Interesting Attractions in Hiroshima Japan

An Overview of Hiroshima

Hiroshima is known internationally as the first city in human history to be devastated by an Atomic Bomb on August 6th, 1945. The resulting explosion wiped out large portions of the city, eventually killing hundreds of thousands people. Despite its legacy, Hiroshima has rebuilt and now contains many monuments, ruins and icons dedicated to peace on Earth and the avoidance of nuclear armed conflict. Much of the city has grown and developed into a bustling urban center, with major industries, entertainment districts and modern buildings now dominating the skyline. With its duel legacy of tragedy and restoration, there are many interesting attractions in Hiroshima.

Interesting Attractions in Hiroshima Japan

Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome 

Peace Park is a memorial site dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima and it’s harrowing nuclear past. The park is also home to a building once called the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building was directly below the nuclear weapon’s outward blast, and was largely spared the concussive shockwave. The Hall was renamed the Genbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome, and serves as a grim, stark monument to the event. It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

Children’s Peace Monument

This monument is dedicated to Sadako Sasaki and the thousands of children who lost their lives during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Sadako Sasaki was a young girl who succumbed to radiation poisoning following the explosion.

Hiroshima Park

Located on the banks of a river, this park contains several quaint attractions, including the Hiroshima Museum of Art, the 5-Days Children’s Musuem, the small Hannover Garden and several walking paths. The park is located between Hiroshima Castle and Peace Memorial Park.

Hiroshima Castle

This large castle site was originally built in the 1590s, serving as the seat of power for the daimyō of the Hiroshima Domain. However, the original castle was destroyed when the United States dropped the nuclear bomb in 1945. The castle was eventually rebuilt and now exists as an elegant structure surrounded by low trees and a geometric moat. The castle grounds are free to walk around, but there’s a fee to enter the enter the castle’s interior.

Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum

This building is named for its distinct structure, which has a rounded wooden top roughly in the shape of an egg. The museum inside offers information for Okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake dish. The museum is connected to the Otafuku Sauce factory nearby, which produces one of the essential ingredients to making okonomiyaki.

Itsukushima Floating Torii Gate

This is one of the most revered Shinto sites in Japan, known for a gorgeous torii gate built within the tides of Itsukushima Island. During high tide, the water submerges the bottom portion of the Torii gate, making it appear to be floating on water.

Itsukushima Island

This island contains many of Hiroshima’s most interesting attractions, including the Itsukushima Jinja Shinto Shine. Other attractions include herds of tame deer which walk close to tourists, the tranquil Momijidani Park filled with maple trees, the extended Tsutsumigaura Nature Trail, the Mount Misen Observation Deck, the secluded Miyama Shrine, the popular and beautiful Daishoin Shrine Grounds, Machiya Shopping Street and Omoto Park. The entire island is notoriously peaceful and serene.

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