Start your Hiroshima trip here! Visit the World Heritage Site "Atomic Bomb Dome" and other peace spots

Hiroshima continues to convey the importance of peace to the world. Its symbol, the Atomic Bomb Dome, is registered as a World Heritage Site and is visited by many people from both within Japan and overseas. It is one of the spots you should visit first when you visit Hiroshima, as it is a place where you can remember the horrors of war and think about the future.

This time, we will start from the Atomic Bomb Dome and visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where you can take a leisurely stroll, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which looks back on the past, and Orizuru Tower, which offers a spectacular view, while introducing the history and highlights in an easy-to-understand manner.

table of contents

>What is the history of the World Heritage Site "Atomic Bomb Dome"?
> Peace Memorial Park: a sacred place of history and prayer
> Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: A realistic display of the scars of the atomic bombing
> "Orizuru Tower" where you can enjoy a spectacular view, origami crane making experience, and souvenirs
> Feelings woven through the lantern festival...the night of August 6th in Hiroshima
> Experience living history! The "Atomic Bombed Train" still in operation

The Atomic Bomb Dome, a symbol of peace in Hiroshima, was originally built in 1915 as the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall, and was bustling with local specialty products and cultural events. It is more like a local market or cultural spot today. It features a distinctive elliptical dome, a European-style exterior, and a spiral staircase inside, making it a cutting-edge building and a Hiroshima landmark at the time. As the war intensified, the facility's role changed, and at the time of the atomic bombing it was being used as a government office.

History was shaken at 8:15 am on August 6th , 1945. An atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. The building, located just 160 meters from the hypocenter, was heavily damaged and burned down. Many lives were lost inside, but the central part of the building miraculously remained and came to be called the "Atomic Bomb Dome." After that, a movement to pass on the building to future generations spread, and in 1996 the enthusiasm of the citizens bore fruit when the building was registered as a World Heritage Site. It has now become an important place that conveys the importance of peace to people visiting from all over the world.

The area around the Atomic Bomb Dome has been developed as the "Peace Memorial Park," and is dotted with a number of monuments praying for peace. Here are five points you should pay particular attention to!

After touring the Atomic Bomb Dome and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, we recommend stopping by the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum located inside the park. In addition to actual artifacts that show the devastation at the time, such as a tricycle and lunch box scorched by heat, the museum also displays photographs and video footage of people and the city immediately after the bombing. There are also talks given by survivors, survivor story tellers, and family story tellers, allowing visitors to learn more about the reality of the bombing.

Furthermore, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit held from May 19 to 21 , 2023 , all the G7 leaders will visit the museum together for the first time. One of these leaders, then Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, also made headlines when he requested to return to the museum after the summit closed on the 21st . Come and see for yourself the exhibits that have touched the hearts of leaders from other countries.

The highlight of Orizuru Tower, a Hiroshima landmark located to the east of the Atomic Bomb Dome, is Hiroshima Hill on the top floor. This observation deck offers a panoramic view of the center of Hiroshima, including the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park, and is a particularly valuable spot from which you can see the Atomic Bomb Dome. Standing on the observation deck, the sounds of the city seem far away, and in the spring and fall a pleasant breeze fills the air. Even just sitting there and relaxing can make you feel like time is passing slowly.

On the 12th floor, there is also a corner where you can experience peace. Visitors can make their own origami cranes and place them inside the glass-paneled area along the wall, and since the museum opened, over one million origami cranes have been put into the wall. Try this out and pray for peace.

Also, when you go down to the first floor, be sure to use the slope. Each floor has wall art by artists with ties to Hiroshima, and the original painting on display on the first floor was created by a survivor of the atomic bombing, so it's a must-see. The "slide" in the center of the slope goes down one floor at a time, making it fun for both adults and children!

On the first floor, there are souvenir shops and cafes, as well as the famous Hiroshima okonomiyaki restaurant "Micchan Sohonten," so you can enjoy the charms of Hiroshima to the fullest. Also, we recommend "Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Yokocho," a shopping street with a collection of popular okonomiyaki restaurants, located a 3- minute walk from Orizuru Tower! Enjoy the taste of Hiroshima!

Every year on the evening of August 6th , the "Lantern Floating" event is held along the Motoyasu River across from the Atomic Bomb Dome. It began shortly after the war as a tribute to the families of those who lost their lives in the atomic bombing and to the people of Hiroshima. Today, many people have inherited this tradition and float lanterns as a prayer for peace.

Anyone can participate in the "Lantern Floating" event, from locals to domestic and international tourists, once they register. Participants write their thoughts for peace on lanterns and set them afloat on the surface of the Motoyasu River. The warm light quietly flows and illuminates the river, creating a fantastical scene that really touches the heart.

The closest station to the Atomic Bomb Dome is Hiroshima Electric Railway's "Genbaku Dome-mae Station." It's only a one- minute walk away, so many people get there by streetcar. Streetcars are a form of transportation deeply rooted in the lives of local residents, but did you know that one of these is the "Atomic Bombed Tram," which is still in operation despite being damaged by the atomic bomb?

(Image provided by Hiroshima Electric Railway )

Currently, there are two Atomic Bombed Trams in regular service: No. 651 and No. 652. These Atomic Bombed Trams mainly operate on weekday mornings, but there is a sign on the carriages saying "Atomic Bombed Tram", so if you are visiting the Atomic Bomb Dome, be sure to pay attention to the number of the train you are riding. This is a precious tram unique to Hiroshima that continues to convey the memories of the war and the progress of reconstruction.

The Atomic Bomb Dome is a symbol of the abolition of nuclear weapons and permanent peace. Why not visit it on your first trip to Hiroshima?

Information
Atomic Bomb Dome

Address: 1-10 Otemachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City, 730-0051

telephone number
082-242-7831

Opening hours: all day

Parking Notes: Please use the nearby parking lot (paid)

Access: 20 minutes by tram from Hiroshima Station, then 1 minute on foot from the Atomic Bomb Dome

By bus: From Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit, take the Hiroshima City Loop Bus for approx. 11 minutes, then walk for approx. 1 minute from the Atomic Bomb Dome bus stop. From Hiroshima Station South Exit, take the local bus for approx. 10 minutes, then walk for approx. 1 minute from the Atomic Bomb Dome bus stop. From Hiroshima Station South Exit, take the local bus for approx. 10 minutes, then walk for approx. 10 minutes from the Kamiyacho bus stop. From Hiroshima Airport, take the Airport Limousine Bus bound for Hiroshima Bus Center for approx. 55 minutes, then walk for approx. 5 minutes southwest from Hiroshima Bus Center.