Hiroshima was founded in 1589 and is situated on the Ōta River delta, on Hiroshima Bay, facing the Seto Inland Sea. It will be forever known as the site of the first atomic bomb in the history of humankind.
Hiroshima is a must-do when travelling to Japan.
Shinkansen Bullet Train
I took the bullet train to Hiroshima from Tokyo (from Tokyo Station to Hiroshima Station). Japan’s high speed trains (bullet trains) are called Shinkansen and are operated by Japan Railways (JR). I booked my tickets online a few months out and installed the app on my phone. Tickets arrived about a month prior to and were saved in my wallet. I used this website: Book Bullet Train Tickets
The Atomic Bomb
During World War II, the Enola Gay dropped the “Little Boy” atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. The Bockscar dropped a “Fat Man” atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.
From Wikipedia:
An estimated 90,000 to 140,000 people in Hiroshima (up to 39 percent of the population) and 60,000 to 80,000 people in Nagasaki (up to 32 percent of the population) died in 1945, though the number which died immediately as a result of exposure to the blast, heat, or due to radiation, is unknown.
These atomic bombs ended the war, but in my opinion the world didn’t learn a thing. We never do.
Today, Hiroshima is a beautiful city with a population of 2 million people.
Hiroshima Castle
Hiroshima Castle was built in the 1590’s, destroyed in 1945 and rebuilt in 1958,
Peace Memorial Park
Hiroshima Peace Memorial park is in the center of Hiroshima and is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack and to the memories of the bomb’s victims.
Highlights are the Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome) and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
The Genbaku Dome was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. It is also called the “Atomic Bomb Dome” and was included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List in December 1996 as a symbol of the devastation caused by the first atomic bomb in the history of humankind. It has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing.
The Peace Memorial Museum is dedicated to educating visitors about the bomb and has exhibits and information covering the buildup to war, the role of Hiroshima in the war up to the bombing and extensive information on the bombing and its effects.
The first sight of the dome is emotional.
Out & About
Happy Travels!
Jackie is “Mom” to one amazing son, an IT professional and an obsessed traveller. She spends her time reading, golfing at Ladies League and implementing software projects. Jackie has travelled to 7 continents, 5 oceans and 103 countries and she is always planning the next destination and adventure!