Best Sushi in Hiroshima: 7 Recommended Restaurants

Hiroshima, a major city in the Chugoku region, faces the Seto Inland Sea and is known for its natural beauty, with 75% of its area covered by mountains. It's home to the World Heritage site of Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its beautiful torii gate standing in the sea.

Hiroshima also bears the tragic history of being devastated by an atomic bomb in 1945. The Atomic Bomb Dome, a World Heritage site preserved in its post-bomb state, and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, built to promote a world free of nuclear weapons, are popular tourist destinations.

When it comes to Hiroshima's cuisine, oysters and Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki are popular. However, the region's unique climate and vast sea provide a wealth of other ingredients.

In this article, we'll introduce you to some of the best sushi in Hiroshima, where you can taste the bounty of the sea that only Hiroshima can offer.

About Japanese Sushi

Sushi is one of the most famous Japanese dishes worldwide. Sushi restaurants are numerous outside Japan, making it a popular and familiar food for people overseas.

In Japan, there are various types of sushi restaurants. Conveyor belt sushi (kaitenzushi), where you can enjoy sushi from about 100 yen per plate, is hugely popular across generations. There are also high-end sushi restaurants that are so popular it's difficult to get a reservation.

While nigiri sushi (hand-pressed sushi with raw fish on top of rice) is the most representative type, there are other varieties. These include makizushi (rolled sushi), oshizushi (pressed sushi), and more, all of which are familiar to Japanese people.

Sushi eaten across Japan has regional characteristics, using fresh ingredients sourced locally.

Recommended Sushi Restaurants in Hiroshima

Sushidokoro Hitoshi

Source: Tabelog

Sushidokoro Hitoshi, a Michelin-starred restaurant exuding sophistication, offers some of the best sushi in Hiroshima. They serve sushi made with local fish from around Hiroshima and fresh seafood directly shipped from the Tohoku region.

The chef meticulously explains the origin of the fish used in the sushi, as well as the preparation and cooking methods. This makes it an excellent choice for those who want to deepen their knowledge about sushi.

The large Hiroshima-produced conger eel is thick, fluffy, soft, and exquisite. Its seasoning is not too sweet, allowing you to fully appreciate the eel's natural flavor.

A must-try dish at Sushidokoro Hitoshi is the "Uni Ikura Don" (sea urchin and salmon roe bowl). While sea urchin and salmon roe are common combinations in sushi, what makes this dish unique is the addition of green laver. It's an unparalleled delicacy you won't find elsewhere.

They also offer a wide selection of rare sake, which you should definitely enjoy with your sushi.

Hours: 12:00-14:00 / 18:00-21:00
Closed: Irregular
*Operating days are irregular, so please check the official website to confirm and make a reservation before visiting.
Address: 7-26 Komachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 082-247-1787

Yoshizushi

Source: Tabelog

For sushi made with seasonal fish from the Seto Inland Sea and the Sea of Japan, Yoshizushi is highly recommended. Here, you can enjoy many types of sushi that you can't eat in other regions. Every morning, the chef personally visits the market to source fresh, high-quality fish.

They only offer an omakase course, where the chef decides the menu composition. Not only the nigiri sushi but also the appetizers served before the sushi are meticulously prepared.

A recommendation is the "Grilled Conger Eel." While conger eel is typically simmered sweetly across Japan, this restaurant grills it to a crisp and serves it with truffle salt and curry salt. It's an original dish that allows you to fully enjoy the flavor of fatty conger eel, possible only in Hiroshima where conger eel is delicious.

Also, try the "Yonakigai" (Venus clam) nigiri. While it's a rare sushi ingredient nationwide, it's familiar to people in Hiroshima. Enjoy its chewy texture.

Hours: 18:00-22:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: Yaokin Building 1F, 8-11 Hondori, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 050-5488-6196

Sushi Matsubara

Source: Tabelog

Sushi Matsubara, focusing on fish from the Seto Inland Sea, sources carefully selected ingredients daily from the market. The chef is known for his training at "Chisou Sottakuito," a nationally famous Hiroshima Japanese restaurant renowned for its delicious fish. His expertise in selecting and preparing seafood is evident.

While most sushi restaurants use one type of shari (vinegared rice), Sushi Matsubara uses two types, matching them to different fish to create a perfect balance between the fish and rice.

The preparation of each fish is also elaborate. Don't miss the squid that has been aged for several days to enhance its flavor and umami, and the sea bream from Hiroshima Bay washed with soy sauce to remove any fishy smell.

Hours: 18:00-23:00
Closed: None
Address: Zakuro Building 5F, 1-15 Horikawa-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 050-5492-5014

Sushi Arata

Source: Tabelog

At Sushi Arata, where you're greeted by an energetic chef, you'll always find a wide variety of fresh fish. You can fully enjoy the taste of fresh seafood ingredients.

