広島平和記念公園- Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen Kōen 🕊️
Hiroshima isn’t always an easy addition to a Japan itinerary. It’s a long journey from Tokyo or Kyoto, and travellers with limited time often choose Miyajima instead. Others avoid Hiroshima because they expect a sombre and uncomfortable experience.
And, honestly, it can be.
The history of the atomic bombing is deeply confronting, but that’s exactly why we believe Hiroshima is worth visiting. The main sites of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park can be explored in around two hours, giving you time to see the Atomic Bomb Dome, memorials, monuments and the museum while reflecting on what happened here.
With death, war and conflict still affecting people around the world—from Ukraine and Iran to growing concerns over Taiwan—Hiroshima’s message remains as relevant as ever. The weapons of today are vastly more powerful than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, making the consequences of war more terrifying than ever. Hiroshima reminds us that behind every statistic, every headline and every weapon are ordinary people whose lives can be changed forever. War is never the answer, and Hiroshima does a particularly powerful job of showing us why.
Getting to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
We arrived at Hiroshima Station on the Shinkansen before making our way to the Hiroden (Hiroshima Electric Railway) platform. We boarded the Hiroden Line 1 tram towards Hiroshima Port and got off at Chūden-mae, just a short walk from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.
From the station, we walked through the streets of modern Hiroshima, passing shops, restaurants, and busy roads as people went about their daily lives. As we continued towards the park, the city gradually opened up, and we soon found ourselves standing in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Seeing its preserved ruins surrounded by the modern city was a strange and powerful experience. From there, we entered Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, where we began exploring the memorials, monuments, and sites that tell the story of what happened here on August 6th, 1945.
The Atomic Bomb Dome
We found ourselves standing in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome, one of Hiroshima’s most recognisable landmarks and one of the few structures near the bomb’s hypocentre to remain partially standing after August 6, 1945.
Originally built as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the building’s exposed brick walls, twisted iron framework, and skeletal dome have been preserved much as they were after the explosion. Today, the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and perhaps the most powerful symbol of Hiroshima.
Standing beside the Motoyasu River, it was difficult to know what to say. The modern rebuilt city continued around us, yet the ruined building in front of us made the events of 1945 suddenly feel much more real. We found ourselves stopping and simply taking it in, struck by the contrast between the peaceful surroundings and the destruction this building had clearly witnessed.
There was something strangely quiet about standing there. The Dome isn’t simply a reminder of what was destroyed; its survival also feels like a reminder of what came afterwards—the rebuilding of Hiroshima and the city’s enduring message of peace.
The Children’s Peace Monument, Cenotaph & Flame of Peace
We next headed deeper into the park towards the Children’s Peace Monument, the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, and the Flame of Peace. The atmosphere felt noticeably different from the excitement and energy of places like Tokyo and Osaka. This wasn’t about sightseeing in the usual sense; it was a much more solemn experience.
At the Children’s Peace Monument, we learned about Sadako Sasaki, who survived the initial bombing but later developed leukemia as a result of radiation exposure. Inspired by the Japanese tradition of folding 1,000 paper cranes, Sadako continued making cranes during her illness, and the story has since become a powerful symbol of hope and peace. Thousands of colourful cranes are now left at the monument by visitors from around the world.
We then made our way to the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims, where the stone chest at its centre holds a registry containing the names of those who died as a result of the bombing, regardless of nationality. Standing there and thinking about the sheer number of lives represented by those names was difficult to put into words.
Nearby, we witnessed the Flame of Peace, which has burned since 1964 and is intended to remain lit until the world’s last nuclear weapon has been abolished. It was a powerful moment, and one that stayed with us as we continued through the park.
Exploring the Memorial Hall & Museum
We next made our way to the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. Everything felt almost completely silent as we entered, and the atmosphere was unlike anywhere else we had visited in Japan.
Inside, we stood beneath the Hall’s striking clock design, its hands permanently stopped at 8:15 AM, the moment the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima. The Hall also features a 360-degree depiction of the city after the bombing, surrounded by the names and memories of those who lost their lives. Standing there, taking it all in, was a genuinely harrowing experience.
From the Memorial Hall, we continued into the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. We won’t go into too much detail here, because this is something we believe you should experience for yourself. The stories, photographs, personal belongings and accounts of survivors bring the reality of the bombing painfully close.
It is difficult to walk through the museum without thinking about the innocent people caught up in war, particularly the children and families who had no part in the decisions that led to their suffering. Yet alongside the horror is a message of hope—a desire for a better world and lasting peace.
It was an incredibly difficult experience, but also an important one. Some places you visit in Japan are exciting, beautiful or fun. Hiroshima is different. It is an experience that stays with you.
Leaving Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
When we finally exited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, we were left with a lot to think about. It was a solemn experience—at times almost depressing—but we also felt that it was an incredibly important one. The stories, the suffering, and the sheer scale of what happened are difficult to process, but completely worth experiencing for yourself.
From the park, we walked towards Hondori Shopping Street, and the atmosphere gradually began to change. The quietness of the memorials gave way to the sounds of shops, restaurants and everyday life. We stopped for some Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, which was, unsurprisingly, delicious.
It was a strange but meaningful transition. After spending hours confronting one of the darkest moments in Hiroshima’s history, we were suddenly reminded that the atomic bombing is not the only thing that defines this city. Hiroshima rebuilt itself, developed a vibrant modern culture, and continues to be a place where people live, work, eat, laugh and enjoy themselves.
We couldn’t help but appreciate that contrast. The people who died in 1945 never had the chance to experience the Hiroshima that exists today, but the city they once called home lives on.
After exploring Hondori and grabbing some food, we eventually made our way back towards Hiroshima Station, reflecting on everything we’d seen. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park isn’t necessarily an easy place to visit, but it is an important one—and for us, it was an experience we were incredibly glad we had made time for.