In November, the ginkgo and maple leaves start to turn along the rivers of Hiroshima, and the air has the first real crispness of the year. People stroll the paths of the Peace Memorial Park in a sweater, stopping at the monuments, and the smell of okonomiyaki drifts from the grills of the city’s small restaurants. It is a month for walking, for the island of Miyajima, and for a city that asks you to slow down.
What is the weather like in Hiroshima in November?
November in Hiroshima is cool and mostly dry, with pleasant afternoons for walking and chilly mornings and evenings.
| Month | Average high (°F) | Average low (°F) | Precipitation (in) | Days with 1 mm or more of precipitation | Hours of sunshine | Daylight on the 15th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| October | 74.7 | 58.8 | 4.30 | 6.2 | 179 | 11 h 23 min |
| November | 63.9 | 48.0 | 2.73 | 6.1 | 153 | 10 h 24 min |
| December | 53.8 | 39.2 | 2.13 | 5.7 | 141 | 9 h 53 min |
Afternoons feel like a crisp autumn day, comfortable for hours on foot along the river and through the park. November is cool enough that a sweater or light coat is useful. Compared with October, the warm days of early autumn are gone.
Rain falls on about six days in an average November, with a lower monthly total than in October. A compact umbrella is enough. Snow or sleet is very rare in the city, appearing on only a fraction of a day in an average November.
Daylight is getting shorter, so the sun sets in the late afternoon and the evenings are long. The city lights up early, and that is the hour for a bowl of hot food. Humidity is moderate, far from the sticky air of summer.
What to do in Hiroshima in November
The big seasonal pleasure of the month is the color of the maples. The Japan National Tourism Organization describes brilliant reds, yellows and oranges from mid-November to early December, which makes the second half of the month the time to look up as you walk.
The weather suits long days outdoors, with moderate temperatures that the JNTO calls ideal for walking in autumn. The city’s trams and the riverside paths fit that rhythm, and the rest of the month is about food: okonomiyaki, the local version layered rather than mixed, is cooked on a griddle in front of you and is a warming meal on a cool evening.
Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome
The park sits in the center of the city, and it is where most days begin. Here stands the Atomic Bomb Dome, also called the Genbaku Dome, the only structure still standing near the hypocenter. Visitors cannot go inside it, so you view it from outside, across the river, in silence for people.
Among the monuments in the park are the Children’s Peace Monument and the National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. Walking the grounds under turning leaves is a quiet, reflective experience, and the cool air suits the pace. The bomb fell at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, and the park keeps that memory present in every corner.
Peace Memorial Museum
The museum conveys the horrors of nuclear weapons through belongings left by victims, artifacts from the bombing and survivor testimonies, and carries the message of “No More Hiroshimas.” It is a heavy visit, and people plan something gentler afterward, such as a walk by the river. It stands in the park, so it pairs naturally with the Dome and the monuments. It is a worthwhile indoor stop on a rainy November day.
| Site | Admission |
|---|---|
| Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (adults) | ¥200 |
| Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (high school students) | ¥100 |
Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine
The island of Miyajima is the classic excursion from Hiroshima, known for its deer and for the Itsukushima Shrine, which was registered as a World Heritage Site in 1996. The shrine and its floating look give the island its character, and autumn foliage can add color to the setting in November.
Deer wander around the visitors, and the island is a good place to eat grilled snacks and sweets as the afternoon cools. Bring a layer for a full day outdoors.
Trams and Okunoshima
Hiroden, the city’s streetcar company, is nicknamed the Moving Streetcar Museum because its trams come from across Japan and Europe. Riding one is a way to see the city at street level and a pleasure in itself.
Okunoshima is the island of wild rabbits. Visitors must not chase or pick up the rabbits, and should provide appropriate food in a safe place. It suits a day when the weather is dry and you want something lighter.
A two-day itinerary for Hiroshima in November
Day 1 belongs to the city center. Start in Peace Memorial Park in the cool morning air, walk past the Children’s Peace Monument and view the Atomic Bomb Dome from the riverbank. Then spend the late morning in the Peace Memorial Museum, which is a good indoor stop as the day warms up.
For lunch, find a small okonomiyaki restaurant with a griddle counter. In the afternoon, ride a Hiroden tram across town and walk the riverside as the maples turn. The sun sets early, so plan a warm dinner of grilled dishes or noodles in the evening and stroll back under the lights.
