Banks and exchange There are several banks clustered around the Hondori arcade as it crosses Rijo-dori, including Hiroshima Bank, Sumitomo Bank and Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank. Sumitomo Bank has an ATM (daily 8am-10pm) from which you can make cash withdrawals with international cash cards, including Visa and Mastercard. Foreign exchange is also available at the central post office and Higashi post office next to Hiroshima Station.

Bookshops There's a small selection of English-language books and magazines at Kinokuniya on the 6h floor of Sogo department store and Maruzen in the Hondori arcade, opposite Andersen . The Book Nook, 201 Nakano Building, 1-5-17 Kamiya-cho, Naka-ku, near the Hiroshima Kokusai Hotel , also has an excellent selection of secondhand books (Mon-Fri 10am-9pm, Sat 10am-6pm, Sun & hols 1-6pm).

Car rental Eki Rent-a-car is at Hiroshima Station (tel 082/263-5933). You can also try local branches of Hertz (tel 082/262-4455) and Budget (tel 082/262-4455).

Emergencies The main police station is at 9-48 Moto-machi (tel 082/224-0110). In an absolute emergency, contact the Foreign Advisory Service on tel 082/247-8007.

Hospital Hiroshima Municipal Hospital is at 7-33 Moto-machi (tel 082/221-2291).

Internet access For ?500 an hour (free for customers who order a drink) you can access the Internet on the fifth floor of Hiroshima Best Denki (7-7 Nishikaniya, 7 chome), located behind the Ark Hotel near Hiroshima Station. Daily 10am-7pm.

Post office The main central post office is on Rijo-dori near the Shiyakusho-mae tram stop (Mon-Fri 9am-7pm, Sat 9am-5pm & Sun 9am-12.30pm). Other convenient branches are the Higashi post office beside the south exit of Hiroshima Station (also open Sat until noon) and the Miru Paruku post office next to Sogo department store.

Shopping Most of the city's main department stores open 10am-7pm, with Mitsukoshi being closed on Mon, Sogo on Tues, Fukuya on Wednes and Tenmaya on Thurs.

Sports The Big Wave sports centre, with a swimming pool in summer and two ice rinks during the winter, sits beside the Ushita stop on the Astram line. There's also a pool and other fitness facilities at the Hiroshima Prefectural Sports Centre behind the Municipal Baseball Stadium.

Travel agents The main JTB office is at Kamiyacho Biru, 2-2-2 Kamiyacho (tel 082/542-5001).