Pinned on Places

After the hustle and bustle of Hanoi, Vietnam, we had a bucket list country to explore that has been our radar for many years, Japan. Our first port of call was Hiroshima.

We decided instead of flying to Tokyo or Osaka, two of the biggest airports in the country, to fly to Fukuoka and travel via train up to Hiroshima, and done exactly that. A smooth landing into Fukuoka and a short and impressive Shinkansen ride from Station to Station, and within 1 hour 30 minutes we made it to our B&B inside the central city and located conveniently next to the Peace Memorial Park, a place we had heard of, and subsequently begun to explore.

It’s for sure a primary reason why most travelers visit Hiroshima, as it serves as a powerful, sobering reminder of the city’s past and its dedication to a nuclear-free future. Its identity is forever linked to August 6th, 1945, when it became the first city in history to be targeted by an atomic bomb.

The Peace Park is filled to the brim with points of interest. Our wander took us first to the victims’ memorial Cenotaph, officially known as the Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace. The monument is a large, saddle-shaped concrete arch that frames a stone chest containing the names of those who perished in the tragedy. The peace axis is perfectly aligned so that when you look through the arch, you can see the Flame of Peace burning and the skeletal ruins of the Atomic Bomb Dome in the distance.

On its opposite side, you might catch the Flame of Peace itself, which is one of the more quietly powerful elements within the memorial park. Unlike the more visually imposing monuments nearby, the flame draws you in through its simplicity and symbolism. Set above a serene reflecting pool and again aligned directly on the axis, it forms part of the deliberate architectural path that guides us from tragedy towards hope.

Onto the most sobering part of your Hiroshima trip: a visit to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. It was incredibly fascinating, but in the most heartbreaking way possible. The museum itself is so well thought out, and honestly, it was mind-blowing that entry costs £1. You start by seeing the city thriving and living. Then, in seconds, when the bomb hits, you see the heartbreak of the city. The museum doesn’t hide its sadness, and so it shouldn’t, but be aware there are extremely graphic images throughout which can be quite a shock—though it is also super important that we do not forget.

Throughout the exhibits, there are so many individual testimonies, artifacts, stories of the struggle of coping with illness and judgment, the political landscape, and the devastating effects the bomb would have on everyday people.

Then, the highlight and must-visit location of the park, of course, is the iconic A-Bomb Dome. We sat on the opposite side first of all and took the sight of it all in, just reflecting on some of the stories we had read about. But walking around its perimeter and seeing the Atomic Bomb Dome in person was a surreal and sobering experience. Once the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, it now stands as a preserved ruin—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the few buildings that survived near the bomb’s hypocenter.

If you are ever in Hiroshima, this is definitely one not to miss and should be on everyone’s list to visit.

If you know us, you’ll know that we just had to visit Hiroshima Castle. It is a must-visit for anyone interested in Japanese history and architecture. Although the castle was rebuilt after the war, it still offers meaningful history. On our visit, the castle sadly was undergoing renovation, so we didn’t manage to head inside, but the walk and visit to the castle itself was an amazing experience and we still managed to take in some of its history from the outer walls.

We managed to walk around the perimeter of the huge castle grounds and saw some Japanese koi in the moat, which was pretty epic to see. Although we didn’t venture inside, walking up to its entrance and seeing the incredibly beautiful, layered castle was a true pinch-me moment.

We done alot more to mention and list but this would go on forever on our thoughts on the city, the people and the food. Be sure to check out the video listed at the bottom of the blog to fully appreciate the city. We had a fantastic time in Hiroshima and there is plenty more to do in the area, including Miyajima Island, which will be featured in our next blog.

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Till Next Time!