Day 2 is for Miyajima. Head out in the morning for the island, wander among the deer, visit Itsukushima Shrine and eat something grilled from a stall at midday. Spend the afternoon among the autumn leaves before the light fades.
If it rains, the Peace Memorial Museum is the main indoor plan, and a long lunch in a covered shopping arcade fills the rest. On a dry evening, return to the river for a last walk. Day 2 is also the day to wear layers, since the island feels cooler by the water.
Is Hiroshima busy in November?
November is the autumn leaf season in Hiroshima, so the city sees more walkers in the parks and along the rivers as the maples turn in the second half of the month.
The JNTO places the best colors from mid-November to early December, and in Hiroshima the maples usually turn around the 22nd. That gives the last third of the month a lively feel around the spots known for foliage, notably Miyajima. The first half is calmer, with the cool weather and fewer leaves.
The pace of the city itself stays steady. Peace Memorial Park is a place of reflection, and November’s pleasant temperatures mean people spend long hours there. Evenings are for restaurants and warm food rather than for outdoor events.
What to pack for Hiroshima in November
Pack for cool days that turn cold at night, with a little rain and a lot of walking.
- A light coat or warm jacket, for mornings and evenings that run cold.
- Sweaters you can layer, for afternoons that feel mild in the sun.
- A compact umbrella, for the few rainy days.
- Comfortable walking shoes, for the park, the riverside and Miyajima.
- A scarf, for the cooler air by the water on the island.
Good to know before you go
November falls after the warmest months and before the winter holidays, when many restaurants and attractions close during New Year. The weather is autumn weather, with moderate temperatures and little rain, and the main thing to plan around is the leaf season in the second half of the month. At the Atomic Bomb Dome, remember that you view it from outside only.
Hiroshima in November vs October and December
Moving the trip four weeks earlier brings warmer afternoons and more rain, with more sunshine hours, but the maples are still green. October suits those who want milder days and are less interested in autumn color.
Moving four weeks later brings colder days, with the highs in the low 50s, and a bit of sleet becomes possible. The leaves usually turn around the end of November in the region, and December has the shortest days of the three months. Some places begin to close for the New Year holidays at the end of the month.
November sits between the two. Choose it for cool walking weather and the maples in the second half, and go earlier if warmth matters more than color.
Is November a good time to visit Hiroshima?
Yes, November is a good time for travelers who like to walk, who want autumn color and who prefer cool air to heat.
It suits visitors who come for the Peace Memorial Park and Museum, which are best taken at an unhurried pace in mild weather. It also suits anyone who wants the island of Miyajima with its deer and shrine among turning leaves. Those who want warm weather for long days outside would be happier in October.
On arrival, begin with Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome, since they set the tone for the rest of the stay. Then follow with the museum and the tram ride. What is special about November here is the contrast: a city of remembrance, seen under maples that turn red along the river.
Sources
- Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), Normal values 1991-2020, monthly (https://www.data.jma.go.jp/stats/etrn/view/nml_sfc_ym.php?prec_no=67&block_no=47765), station Hiroshima, elevation 4 m, checked October 11, 2026
- Computed from the date and the latitude of the place (sunrise equation, solar elevation -0.833 degrees), October 11, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency, maple color-change dates 2025-2026 with difference from the 1991-2020 normal (https://www.data.jma.go.jp/sakura/data/phn_014.html), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan Meteorological Agency, kaede2020.pdf (https://www.data.jma.go.jp/sakura/data/kaede2020.pdf), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, winter in Japan (https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/winter-guide/), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, autumn in Japan (https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/autumn-guide/), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, spring in Japan (https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/spring-guide/), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, summer in Japan (https://www.japan.travel/en/guide/summer-guide/), checked October 11, 2026
- Japan National Tourism Organization, Hiroshima (https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/chugoku/hiroshima/hiroshima-city/), checked October 11, 2026
- Visit Hiroshima, the official guide (https://visithiroshima.net/), checked October 11, 2026
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (https://hpmmuseum.jp/?lang=eng), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Hiroden (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroden), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Hiroshima (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiroshima), checked October 11, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Hiroshima: Peace Memorial Park, Miyajima, Okonomiyaki and Day Trips
- Where to Stay in Hiroshima: Peace Park, Station Area, Castle District and Miyajima Island
- Hiroshima from Osaka: Shinkansen, Local Trains and a Day at the Peace Park
- Know Before You Go to Hiroshima: Entry, Money, Getting Around and Local Etiquette