Hiroshima

Overview

When the first atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima on 6 Aug 1945 the city became an immediate symbol for the horrors of war. Today Hiroshima (pop. 1 086 000) has several moving reminders of that day of utter devastation.

The centerpiece is called the A-Bomb Dome⿿it⿿s the skeleton of a domed building that survived the blast. Across the street is Peace Park where you'll find the Cenotaph for the Victims (it contains all of their names) and the Atomic Bomb Museum. The museum's photographs are the most compelling (and perhaps horrifying): They show the actual effects of radiation on human flesh.

The most moving monument is the Children⿿s Peace Memorial which celebrates the desire for long life and happiness traditionally expressed in the folding of paper cranes. You may see groups of schoolchildren adding more paper cranes strung together in rainbow garlands to the millions that already surround the base of the memorial.

In the years since the war Hiroshima has been rebuilt into a fairly typical industrial city (Mazda has a huge factory there). It has covered shopping arcades lively department stores (with ardent consumers) and a helpful information office. The city⿿s streetcar system is not extensive but it is efficient and provides announcements of stops in both Japanese and English.

Miyajima island lies just off the coast from Hiroshima⿿a short ferry ride from the end of the streetcar line. The main reasons to go there are solitude the view and the Shrine of Itsukushima which is built on wooden piers over the...more

History