Revisiting History at Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Museu...
Larry KnipfingA visit to the Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Museum is not a pleasant experience, but is not intended to be.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located in southern Hiroshima, sits across from the Atomic Bomb Dome in the Peace Memorial Park. The museum houses information about Hiroshima’s history before and after the atomic bombing during WWII and aims to educate visitors about the infamous event and after-effects. Through education, the museum seeks to spread awareness about the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons and ultimately ban them. Its message is powerful: No More Hiroshimas.
To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, a virtual tour of the museum has been released, as well as a Peace Park tour from the day of the anniversary event.
The east building contains three floors with permanent and temporary exhibitions. The second floor outlines the history of Hiroshima, while the third floor focuses on the aftermath of the bombing with video testimonies from bomb survivors, as well as displays about the dangers of nuclear weapons. The exhibits reflect the brutal truth of the bombing and the thousands of people who were killed and affected mentally and physically by the painful aftermath.
The permanent exhibits in the main building document the unimaginable horrors through items found after the bombing—a tricycle, a lunchbox, a school uniform—all once mundane objects whose meanings now tell of the instantaneous devastation of human actions. Photos line the walls, honestly displaying the aftermath.
Despite the unfiltered displays of war, the museum never wavers from its core message of remembrance, education, and future peace.
/132.4523059,34.3925863,9/397x132?access_token=pk.eyJ1IjoiamFwYW50cmF2ZWxtYXBzIiwiYSI6ImNqbXBtOXYxbDB5Z3ozbHFrazJuYWMwOGYifQ.v15fy_mcFWtgopmz8PhwqA)
From Hiroshima Station, take a streetcar bound for Eba or Miyajima to Genbaku Domu Mae Station or take a streetcar bound for Hiroshima Port to Fukuro-machi Station (both about 15 minutes). From either station, the walk is about 7 minutes. If you want to bypass the streetcar, the walk from Hiroshima Station to the museum is about 35 minutes.
A visit to the Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Museum is not a pleasant experience, but is not intended to be.
The museum dominates Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park and attracts over a million people annually from all over Japan and around the world. A must for any visitor.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was reopened in April following two years of upgrades. The Museum now focuses on the memories of the victims and survivors of the atomic bombing that destroyed the city.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum exhibits many articles remaining from the atomic bombing. It also displays records and photos showing actual horrors of the bombing.
This is a description of the 7 official (free) WiFi zones in the city center provided by the Hiroshima municipal government. WiFi can also be found in most Starbucks (pre-registration required) and Seattle Coffee among other coffee shop chains, but these free internet zones are fairly easy to access quickly.
Chisun Hotel Hiroshima, centrally located in the downtown area, is a great place to stay if you're planning a visit to this world famous city.
Why Guest House Roku in Hiroshima is a great place for budget travelers looking to make friends
Okonomimura is a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki theme park located in Shintenchi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, near the east end of the Hondori shopping street. It has 24 okonomiyaki restaurants, each with a slightly different style and one different selection of ingredients. Okonomiyaki began in the pre-war period as a dish called "Issen Yoshoku" ("" Western food for a dime ""), which was very popular with common people. It consisted of a flour paste cooked with onions, dried shrimp, and spices. After the war, other ingredients such as cabbage, eggs, seafood, buckwheat and wheat noodles were used to improve the diet in these tough times. This is how today's Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki came about. [Photo: Victor Lee / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0]
A spacious Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki shop in a great location, next to Peace park. Family-friendly, Vegetarian-friendly and non-smoking during lunch too.
Live-music venue, fun and lively bar on weekends and serves good quality Italian and American style foods.
"Carried to Hiroshima from Tinian Island by the Enola Gay, a U.S. Army B-29 bomber, the first atomic bomb used in the history of humankind, exploded approximately 580 meters above this spot. The city below was hit by heat rays of approximately 3,000 to 4,000°C, along with a blast wind and radiation. Most people in the area lost their lives instantly. The time was 8:15 a.m., August 6, 1945." This plaque on a downtown Hiroshima sidestreet marks the hypocenter of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, with the detonation of 'Little Boy' taking place 600 ft above this spot. Expect to see flowers or paper cranes left in memory at various times of the year.
The Atomic Bomb Dome, or Gembaku Dome, was once the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. On August 6th, 1945, the world’s first atomic bomb exploded in the air directly over the building. The Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall was initially built in 1915. Designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel, the building featured European construction styles and was considered both a picturesque and important site in Hiroshima city. When the atomic bomb exploded directly overhead at 8:15am on August 6th, the resulting nuclear blast killed everyone within the building itself and in the immediate vicinity. The roof was set ablaze and the walls were destroyed but the metal frame of the building was mostly left intact. In the post-war years, the hall became known colloquially as the Atomic Dome. Several renovations have been carried out on the remains over the decades, mostly to counteract severe weathering. In 1996, the dome was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Today, the A-Bomb Dome sits at the northern end of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, a short walk from the Gembaku Dome tram stop (Gembaku-mae) and the city’s central shopping arcades. In the evening, muted lighting illuminates the dome. It presents a striking scene of sadness and loss but also perseverance and hope.
With its beautiful skylines and active waterways, Oizuru Tower offers its visitors a way to see all of that activity—day or night—unobstructed by glass or rails. The wooden floors and ceilings give off a gentle warmth and the pillars that support the ceilings also provide beams of light. Instead of glass or railings, guests can feel the Hiroshima air wash over them thanks to the stainless-steel net fence. With unobstructed views of Hiroshima, including the Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome (and even Mount Misen of Miyajima on clear days), the tower offers viewers a way to feel at one with the city. Hiroshima Oizuru Tower is also home to an assortment of shops and cafés. Visit the first floor to find that special souvenir of one of Hiroshima’s local products at Hito to Ki. You’ll also find Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki in Akushu Café—including unique wrap-style okonomiyaki. On the 12th floor, you can also fold your own origami crane and leave it on the Oizuru Wall with your well wishes for the future. From the 12th floor to the 1st floor, there is a slide “cool-cool-cool” that runs alongside the spiral staircase. Why not try sliding your way down twelve floors—or just a couple, as you can exit in between floors. While you take a walk inside, browse the original comic created by Shuho Sato—manga artist of “Umizaru” and “Say Hello to Black Jack”—the works inside Oizuru Tower reflect on the theme of peace. No matter what you decide to do, you’ll be delighted by the spaces and experiences that you can create. Discover the past, present, and future of Hiroshima while you gaze out at this bustling city.