When people think of Hiroshima, they automatically think of an atomic bomb. On August 6, 1945, the USA dropped a nuclear weapon on the humans living in Hiroshima, killing between 70,000 to 166,000. Over 70 years later, many still ask, “Can you visit Hiroshima,” and is it safe to do so?
Hiroshima is open to the public, safe to visit, and a fully functioning modern city. Memorials that are popular tourist stops include Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle, Children’s Peace Monument, and Ground Zero. Miyajima Island is a popular tourist attraction and holy site.
Is Hiroshima Safe To Visit?
There’s zero radiation risk to Hiroshima’s citizens or the tourists that visit the Japanese city today. In fact, within a couple of months after the bomb detonated, background radiation levels returned to normal, whereby the scattered communities could move safely within the city.
What Does Hiroshima Look Like Today?
The scars of the past remain; however, the city of Hiroshima has developed into a fully functioning modern city. Before and after pictures show how the city has rebuilt itself from the devastation. Bridges, churches, and roads have been reconstructed, with various memorials added to remind people of peace.
Is Hiroshima Worth A Visit?
Hiroshima, the first city to be attacked via nuclear warfare, is one of Japan’s most popular tourist destinations. People flock to the city where the “unimaginable” happened. To move through an area previously devastated by an atomic bomb is a huge draw card.
How Many People Live In Hiroshima?
The total population of Hiroshima, according to worldpopulationreview.com, is an estimated 2,072,344 in 2022. That’s a massive increase from 1945, when the estimated population before the atomic bomb attack was 400,000+ people.
How Do You Get To Hiroshima?
Hiroshima can be reached via an international flight to Hiroshima Airport. Visitors who make Tokyo their base of travel operations can purchase a Japan Rail Pass (JR Pass), which allows holders to travel per train across Japan. The Shinkansen bullet trains are an awesome experience, and buses are also an option.
What Memorials Should You See When Visiting Hiroshima?
Many of Hiroshima’s buildings were completely destroyed when the atomic bomb exploded, and those that survived required serious renovations. Peace Memorial Park is where most of Hiroshima’s atomic bomb memorials are located, which include:
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
- Children Peace Monument
- Ground Zero
- Cenotaph
Is The Atomic Bomb Dome Still Standing?
This iconic structure was called the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall before the bomb dropped, and today simply called the Atomic Bomb Dome. The building was never renovated or demolished, and visitors see today what was left after “Little Boy” did its damage.
Is The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Popular?
A visit to the Peace Memorial Museum will take the visitor on a heart-wrenching tour of how the “saddest day in human history” unfolded, with exhibition displays that capture the horror of that day and the aftermath of destruction. It’s a very popular tourist stop.
What Does The Children’s Peace Monument Symbolize?
Visitors here are introduced to a statue of eleven-year-old Sadako Sasaki, who died after developing leukemia due to the bomb’s side effects. The wire crane she holds up to the sky symbolizes her wish to end nuclear weapons and pray for world peace.
When grown men play war, it’s often children in the firing line. The Children’s Peace Monument is dedicated to the thousands of little ones who last their lives on that fateful day in 1945.
What Makes Hiroshima Castle So Special?
The original Hiroshima Castle was built in 1589 and destroyed in 1945. Through a conscious effort to restore it to its former glory by faithfully mimicking the construction process, the Japanese finished the historical site in 1958.
Hiroshima Castle features many exhibits, artifacts, and an informative museum. Some of the best views of Hiroshima can be observed here, and the surrounding moat and beautiful grounds are a joy to explore. Spring, when the cherry blossom trees bloom, is when the castle is at its aesthetic best.
What Is The Hiroshima Ground Zero Monument?
Ground Zero is a small marble monument representing the area of the explosion (hypocenter) of the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, located close to the hospital. To stand on the spot where the bomb exploded in the airspace above gives the visitor a glimpse into a dark part of our collective history.
What Are Hiroshima’s Popular Tourist Attractions?
Hiroshima is much more than its atomic bomb memorials and monuments. Tourists are pleasantly surprised by the delicious cuisine, neon-lit busy nightlife, art museums, and lovely outdoor spaces that the city offers, like the following:
- Itsukushima Island
- Okonomimura Village
- Shukkeien Garden
- Orizuru Tower
Why Is Itsukushima Island (Miyajima) Called “Shrine Island”?
The small island, which can be reached via a short ferry ride, features many Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines and is considered a holy place. Officially named Itsukushima, referred to as Miyajima (Shrine Island), it’s known for its iconic red torii gate called Itsukushima Shrine.
What Is Okonomimura Village Famous For?
Visitors to Hiroshima should try the city’s most famous dish: okonomiyaki (savory pancake served with various toppings.) With three floors and more than 25 different shops selling the same delicious pancake with varied ingredients, a visit to the popular Okonomimura Village is highly recommended.
What Is Shukkeien Garden?
Shukkeien Garden is a “miniature,” well-laid, landscaped garden that features forests, mountain vistas, and scenic valleys. Spending time in the “shrunken scenery garden” is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of nature.
Why Do People Visit The Orizuru Tower In Hiroshima?
For the most scenic view of Hiroshima, tourists and residents make their way to the observation deck of Orizuru Tower, especially when the sun is setting. From here, you get to see a city that raised itself from the ashes of despair, transforming itself into a city that lives.
Where Is The Hiroshima Peace Pagoda Located?
The Hiroshima Peace Pagoda is located on a mountaintop next to the Hiroshima train station. The Pagoda is a dome-like structure that contains ashes from the historical Buddha and thousands of prayer stones from Hiroshima residents, and was constructed in 1966 by Buddhist monks.
How Do You Reach The Hiroshima Peace Pagoda?
The Hiroshima Peace Pagoda can be reached by taxi from Hiroshima station, but the best and most scenic way to access the Peace Pagoda is by walking up the mountain. The Futabanosato Historical Walking Trail will take you to the site in under an hour, covering 1.2 miles.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Hiroshima?
Tourists flock to Hiroshima any time of the year as the city has a temperate climate. Summer months (June to August) tend to be very humid and hot, while spring (March to May) has moderate temperatures, making it one of the best times to visit.
Where Is The Best Place To Stay In Hiroshima?
Hiroshima has many hotels to choose from, but two new ones stand out. The Kiro Hiroshima is a modern hotel (established in 2019) close to the popular downtown Hiroshima. The Knot Hiroshima (established in 2020) is next to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Museum.
