boats. For a small fee, you can enter the castle and learn about the former clans of the area. You can also dress-up in samurai armor and take pictures on the first floor. A grand view of the city can also be seen from the top. The castle grounds are a people place for local events and art installations. The Hiroshima Food Festival happens every year here in front of the Gokoku Shrine. Try not to miss a trip to the castle! The castle is a short walk north from Hondori Station.

Iwakuni/Kintai Bridge

Onomichi

Sandankyo Gorge

Ramen

American/Italian

Vietnamese

Indian

When it comes to food, Hiroshima City is most famous for okonomiyaki. If you're unaware, okonomiyaki is a dish typically made in front of you that is almost completely customizable. Sometimes referred to as a "noodle pancake," Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is made of cabbage, bacon, noodles, and your choice of seafood and toppings not limited to things like cheese or even kimchi. There are still a number of other amazing foods in the city if that's not quite your thing. Allow me to formulate a list of my personal favorite restaurants in the city (not just my favorite, but also top-rated). We'll divide this by Japanese and international restaurants. All listed restaurants offer either English ticket machines or English menus (copy and paste for names in Japanese). 

Okonomiyaki 

Sushi

Korean

Indonesian

Chinese

Japanese Curry