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Hiroshima vs Kandy

Which destination is right for your next trip?

🏆 Hiroshima wins 85 OVR vs 83 · attribute matchup 31

Hiroshima
Hiroshima

Japan

85OVR

VS
Kandy
Kandy

Sri Lanka

83OVR

95
Safety
80
60
Affordability
87
86
Food
86
99
Culture
99
58
Nightlife
58
86
Walkability
86
86
Nature
86
85
Connectivity
77
86
Transit
72
Hiroshima

Hiroshima

Japan

Kandy

Kandy

Sri Lanka

Hiroshima

Safety: 95/100Pop: 1.2M (city)Asia/Tokyo

Kandy

Safety: 78/100Pop: 125KAsia/Colombo

💰 Budget

budget
Hiroshima: $60-90Kandy: $25–40
mid-range
Hiroshima: $120-180Kandy: $50–90
luxury
Hiroshima: $300+Kandy: $150–300

🛡️ Safety

Hiroshima95/100Safety Score78/100Kandy

Hiroshima

Hiroshima is extremely safe, reflecting Japan's overall reputation as one of the safest countries for travelers. Violent crime is virtually nonexistent, theft is rare, and the city is well-maintained with excellent infrastructure. The biggest risks are natural disasters (typhoons, earthquakes) and heat exhaustion in summer.

Kandy

Kandy is generally safe for tourists. Sri Lanka ended its civil conflict in 2009 and the country has been stable. The main risks are traffic (chaotic driving), scams targeting tourists near the temple, and occasional gem scams.

Ratings

Hiroshima2/5English Friendly4/5Kandy
Hiroshima4/5Walkability4/5Kandy
Hiroshima4/5Public Transit3/5Kandy
Hiroshima4/5Food Scene4/5Kandy
Hiroshima2/5Nightlife2/5Kandy
Hiroshima5/5Cultural Sites5/5Kandy
Hiroshima4/5Nature Access4/5Kandy
Hiroshima5/5WiFi Reliability3/5Kandy

🌤️ Weather

Hiroshima

Hiroshima has a humid subtropical climate with four distinct seasons. Summers are hot and humid, winters are mild compared to northern Japan, and spring cherry blossoms and autumn foliage are spectacular. The rainy season (tsuyu) runs from mid-June to mid-July.

Spring (March - May)6-22°C
Summer (June - August)20-33°C
Autumn (September - November)10-26°C
Winter (December - February)2-10°C

Kandy

Kandy has a tropical highland climate at 465m elevation — cooler and less humid than the coast. Temperatures are pleasant year-round (22–28°C). Two monsoon seasons affect the city differently: the southwest monsoon (May–August) brings heavier rain to the western slopes; the northeast monsoon (November–January) brings rain from the other direction. The best weather windows are February–April and August–September.

Dry/Best (February–April)22–29°C
SW Monsoon (May–August)20–27°C
Inter-monsoon / Good (August–October)21–28°C
NE Monsoon (November–January)20–26°C

🚇 Getting Around

Hiroshima

Hiroshima has an extensive streetcar (tram) network — the oldest and largest in Japan — supplemented by buses and a good cycling infrastructure. The tram system connects the station to Peace Park, the castle, and the Miyajima ferry terminal. An IC card (ICOCA/Suica) works on all public transport.

Walkability: Hiroshima is very walkable within the central area. Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and Shukkeien Garden are all within a 25-minute walk of each other. The flat river delta terrain and well-maintained sidewalks make walking easy. The Hondori shopping arcade provides covered walking in any weather.

Hiroden Streetcar (Tram)¥190 (~$1.27) flat fare within the city; ¥270 (~$1.80) to Miyajima-guchi
JR Miyajima Ferry¥180 (~$1.20) one-way; free with JR Pass
Peacecle Bike Share¥165 (~$1.10) per 30 min; ¥1,100 (~$7.35) day pass

Kandy

Kandy city centre is semi-walkable — the lake, temple, and market are connected on foot. The hills make some areas steep. Tuk-tuks are the standard local transport; trains are the best way to reach Colombo and the hill country.

Walkability: Moderate around the lake and temple. Hilly — some areas require tuk-tuk.

Tuk-Tuk (Three-Wheeler)LKR 100–300 city trips
Local BusesLKR 15–50 city trips
WalkingFree

The Verdict

Choose Hiroshima if...

you want a profound peace memorial experience, incredible okonomiyaki, and Miyajima Island's floating torii gate

Choose Kandy if...

you want Sri Lanka's sacred highland city — the Temple of the Tooth Relic, UNESCO Royal Botanical Gardens, Esala Perahera elephant procession, and the viewpoint above the cloud-forest Knuckles Range