Livability Report
HiroshimaLivability Score
Hiroshima·Pop. 1,171,915
Hiroshima City lies in southwestern Hiroshima Prefecture, facing Hiroshima Bay on the Seto Inland Sea. Its main urban core sits on a delta formed by sediment carried by the Ota River, and the city area extends to the mountains surrounding the delta, the mountains of the middle Ota, the basins of the Seno and Yahata rivers, and the islands of Hiroshima Bay. In 1589 Mori Terumoto named the place Hiroshima and began building a castle, and reclamation in the Edo and Meiji periods widened the urban area. After the atomic bomb destroyed the city in 1945, it was rebuilt as a peace memorial city and became a designated city in 1980.
Published 2026-03-07 · Article updated 2026-10-27 · Data updated 2026-10-20
Where in Japan
Overall Score
46.0
40.0
53.8
62.0
52.8* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.
5-axis scores
Safety46.0Cost40.0Convenience53.8Welfare62.0Economy52.8Basic Information
Population
1,171,915
Prefecture
Hiroshima
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
A Town Built on the Ota Delta and Widened by Reconstruction
Alex
How did the name Hiroshima come about?
Yuki
How did the town grow once the modern era began?
Alex
When did the present city area take shape?
Kai
It came with the castle. By the city chronology, in 1589 Mori Terumoto began a castle in the five villages at the mouth of the Ota River and named the place Hiroshima. The castle was completed in 1591 and Terumoto moved in. It stood on a delta of Ota sediment, and the town grew with Edo and Meiji reclamation.
Safety Seen Through Reported Penal Code Offenses
Alex
Is there a way to check Hiroshima's safety with numbers?
Yuki
How does it look next to the prefecture's figure for the same year?
Alex
Can I see the picture for the ward I want to live in?
Kai
The Hiroshima Prefectural Police publish reported penal code offenses by municipality. In 2025 Hiroshima City had 7,233 cases, down from 7,374 the year before. Divided by the 2025 census population, that is 6.17 per 1,000 residents, an average level among Japan's major municipalities. A lower crime rate is better for daily life, so this sits neither high nor low.
The Delta Core and the Level of Land Prices and Rent
Alex
What does land cost if I want to buy a home in Hiroshima?
Yuki
What about rent if I lease instead?
Alex
When choosing a district, what should I look at first on the cost side?
Kai
In the 2026 official land price survey, the simple average of residential points in Hiroshima City is 156,382 yen per square meter, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities; lower is easier for buyers, so this reads as a heavier burden. The main core sits on the delta facing Hiroshima Bay, and point values differ greatly by district.
A City That Moves by JR, Streetcar, and Bus
Alex
Can I commute in Hiroshima without a car?
Yuki
How does the city see transport?
Alex
Are there plenty of shops and places to eat?
Kai
A certain share of people commute by public transit. In the 2020 census, 21.38% of commuters and students used rail or bus, an average level among Japan's major municipalities. The city's transport plan lists as core transit the JR Sanyo, Kure, Kabe, and Geibi lines, the Astram Line opened in 1994, and the Hiroden Miyajima Line.
Medical Facilities, Schools, and Help for Families
Alex
Are hospitals and clinics easy to find?
Yuki
How many schools are there?
Alex
Is there a city system families can rely on?
Kai
The number of facilities is on the high side. In the 2023 Survey of Medical Institutions, Hiroshima City had 82 hospitals and 1,206 general clinics, or 10.99 facilities per 10,000 residents, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities. This indicator only divides facilities by population, though, and says nothing about departments or ease of getting seen.
The Economy Seen Through Income and Migration
Alex
As a place to work and live, how is the income level?
Yuki
Is the population growing or shrinking?
Kai
In the 2025 Survey on Municipal Tax Assessment, taxable income per taxpayer is 3,881,213 yen. Taxable income is higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities, and higher income is an indicator that tends to give more room in daily life. The city explains that its economic activity is also supported by neighboring cities and towns.
The Share of People Actually Living Here
Yuki
What does the residency rate indicator show?
Alex
How should I use this number when deciding where to live?
Kai
It is a supplementary indicator that divides the census population by the resident registry population. The 2025 census counted 1,171,915 people in Hiroshima City and the resident registry 1,167,911, so the residency rate is 100.34%. The two populations are about the same size, so residents and registrations are close in number. It is not used in the axis scores.
Who this city suits
Families with children
Schools number 0.90 per habitable square kilometer and hospitals and clinics 10.99 per 10,000 residents, both higher levels. There are a child medical expense subsidy ordinance and a Child and Family Center in each ward. Points to watch: residential land prices are on the high side. If you buy land, compare point values district by district.
Young singles
Average rent is 56,478 yen a month, an average level; restaurants number 5.12 per 1,000 residents, a higher level; and 21.38% commute by rail or bus. Points to watch: even with reported offenses at an average 6.17 per 1,000 residents, safety at the address level is unknown. Walk candidate neighborhoods at night too.
