The places in Hiroshima the guidebooks miss.
The places in Hiroshima the guidebooks miss. locals-only counters, after-hours rooms and the spots tourists walk past.
Lopez sits well outside the Hiroshima okonomiyaki tourist circuit in Kusunoki-cho, and it closes all weekend, which keeps the counter firmly local.
OrderVegetables, pork, egg and soba with jalapenos on top
Why locals goA Guatemalan cook running an okonomiyaki griddle in a residential corner of Nishi-ku, open weeknights only and never at the weekend.
TipThe shop opens at 16:30 on weekdays and shuts Saturday and Sunday, so it never appears on a weekend itinerary.
Kitchen Minot in Hiroshima runs an unfixed menu between European plates and Japanese small dishes, from two tables and a counter that wraps the kitchen.
OrderThe squid fritters, if they are on that night
Why locals goTwo tables and a counter on a Hatchobori side street, with a menu that changes so often it is never written down.
TipThemed curry and savoury pie evenings run on alternating months, announced only to people already in the room.
Hachidorisha is a Hiroshima book cafe built around peace-education titles, and it opens from 11:00 on any date containing a six, whatever the weekday.
OrderFilter coffee with whatever lunch plate is on that weekend
Why locals goA peace-education book cafe near Dohashi that opens on a calendar rule rather than normal cafe hours.
TipClosed Mondays and Tuesdays unless the date contains a six, which is the shop's nod to the sixth of August.
Kissa Saeki looks like any other Hiroshima kissaten from the door, but the kitchen behind it is organic, additive-free and very largely plant-based.
OrderThe vegan salad set, served 10:00 to 11:00 only
Why locals goAn old Kamiyacho coffee house that quietly rebuilt itself around organic produce and a largely vegan kitchen.
TipThe room keeps kissaten hours and closes by 17:00 at weekends, so this is a morning or early-afternoon stop.
Akam Coffee Works is the Hiroshima roaster most visitors walk past, a small Kokutaiji-machi counter that supplies beans to cafes right across the city.
OrderA bag of the current single-origin roast to take home
Why locals goA one-room Kokutaiji-machi roastery selling green beans and wholesale kilos as readily as cups.
TipGreen unroasted beans and one-kilo wholesale bags are both sold here, which is unusual at this scale.
Private tour · 3 hours
Discover the unique flavors of Japanese cuisine and eat like a local on this walking tour in Hiroshima. Visit some vibrant markets, and hidden gems, and sample a selec...
Private tour · 4 hours
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