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A tranquil spot to contemplate the preciousness of all life
Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Extending southwards from the Atomic Bomb Dome and located mostly on a narrow stretch of land between two rivers, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is like a green island in the middle of the city. A serene space covering over 120,000 square meters, it serves to memorialize the great many lives lost in the world’s first nuclear attack, while making use of nature to reaffirm the preciousness of all life.
Prior to the 1945 bombing, this district was the administrative and commercial heart of Hiroshima. In 1949, the recovering city decided the area should become a place of remembrance and contemplation, rather than simply being rebuilt.
Head to the Peace Memorial Museum, designed by renowned architect Tange Kenzo (1913–2005), to learn about the history of Hiroshima before and after the bombing through pictures, movies, and displays. The effects of the bomb are explored through original photography, lifelike models, artists’ impressions, recovered items, and descriptive explanations.
Take a moment to reflect on what you’ve seen at the striking Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, a memorial also designed by Tange. The concrete structure, built in 1952, was inspired by an ancient clay haniwa figurine and is intended to offer shelter for the souls of the deceased.
How to get there
Take the train from Kansai International Airport to JR Shin-Osaka Station (about 50 minutes). Next, take the Shinkansen bullet train to JR Hiroshima Station (about 1 hour 25 minutes). From JR Hiroshima Station, take a streetcar or a bus to the Genbaku-Dome-mae stop (about 20 minutes). The park is a 1-minute walk from the bus stop.
1 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima-shi, Hiroshima-ken
