Is Hiroshima safe?
Very safe for solo travelers by day and night. Heat, typhoon rain and landslides in heavy-rain periods are the practical risks.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Hiroshima at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Petty crime is rare; bar touts in Nagarekawa are the only common nuisance, plus bicycle theft. |
| At night | Streets near Hatchobori and Hon-dori stay lively; most of the city quiet after 10 pm. Trams stop around 11 pm. |
| Solo women | Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nagarekawa. |
| Other risks | Landslides and floods in July–Sep heavy rain; Heat above 35°C in Jul–Aug; Earthquakes; check the Safety tips app |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Nagarekawa touts steering visitors to bars with inflated bills
Take care
- Nagarekawa after midnight: drunks, touts and fights
- Hillside trails after heavy rain: landslide risk
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Hiroshima compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Hiroshima safe for solo female travelers?
Very comfortable for solo women at night. Avoid following touts into bars in Nagarekawa.
Is Hiroshima safe at night?
Streets near Hatchobori and Hon-dori stay lively; most of the city quiet after 10 pm. Trams stop around 11 pm.
What is the crime rate in Hiroshima?
Petty crime is rare; bar touts in Nagarekawa are the only common nuisance, plus bicycle theft. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Hiroshima?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Hiroshima
Going to Hiroshima solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Hiroshima meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Visit Hiroshima
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden)
- Hiroshima Airport
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.