Hiroshima Peace Park

My family visited the Hiroshima Peace Park in Japan during the Summer of 2018. On August 6th, 1945, the atomic bomb (A-bomb) exploded in the air above Hiroshima. The park was created in memory of those who died during the bombing, and those who died as a result of it. The Hiroshima Peace Park is dedicated to the hope for world peace and the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. 

One of the most famous landmarks at the Peace Park is the A-bomb dome which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Unlike most buildings in Hiroshima during World War II, this one was constructed of steel reinforced concrete. Much of the structure still  remained after the blast.

There are many signs, maps and guides around the Peace Park.  

There are lots of transportation options to get to the Peace Park including water buses and electric trolleys.  The entire park is designed for walking. There are memorials and markers distributed over about a quarter-mile square area.

We stopped for a rest in a little shaded park next to the A-bomb Dome.  From here, it was a short walk across the Aioi Bridge to the rest of the Peace Park.

The Aioi Bridge was near the Atomic Bomb hypocenter (the point on the ground directly under the bomb blast). The bridge also survived the bombing.

Our next stop was the Peace Clock. This clock chimes for peace each morning at 8:15.

The tragedy of so many people being killed in one event led to a determination on the part of the survivors to seek a peaceful world.  The Bell of Peace symbolizes this desire for peace.  

The A-bomb Victim Monument is a memorial to those who died from the bombing.  About 80,000 people died during the explosion and about 110,000 people died over many months afterward as a result of injuries and radiation exposure.

The Children’s Peace Monument was constructed in 1958. It is dedicated to the memory of all the children who died from the bombing.

Another monument to children is the Memorial Tower to the Mobilized Students.  Specifically, this monument is to those students who were working at factories or around the city, creating fire breaks at the time of the bombing.

The banks of the Motoyasu river, bordering the Peace Park, are green and shady.  It’s a pleasant walk along the river with many beautiful trees.

In the middle of the Peace Park is the Cenotaph. The names of all those who lost their lives are inscribed inside the central stone vault. It is officially named the ‘Memorial Monument for Hiroshima, City of Peace’.

The Peace Memorial Museum main building was under renovation when we visited, but the museum was still open. Another museum well worth visiting is the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, which is located about 250 feet east of the Cenotaph.

Inside the Peace Memorial Museum, there are lots of exhibits. They display the history of Hiroshima, the effects of the A-bomb and efforts since the war to reduce the chance of another atomic weapon being used.

After the bomb explosion, radioactive dust and ash rose high into the air and was captured in the clouds over the Hiroshima area. This resulted in a phenomenon called black rain. In addition to the visual impact of black rain falling, the precipitation exposed many people to additional radiation from the radioactive particles.

Another building that partially survived the blast was the Fuel Hall, which was originally a kimono shop before the war.  Today it serves as a Rest House and Information Center.

Through the tragedy of Hiroshima, the world learned how destructive war and the use of atomic weapons are. It is important that everybody remembers the lessons of Hiroshima, and tries to make the world more peaceful. What can you do to make the world more peaceful?

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