6 Must-Visit Tourist Attractions in Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima—a city of rich history, an energetic present. A hopeful future is slowly coming out of the shadow of its World War II past without necessarily forgetting the painful lessons from the many tragedies that befell it.

There is so much to take in such a historical city, and we did our best to trim down its many attractions to what we deem are the most essential. Here are the six must-visit tourist attractions in Hiroshima that travelers should visit while in the city:

1. Atomic Bomb Dome

Without a doubt, the most emblematic reminder of Hiroshima’s harrowing World War II past is the Atomic Bomb Dome. First built in 1915, the Atomic Bomb Dome was once the Industrial Promotion Hall until the tragic morning of 6 August 1945 when the US dropped the first of two atomic bombs that would decimate Hiroshima and Nagasaki three days later. In 1996, the Atomic Bomb Dome was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

2. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a sprawling and tranquil space that houses several attractions and monuments related to the Second World War and the bombing of the city. These sights include the Pond of Peace, the Cenotaph with the Flame of Peace, the Children’s Peace Monument, and Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall.

All these sights and monuments are poignant reminders of the sad fact that nobody wins a war, and that peace, no matter how elusive, is something we should all aspire for.

3. Shukkeien Garden

After reliving WWII memories, there’s no better way to calm the mind and the heart than through a stroll inside the Shukkei-en garden. The garden is inspired by West Lake in Hangzhou, China and was built in 1620. The garden was leveled during the bombing, but the park and the structures within have long since been restored to their original grandeur.

4. Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum

Art aficionados have much to love about Hiroshima as the city has some world-class museums. Perhaps the best one is the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum.

Just next-door from the Shukkei-en Garden, the museum has exhibitions of artworks related to Hiroshima prefecture, and Asian arts and crafts. The museum also houses Salvador Dalí’s Dream of Venus and Hirayama Ikuo’s artworks who was in the city during the bombing. The museum takes pride in about 3,500 pieces in its permanent collection.

Another noteworthy museum is the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art and Hiroshima City Manga Library will surely delight manga lovers.

5. Mazda Museum

Hugely popular among local and foreign visitors is the Mazda Museum. This world-famous car manufacturer is based in Hiroshima and the museum allows visitors a peek into the company’s humble beginnings, vibrant present, and exciting future. You could also marvel at the mind-boggling 7-kilometer assembly line. English-language tours are available at 10 a.m. weekdays. A word of warning, reservations are required.

6. Miyajima

Worth a day trip from Hiroshima is the nearby island of Miyajima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is only about 40 minutes away by train and ferry from the city. Despite its tiny size, lovely Miyajima is packed with sights that could keep travelers busy for a day.

Perhaps the best-known attraction of little Miyajima is the iconic vermillion torii (Shinto shrine gate) of Itsukushima Shrine that seems to float on the Seto Sea. This breathtaking sight with verdant mountains as a backdrop has long been considered one of the best views in Japan. Aside from this, Miyajima has temples, good hiking trails, and naughty deer similar to the ones in Nara.

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