A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park
About the A-Bomb Dome - One of the Most Important Places I've Ever Visited
The Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park are the two main attractions in Hiroshima and are the two most visited places in the city. The park and the dome were both accessible by walking from my hotel. For visitors that are further away, they can also access it via the streetcar. The Peace Park has its own stop, and the A-Bomb Dome is visible from the streetcar station.
The Atomic Bomb Dome is one of the most somber places in the entire country of Japan. On December 7th, 1941 the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii bringing the United States into World War II. On August 6th, 1945 the United States dropped the first of two atomic bombs on Hiroshima. Three days later they would drop a second of Nagasaki.
The original target of the bomb was the Aioi Bridge. The bomb missed the target due to crosswinds and hit the nearby Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. It exploded about 600 meters above the ground and the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall was damaged but not destroyed. Everything else around the impact zone was utterly obliterated.
Today, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall is known as the Atomic Dome Dome or the Genbaku Dome. The building still stands today as a memorial to those who died. Visitors can view the structure for free and can get pretty close to the dome. The actual dome itself is only separated from the viewers by a security fence.
A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park - Table of Contents
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My Experience Visiting Hiroshima and the Atomic Bomb Dome
It was a somber and surreal experience standing here and photographing the A-Bomb Dome and knowing that my country was responsible for this type of destruction directly added to the somberness of this experience. It was almost unbelievable that somehow this building was able to withstand a blast that destroyed everything else within a radius of many miles. There were many signs offering readings in both Japanese and English. One of the signs told the story of how the A-Bomb Dome became a monument to peace. The people of Hiroshima almost tore it down as they wanted to forget the carnage caused by the atomic bomb. Instead, they decided to keep it up as a reminder that this type of attack could never happen again.
When walking around the A-Bomb Dome, you see the fallen bricks and bent wires that look almost exactly like they did in 1945.
Peace Memorial Park - Hiroshima, Japan
Across the Motoyasu River from the A-Bomb Dome is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. For visitors interested in getting additional pictures of the A-Bomb Dome, the Peace Park offers excellent photographs at a further distance.
The Peace Park has additional attractions as well including the Peace Bell. The Peace Bell is a giant bell that can be rung using a giant wooden log. Anyone is welcome to ring the Peace Bell. Those who ring the bell are pledging to help create an environment of everlasting world peace.
The Peace Park has many other monuments similar to the Peace Bell. Many of the monuments are dedicated to specific groups of people such as students who lost their lives during the Pacific Front of World War II.
Visitors should take their time walking around and looking at the various monuments and memorials.
One other big part of the Peace Park is the Hiroshima Memorial Monument. This monument features a cenotaph which zooms in on the A-Bomb Dome. There is also a reflecting lake known as the Hiroshima Pond of Peace and an eternal flame. The Memorial Monument is stunning, and the pictures and descriptions do not do it justice. If visiting Hiroshima, you must visit these monuments in person.
Peace Memorial Museum - Hiroshima, Japan
The museum was under renovations at the time, so I chose to not walk through it. Most of the exhibits were closed, and I preferred to explore the Peace Park instead. I have linked a post from the bloggers “Travel Through Life” which highlights what can be seen inside the museum. I reviewed many blogs and this was my favorite. You can view their article by clicking, HERE.
Hiroshima Tours
It is completely possible to tour the A-Bomb Dome, Peace Memorial Park, and Peace Memorial Museum without a guide. For those that prefer to be led around by a local expert I have linked a few tours in the section below.I am an affiliate partner of Viator. If you book a tour using one of the links below I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider booking using one of my links.
Prices are accurate as of June 2023.
 Custom-Made Cycling Tour of Hiroshima with a Local Guide - $124.25 ?OUTLINE? |
 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island Tour from Hiroshima - $123.80 Explore World Heritage sites in Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day! Miyajima is famous for its Itsukushima Jinja Shrine. Its red torii gate appears to be standing in the sea during high tide. Walk through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, dedicated to promoting peace around the world. |
 Private Full Day Hiroshima Tour - $449.09 Visit the best parts of Hiroshima with a private car. You will be taken to the Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima, where you'll see the vermilion torii gate floating on the sea water. Walk along the traditional local food street where Okonomiyaki (fried pancake) is the local specialty. The tour will also go back to Hiroshima to visit the Peace Memorial Park. You will learn the history of Hiroshima, which survived the atomic bombing at the end of the World War II. Take a photos of the well-preserved Hiroshima Castle, then your tour will end at your hotel. |
 Private Hiroshima Custom Full-Day Tour by Chartered Vehicle - $1053.54 Experience and learn about the culture of Hiroshima on this private day tour with a driver. Enjoy the comfort of traveling by private vehicle as you take in the view of Miyajima and see sights like large torii gate on Miyajima Island, which guards the Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Choose from either an option with or without a guide. |
 Hiroshima and Miyajima One Day Self-Guided Tour - $80.00 Enjoy the opportunity to visit two world heritage sites at your own pace. You will receive a custom itinerary complete with maps, route guidance, and photos. Receive support and guidance while maintaining flexibility. Explore sites such as Peace Park, Atomic Bomb Dome, Itsukushima Shrine, and Daisho-in Temple. Transportation within Hiroshima and to Miyajima included. |
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