Everything is delicious here, from sushi to side dishes. My personal recommendations are the "Abalone" and "Grilled Pufferfish Milt." After enjoying the thick, chewy texture of the abalone, you're served "Abalone Rice" with a sauce made from abalone liver added to the shari. This is a unique menu item you can't find at other restaurants. The "Grilled Pufferfish Milt" is also exquisite with its crispy exterior and smooth interior.

While all the dishes and sushi are of the highest quality, they're offered at more reasonable prices compared to typical high-end sushi restaurants. Due to its popularity for providing deliciousness beyond its price point, it's always crowded with regular customers. Reservations are recommended.

Hours: 18:00-24:00
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: 3-1-10 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 080-249-2299

Tensen

Source: Tabelog

Located on a street with few tourists, Tensen has a hidden gem atmosphere. It's the most popular sushi restaurant on the tourist-favorite Miyajima Island.

The nigiri sushi, made with fresh ingredients unique to Hiroshima, features larger slices of sashimi on top of the rice, allowing you to fully enjoy the deliciousness of the ingredients.

Not only the seafood, but also the wasabi, rice, and sake are sourced from Hiroshima Prefecture. They even use four different types of soy sauce, showing attention to detail in every aspect.

Winter is especially recommended when oysters are in season. The "Oyster Soup," packed with the rich umami of oysters from the Miyajima coastal waters, is a must-try masterpiece.

In addition to seafood sushi, you can also enjoy nigiri sushi made with rare "Hiroshima Beef." You can experience a different kind of umami and sweet fattiness compared to seafood sushi.

Hours: 11:30-14:00 / 17:00-22:00
Closed: Wednesdays
Address: 810-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Phone: 0829-44-1233

Sushinaka

Source: Tabelog

If you're looking for delicious sushi near Peace Memorial Park, Sushinaka is perfect. Unusually for a sushi restaurant, you take off your shoes when entering, creating a relaxed atmosphere.

The Hiroshima-produced "Migratory Crab," available from around autumn, is a seasonal recommendation. Also available during the same season, the "Matsutake Mushroom Dobin Mushi" (steamed in a clay teapot) is irresistible with its savory broth and the aromatic fragrance of matsutake mushrooms.

Every dish and piece of sushi is carefully and meticulously prepared, allowing you to fully appreciate the taste of the ingredients.

During lunchtime, you can enjoy high-quality sushi at slightly more affordable prices. With relatively quick serving times, you can easily enjoy top-quality sushi made by a sushi chef with over 30 years of experience, even during a busy sightseeing schedule.

Be sure to try the rolled sushi made with conger eel (a Hiroshima specialty) and takuan (traditional Japanese pickled radish). It offers an excellent texture and taste combination.

Hours: 12:00-14:00 / 17:30-21:30
Closed: Sundays and holidays
Address: 2-6-8 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City
Phone: 050-5493-8009

Miyajimazushi Maimon

Source: Tabelog

At Miyajimazushi Maimon, you can enjoy sushi with the best view overlooking Miyajima and the Seto Inland Sea. This unique restaurant offers a combination of sushi and Italian cuisine.

All dishes are carefully prepared using plenty of seafood from the Seto Inland Sea and Hokuriku region, as well as fresh vegetables. The nigiri sushi is made slightly smaller to allow you to enjoy a wider variety of sushi and dishes.

The "Cold Pasta" served before the nigiri sushi in the course menu is a must-try. It's a pasta dish unique to a sushi restaurant, made with seasonal seafood.

They also offer a wide selection of sake and wine to pair with the food. This sushi and Italian restaurant allows for various ways to enjoy your meal, whether it's a casual lunch or a relaxed dinner with drinks.

Hours: 11:00-14:00 / 17:00-22:00
Closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Address: Real Mare Bokenso 1F, 1-8-14 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Phone: 050-5890-2698

Conclusion

We've introduced seven recommended sushi restaurants in Hiroshima.

At each of these establishments, you can enjoy sushi made with fresh seafood caught in the waters near Hiroshima Prefecture, prepared meticulously without cutting corners.

Hiroshima is famous for oysters, conger eel, and octopus. The Setouchi region is also known for its citrus fruits. Citrus fruits like lemon serve as an excellent accent to enhance the umami of the seafood used in sushi. As seasonal ingredients change throughout the year, be sure to savor the delicious sushi that you can only taste here when you visit Hiroshima.

All these restaurants are easily accessible from tourist spots, so please enjoy the best sushi in Hiroshima during your visit.