Hiroshima was a beautiful thriving city when it was tragically devastated by the world’s first nuclear attack on August 6th, 1945. The nuclear bomb “Little Boy” exploded right above Hiroshima city at sharp 8.15 a.m. in the morning, where the direct and indirect victims of the blast were as many as 140,000. Nevertheless, Hiroshima city gradually came to life as the Phoenix bird, leading to call it the “City of Peace”. Now, the area around the hypocenter of the blast dedicates to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and over one million people visit it each year.
Visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was one of the most unforgettable experiences we had in Japan. It gave us a painful, emotional memory of the damage caused by nuclear weapons. Although this trip was completely different from our usual fun trips, we learned a lot about the magnitude of nuclear power and the harm inflicted on Hiroshima city. We are so glad that we could visit there and think the trip was completely worthwhile. Therefore, we would strongly recommend a visit to Hiroshima, as well as nearby Miyajima Island, when you are visiting Japan.
Access to Hiroshima
Hiroshima is a major stop on the JR West Shinkansen line, and it is about 2 hours from Kyoto and 4 hours from Tokyo by bullet train. In addition, you can reach there by domestic flight ANA too. There are multiple daily flights from Haneda and Narita airports. Once you reach the Hiroshima station, take the electric tram bound to Miyajima Guchi and get off at Genbaku Dome-Mae.
There are several notable monuments around Peace Memorial Park. Let us show you the major places not to miss in the park.
1. The Atomic Bomb Dome
Known as the Genbaku Dome in Japanese, the Atomic Bomb Dome is the remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The original purpose of this building was to display and sell Japanese commercial products.
It was constructed in 1915, designed by the Czech architect Jan Letzel. It was a modern building with an oval-shaped copper dome at its center. This building had a grand European-style, different from the other Japanese buildings.
The atomic bomb exploded just above this building, turning it into a skeletal shell. The roof was totally destroyed, and the copper dome was melted by the high heat. But miraculously, the building did not collapse like all other buildings. It is the only structure left standing near the hypocenter of the blast, where all the other buildings were cherished in the whole of Hiroshima city.
Currently, the Atomic Bomb Dome remains the strongest and most powerful symbol of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima. This skeletal ruined building is in the same state as immediately after the bombing. It was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and this dome is the most famous landmark of Hiroshima city.
2. Hall of Remembrance
This monument is created for the memory of atomic bomb victims. Named as Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, this building is hidden underground. What you can see on top of the ground is a huge clock, depicting 8.15 a.m, the exact time the bomb exploded.
At the underground hall, there is a panoramic wall that recreates a view of the bombed city as seen from the hypocenter. Certainly, it is a place for paying a tribute to the atomic bomb victims and contemplating world peace.
3. Peace Memorial Museum
This is one of the must-visit places in Hiroshima Peace Park. It displays the models of Hiroshima before and after the bombing, documentary movies, photos, and exhibits. It houses a collection of items gathered from the ruins of Hiroshima city after the bombing.
The museum collection includes destroyed personal items of Hiroshima people. We could see ragged clothes, burned toys, destroyed bicycles, and a watch that stopped at the exact time of the bombing 08:15. Above all, there was a melted lunch box with charred rice belonging to a schoolboy, which made our eyes filled with tears.
There were melted glass bottles, which helped us to understand the magnitude of the extreme heat created by the bomb blast. To clarify, the glass melt at a temperature above 1400 Celcius, and this much heat can melt anything in the surrounding. We could see even the roof tiles melted by the heat, forming a shape of a rock.
Definitely, this was the most heartbreaking experience we had in Japan. Remember that it isn’t a joyful museum and be ready to witness the reality of the destruction caused by nuclear weapons. You’ll get a very sad feeling for the horror that the people of Hiroshima faced. Without a doubt, the grim photographs of the destroyed and burned city will bring tears to your eyes.
Although it is upsetting, Peace Museum is a must-see place in Hiroshima city. It is an important reminder of the terrible effects of nuclear war. Above all, it gives a clear message for a world without nuclear weapons.
