Let’s be honest, there are more than 5 reasons to visit Peace Park in Hiroshima but today we will focus on 5.
1: Atomic Bomb Dome
The Atomic Bomb DomeGenbaku Dome, Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima, Japan and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
Being close to the hypocenter, the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall was heavily damaged and completely burned by the atomic bomb. Everyone in the building died instantly. However, because the blast struck from nearly directly above, the building did not collapse, leaving the dome’s iron frame and thus its symbolic appearance.
You can see the ruins here in Peace Park where it serves as a memorial to the over 140,000 people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945.
Reason 2 – The story of Sadako Sasaki
“This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace in the world.” This is what is written on the plaque on the memorial statue to Sadako Sasaki which you can find here in Peace Park.
Sadako Sasaki was two years old on August 6th, 1945 when she survived the atomic bomb. Unfortunately, she eventually died from leukemia from the effects of the bombing and her story is a powerful one. While terminally ill, but still inspired, Sadako then had a purpose and passion to fold her own 1000 paper cranes to fill her hospital room.
Her positive attitude and spirit encouraged her classmates and friends to raise money for a monument for her as well as other children who died due to atomic bombings and it went up in 1958. Millions have visited this statue and been inspired by her story since.
Reason 3: The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The museum had a huge renovation and was completed on April 25, 2019, following around 12 years of formal planning. The Main Building first opened in 1955 but had been closed since 2017 for renovation, including reinforcement work to protect against earthquakes.
The peace memorial museum is a must-see when visiting Hiroshima and is an emotional experience.
The museum explains and is not limited to the history of the city before the bomb, the lives of the citizens during the war and after as well as info about the nuclear age, efforts of international peace, the damage of the bomb, its victims and their belongings and even projection mapping that can demonstrate the effects of the bomb’s blast.
Reason number 4: The many other monuments in the Park
The countless monuments are scattered throughout the peace park. It makes taking a stroll through the historic park a thought-provoking experience.
A recently offered 80-minute tour is here at the Rest House in Peace Park given by English and Japanese bilingual staff of the Peace Culture Village.
Reason number 5: Peace Park Tour
The tour focuses on Hiroshima’s history and the experiences of local people. Participants walk through the park, formerly the bustling hub of Nakajima, learning about the atomic bombing, connecting with the lost culture and community of Nakajima, and reflect on the meaning of peace in our own lives with a chance for output.
For those interested in a virtual tour of the park, please feel free to check out our Peace Park video for a more in-depth look.