Sansui Ryokan

It's a great little place, with bedrooms and bathrooms upstairs and a kitchen and dining table downstairs. There was free tea and coffee, plus a small fridge and microwave. The rooms are tiny, but the futons are really comfortable, and the owner was such a kind, helpful woman. Hiroshima station is a long way off, so with lots of bags I'd take a taxi. Otherwise you'd need to take them on the tram and then walk. The place is near Hiroshima Peace Park and Dome, and it's easy to reach the ferry for Miyajima. There are plenty of good places to eat nearby and a cool little bar just down the road.

For a basic Ryokan, it's a nice place. Just be aware there's no breakfast and very few amenities: one shower and one toilet for each gender. The rooms are all tatami, with no other floor space, so take care with food, drinks, diaper changes, and wet clothes or bags. It was raining when we arrived, which made that especially relevant.

This was my second visit. It's simple and minimal, but has what you need and is near the places you'd want to see. The host is adorable and really kind. Across the river and to the left there's a ramen place with a red flag out front and a vending machine. They do one kind of ramen and beer, and that soup will change your life. You have to go, seriously.

Bare bones for the price. The staff were grumpy, there was no towel or toiletries, and nobody spoke English. The place is very dated and the Wi-Fi is awful. No breakfast either, and there's a midnight curfew. Parking costs 600 yen. Stay somewhere else.