Seniors
With 82 hospitals and 1,206 general clinics, there are 10.99 facilities per 10,000 residents, a higher level. Core public transit includes JR, the Astram Line, and the Hiroden Miyajima Line. Points to watch: the city area extends into the mountains around the delta, and the city notes landslide risk on the lower slopes. Check slopes and evacuation routes on a visit.
Remote workers
Taxable income per taxpayer is 3,881,213 yen, a higher level, and the net migration rate is -0.20%, an average level. For buying or renting vacant houses, you can consult the professional bodies the city lists. Points to watch: the urban area faces flood and storm surge inundation risk. Check the hazard zones before settling on a property.
Disaster risk and hazard maps
On its page for checking hazardous areas, the city explains that it faces landslides and debris flows on the surrounding lower slopes, river and inland-water flooding in the urban area, and storm surge inundation, and it prepares and publishes hazard maps for these areas. Landslides can be checked on the Hiroshima City Landslide Hazard Map and the prefecture's Landslide Portal Hiroshima, river flooding on the Hiroshima City Flood Hazard Map and the prefecture's Flood Portal Hiroshima, inland-water flooding on the Inland Water Inundation Hazard Map, and storm surge on the prefecture's Storm Surge and Tsunami Portal Hiroshima. The Hiroshima City Tsunami Hazard Map is based on the tsunami disaster warning zones designated by the prefecture and consists of an information and learning side and district-by-district map sides. There is a Hiroshima City Reservoir Hazard Map, and for earthquakes the city publishes its fiscal 2013 damage estimate report while stressing that preparation must assume no one knows when or where one will strike. Check down to your exact street address on the city's official maps and the GSI overlay hazard map.
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Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 6.17 | 2025 |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | 156,382 | 2026 |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 56,478 | 2023 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 21.4 | 2020 |
| Retail Establishments | 7,871 | 2021 |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 6.72 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments | 5,998 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 5.12 | 2021 |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | 100.3 | 2025 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | 10.99 | 2023 |
| Hospitals | 82 | 2023 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.70 | 2023 |
| Clinics | 1,206 | 2023 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 10.29 | 2023 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 266 | 2024 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.227 | 2024 |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | 0.902 | 2024 |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | 3,881,213 | 2025 |
| Net Migration | -2,342 | 2025 |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | -0.20 | 2025 |
| Total Population | 1,171,915 | 2025 |
| crime_count | 7,233 | 2025 |
| crime_count_pref | 14,735 | 2025 |
| crime_rate_pref_per_1000 | 5 | 2025 |
| habitable_area_km2 | 295 | 2024 |
| resident_registry_population | 1,167,911 | 2026 |
Data sources
| Indicator | Source | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Reported penal code offenses by municipalityHiroshima Prefectural Police | 2025 | Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | 2026 | Residential sites only; simple average of sites |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2023 | Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2020 | To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | 2023 | Hospitals and clinics combined |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km² |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Taxable income per taxpayer |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Resident register population as of January 1, 2026 |
Sources (23)
- Hiroshima City: History of Hiroshima (Chronology)
- Hiroshima City: Check Hazardous Areas (Landslide Warning Zones, Inundation Zones, etc.)
- Hiroshima City Tsunami Hazard Map
- Hiroshima City: Nature of Hiroshima (document)
- Hiroshima City: Characteristics of Rivers and the City's Development
- Hiroshima City: The City's Approach to Industrial Promotion
- Hiroshima City: Crime Situation in 2025
- Hiroshima Prefectural Police: Reported Penal Code Offenses by Municipality (2025)
- Hiroshima City Regional Public Transport Plan (related document)
- Hiroshima City Downtown Area (Urban Renaissance Urgent Development Area) document
- Hiroshima City Child Medical Expense Subsidy Ordinance
- Hiroshima City: Child-Rearing Consultation Desks
- Hiroshima City: Professional Bodies for Vacant House Consultation
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Cultural Heritage Online: Peace Memorial Park
- 2025 Population Census, Basic Tabulation (e-Stat 0004065881)
- 2023 Housing and Land Survey (e-Stat 0004021452)
- 2020 Population Census, Means of Transportation (e-Stat 0003454513)
- 2021 Economic Census for Business Activity (e-Stat 0004005684)
- Survey of Medical Institutions, System of Social and Demographic Statistics (e-Stat 0000020209)
- School Basic Survey and Habitable Area, System of Social and Demographic Statistics (e-Stat 0000020205)
- Report on Internal Migration from the Basic Resident Registration (e-Stat 0003419945)
- Official Land Prices, National Land Numerical Information L01 (MLIT)
- Survey on Municipal Tax Assessment (MIC)
Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)
Published 2026-03-07 · Article updated 2026-10-27 · Data updated 2026-10-20