Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, a sprawling park of over 120,000 sq metres is one of the most prominent attractions of the city. Known for its prominence during the bomb attack on Hiroshima in August 1945, the park houses a number of monuments and notable landmarks. Before the atomic bomb incident, the ground was the commercial and political hub of the city. Later it was decided to devote the area to peace memorial facilities.
While exploring the park during your Japan tour, you will come across the park’s main facility, the Peace Memorial Museum, showcasing the events of the attack. Another prominent landmark is the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the A-Bomb Dome, one of the two buildings that partially withstood the attack. Apart from these two, there are other landmarks such as the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, Children’s Peace Memorial and others.
Highlights
• Visit Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, known for being the chosen spot for the bomb attack.
• Explore the park and take a look at its notable landmarks and monuments such as Peace Memorial Museum, A-Bomb Dome, and Cenotaph.
• Visit the Peace Memorial Museum to take a look at artefacts and personal and know more about the attack.
• Take a look at the A-Bomb Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the two buildings which partially survived the attack.
• Pay respect to the deceased at the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, below which lies the registries of the names of bomb victims.
How To Reach
- By Car: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is located 1.1 km from the city centre, it will take 3 min via Koijo Street/National Route 183/National Route 191/National Route 261/National Route 54 route by car.
- By Foot: If you are coming from the city centre on foot, you can walk for 850 m via Koijo Street/National Route 183/National Route 191/National Route 261/National Route 54 and reach in 12 minutes.
- By Train: Take a train to Hiroshima station which is 2.8 km away from the museum. You can reach the location from the train station with a 8-minute car ride.
- By Tram: Take a tram to Genbaku-Domu Mae which is 260 m away from the museum. You can reach the location within a 4-minute walk.
Best Time To Visit
The Peace Memorial Park is open year-round for the public and does not have specific opening or closing hours. The park can be visited at any time of the year.
- Best Season: The best season to visit the Peace Memorial Park is during Spring from March to May due to pleasant weather.
- Best Day of the Week: The best day of the week to visit the park is during the weekdays from Mondays through Thursdays to avoid crowds.
- Best Time of the Day: The best time of the day to visit the park is early in the morning when the park is less crowded and has a peaceful ambience.
Other Essential Information
- The Peace Memorial Park is full of memorials and monuments so you must spend at least a couple of hours exploring the park completely.
- You may consider joining a guided tour which will give you a deeper insight into the significance of the park’s monuments and its history.
- Refrain from climbing on any statues and treat all monuments and memorials with respect.
- If you are visiting on hot and sunny days, cover your head, wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and keep yourself hydrated.
- Don't trample on glass and stay on designated paths and walkways.
Visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Walk into the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum which serves as a poignant testament to the tragic events of August 6, 1945. Visit the East Wing and the Main Building of the museum to take a look at the original photography, artist’s impression, and recovered items from the explosion. Observe various documents left behind by the bomb victims, along with testimonies from survivors.
Watch the Atomic Bomb Dome
Head towards the Atomic Bomb Dome, also known as Genbaku Dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is the most famous landmark of the Peace Park and is a visual reminder of the destruction that has befallen in the city during the bomb attack. The building has been left in its exact condition till date, serving as a tangible link to the city’s unique past.
Go to the Children’s Peace Memorial
This monument located inside the Peace Memorial Park is dedicated to the memory of the children who died due to exposure to radiation during the atomic bombing. Go to the Children’s Peace Memorial and take a look at the monument that features a statue of a young girl, Sadako Sasaki who died due to leukaemia which was caused by radiation.
Pay your respect at Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims
Pay your respect at this monument which serves as a memorial for all the people of Hiroshima who lost their lives due to atomic bombing. The memorial is shaped like a roof which depicts a shelter for all the souls who lost their lives to the bombing. Watch the words ``Let all the souls here rest in peace, for we shall not repeat the evil." engraved on it.
Explore other prominent landmarks
Explore the park to take a look at other notable landmarks situated inside the park. Take a look at the Rest House which is the only other building which still stood partially after the bomb attack. Visit other important attractions such as the Peace Bell, The Flame of Peace and others. Go to the Aioi Bridge which stands on the confluence of the Ōta and Motoyasu Rivers to take a look at the A-Bomb Dome by the river’s edge.
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