Hiroshima(広島) — 6 August 1945, 8:15 a.m. — the first atomic bomb in history ("Little Boy", uranium-235) exploded 600 m above the city center. 140,000 victims (two thirds of the same day, the rest of the radiation disease). Today: 1.2 million inhabitants, symbol of peace. Visiting is a duty — emotionally heavy but important.
Peace Memorial Park (平和記念公園)
Built at the site of the blast center. Key elements:
Genbaku Dome (原爆ドーム)
Former Exhibition Hall of Prefecture Industry (arch. Jan Letzel, Czech, 1915). It was 100 feet from the hypocenter. The dome did not collapse (resistance to explosion straight up). UNESCO 1996. Symbolic, untouched since 1945.
Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims
The stone ark according to the pattern of the Chinese roof of shame. Writing: "Relax in peace, the mistake will not happen again." In the middle of the census, 340,000 victims' names.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
Open 1955, renovated 2019.MUST-SEE. Prepare mentally — personal exhibits of the victims (stopped 8:15, children's tricycle, torn uniforms). Introduction200 JPY(symbolic price). 8:30-18:00 (August to 19:00). You can audioguide English (400 JPY).
Sadako and the Bell of Peace
Sadako Sasaki— a girl who was 2 in 1945. At the age of 12, she had leukemia (leukemia from radiation poisoning). She believed in Japanese legend: who will make 1,000 paper cranes (senbazur) will get one wish from the gods. She made 644 before she died. Class finished. Today:Children's Peace Monument(1958) — cranes from all countries of the world.
Flame of Peace
It's been burning since 1964, and it's going to extinguish when the last nuclear weapon disappears from Earth.
Outside Peace Park
Hiroshima Castle
The original from 1589 was destroyed by a bomb. Reconstruction 1958 from concrete. Sengoku Museum, viewpoints (370 JPY).
Shukkei-en Garden
"Condensed Garden View" of 1620 — miniature representation of the landscape of West Lake in Hangzhou. 260 JPY.
Okonomiyaki — Hiroshima-style
Osaka vs Hiroshima is a great rivalry.Hiroshima-style— INGREDIENTS NOT MEAT, BUT WARTS: cake → cabbage → soba/udon (extra!) → meat → egg → sauce. Thicker, more situational. Legendary:Nagata-ya(near Peace Park),Okonomi-mura(story building with 25 stands).
Miyajima Island (Itsukushima)
"Holy Island" — 30 minutes from Hiroshima (JR Sanyo Line + ferry 10 min). Inscribed UNESCO 1996.
Itsukushima Shrine — Flying Toria
Sinto-temple with16-foot Toria gate standing in water— Japan’s most famous photo. Built 1168 by Taira no Kiyomori. Special construction: temple and toria above the water, at the tide “flow” (flow approx. 4 m). Admission of 300 JPY to the temple.
NOTE: the torii was renovated 2019-2022, now in full swing. After sunset, illuminated.
Daishō-in
Buddhist temple at the foot of Mount Misen.500 cancers(stone statues of Buddha's disciples, each with a different face). 1200 years.
Mt. Misen (535 m)
Holy mountain of the island.Line(2 sections, 2000 JPY tam-z-return) to approx. 430 m, last 100 m walk. Panorama of the Inland Sea.Kiezu-no-Reikado— The “Floam Forever”, burning from Kūkai (founder of Shingon Buddhism, 9th century). The flame from Miyajima lit the Flame of Peace in Hiroshima.
Holy deer
500 wild deer walking on the island (similar to Nara). The deer on Miyajim are considered messengers of the gods — do not feed with your hands (they forbid, for they eat paper, plastic).
Momiji manju
Speciality of the island: maple leaf cakes (momji), stuffed with bean paste, cream, chocolate, match. Fresh from a furnace in many manufacturers.
Practical information
- Directions: Shinkansen Tokyo-Hiroshima 4h (19 440 JPY). Osaka-Hiroshima 1h 20min (10,400 JPY). JR Pass fully covers.
- 2 days is enough: Day 1 — Peace Park + Museum + Castle. Day 2 — Miyajima
- Accommodation in Miyajima: 3 traditional ryokans, from 25,000 JPY. Worth — In the evening all tourists sail away, a magical island
- Season: Sakura (April), Koyō (November — Red clones on Miyajima)
- Label at the MuseumSilence, no laughter. Do not photograph personal exhibits