4. Hiroshima Peace Park
The lush green Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park surrounds the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It is a large park spread on 120 000 square meters, designed by the Japanese architect Kenzo Tange. It dedicates to the memory of the victims of the nuclear attack.
The park locates in a lovely surroundings margined by two rivers on both sides. It is really a green little oasis in the middle of the city. It has walking paths and benches along the riverside, where you can look across the Atomic Bomb Dome.
After the mentally exhausting experience at the peace museum, this is a great place to have a break and rest. Moreover, there were beautiful rose beds, filled with colorful blooms. We sat down on one of the benches and looked around the area dotted with memorial monuments, statues, and a peaceful environment.
5. Memorial Cenotaph
This eye-catching monument locates at the center of the park. The Cenotaph shows the Japanese creativity of designing, where visitors can see the Atomic Bomb Dome through the cenotaph.
It is a concrete monument in a saddle shape. The cenotaph consists of a stone chest beneath an arch representing the roof. The arch is like a shelter for the dead souls. This Memorial Monument dedicates to all victims of the Hiroshima disaster.
Within the chest, there is a record of the names of all the victims of the atomic bombing. The cenotaph inscribes with the phrase: “Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil”. It symbolizes Hiroshima’s hope for everlasting peace in the world.
6. Peace Pond
The Peace Pond is one of the unique features of the park. This 70 m long pond locates just in front of the Peace Museum. It is elegantly designed with aligning the Museum, the Cenotaph on one end, and the Peace Flame and Atomic Bomb Dome on the other corner.
Peace Pond is a beautiful place perfect for reflections. The pond is very pretty and surreal with shallow water and the bottom is clearly visible. This pond has been extremely well designed to provide a meditative experience for the visitors.
7. Peace Flame
The Peace Flame is an important monument to the victims of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima city. It has a major symbolic purpose. The flame is burning continuously since 1964. It will remain lit until our planet earth is free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
If you peek through the Cenotaph, you can see the Peace Flame is aligning with the Atomic Bomb Dome in the distance. This is one of the best picturesque sights in the park.
8. Memorial Mound
The Memorial mound is a big grass-covered hill, containing cremated remains of all unidentified dead victims. Many of the people killed by the atomic bomb were impossible to identify and were cremated. With heavy and saddened hearts, we paid our respects to this memorial mound, which includes the ashes of 70 000 people.
Just beside the memorial mound, there is a large Japanese bell hanging inside a small open-sided structure. Called Peace Bell, this bell dedicates to world peace. Therefore, visitors ring this bell praying for everlasting peace. We also rang the bell and the sound echoed throughout the Peace Park.
9. Children’s Peace Monument
Children’s Peace Monument is one of the most important sights to see in Hiroshima Peace Park. The monument shows a young girl holding a paper crane while standing on a tall three-legged cement socket. A boy and a girl are standing at the sides. This monument represents the sad story of a young Japanese girl, Sasaki Sadako.
Tragically, Sadako was exposed to radiation at the age of two when Hiroshima was bombed. As a result, she was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of twelve. Sadako thought that if she folded 1000 origami cranes she would recover from the disease. But she died after an eight-month battle with the disease. Her friends completed more than 1000 cranes and buried them with her.
Even today, School children bring folded cranes with them on trips to the monument. You will see several large glass cases containing thousands of colorful paper cranes behind the Children’s Peace Monument.
10. Gates of Peace
There are ten glass gates, each 2.6 meters wide and 9 meters high, called Gates of Peace. They stretch along 75 meters in parallel with the columns of the main building of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The word “Peace,” translated in 49 languages, is inscribed on the steel-framed gates covered with tempered glass. We could find the word peace was written in our mother tongue, Sinhalese too.
To sum up, Hiroshima Peace Park is a must-visit place in Japan, anybody who likes to learn about the sad past and bright present of Hiroshima city. There are several attractions to visit in Hiroshima Peace Park, but they all are cluster together in Hiroshima downtown area. Therefore, you can easily walk between them within just a few hours. With all these monuments, Hiroshima Peace Park symbolizes everybody’s wish for a peaceful future. Most importantly, it gives a clear message to the world. No more nuclear weapons.!
