Hiroshima has played a significant role in the history of Japan and the world. This city is no other than where the first atomic bomb was dropped during the Second World War, the other being Nagasaki. A story even apart from the fascination Hiroshima was back in the day.
So, it is just right for Hiroshima to share its rich history with every traveler who visits this place. Here are 10 of the best museums here.
History
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
A visit to this museum seems like the passage of time has stopped. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum reminisces the horrors of the atomic bombing in 1945 (around a decade after this museum was established).
Exhibits include the belongings of the victims and photographic recordings of Hiroshima immediately following the blast. Audio guides in various languages are available upon request.
Kure Maritime Museum (Yamato Museum)
If you are interested in maritime history, then you should include this museum on your itinerary. The Kure Maritime Museum, also known as the Yamato Museum, features a scaled model of Battleship Yamato, a ship built for the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. The museum is located in Kure in Hiroshima Prefecture. Kure once flourished as the largest naval arsenal of Japan.
Hiroshima Castle Museum
From modern history, transport yourself further back in time at the Hiroshima Castle Museum. No atomic bomb stories here, but pure magnificence and royalty, featuring Hiroshima during the glorious Edo period. Be sure to stop by the topmost floor of the Japanese castle to treat yourself to gorgeous city views.
Miyajima History and Folklore Museum
The Miyajima History and Folklore Museum is quite unique since it is located inside what seems like an ancestral Japanese house instead of a modern building. It’s the house and storehouse of a wealthy merchant engaged in soy sauce production during the Edo and Meiji eras.
Here, you can learn about the Heike family, a Japanese samurai clan most influential during the 12th century. The museum also introduces the way of life and culture of Itsukushima’s locals, the people responsible for the clan’s prosperity.
Art
Hiroshima Museum of Art
From a trip down memory lane to a tour with your senses. One of the must-visit art museums in Hiroshima is this. The Hiroshima Museum of Art features not just Japanese artworks but also European works of art. See the masterpieces of Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and more.
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum
Located near the garden palace of Shukkei-en, the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum won’t break your zen mode. Find artworks by Hiroshima artists, folk art, crafts, metalwork and textiles from Central Asia, and works from the 1920s, among various others. Did you know this museum was built for the Asano family, the lord of Hiroshima?
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Hiroshima MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)
This is probably one of the youngest museums in the area. Established only in 1989, Hiroshima MOCA features more than a thousand works of contemporary artists whose careers flourished during the Second World War, including those by Andy Warhol! The design of the building itself, as well as its interiors, are already a spectacle.
Food
Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum
Now, if you’re looking for something quite unique since most museums are usually about art or history, you better head to this museum about food. It’s all about okonomiyaki here.
Learn the history and how to cook the iconic Hiroshima dish at the Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum, owned by Otafuku Group, the company behind the famous Otafuku sauce for okonomiyaki, crafted with 12 different fruits and vegetables.
Transportation
Mazda Museum
With Japan being the cradle of several globally-renowned car brands – Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Suzuki, Subaru, Mitsubishi, and Mazda, just to name a few – businesses would lose opportunities if they don’t showcase the best of this.
In Hiroshima, there’s a museum dedicated solely to everything Mazda. See the evolution of Mazda cars from pre-World War II to the present era. See for yourself!
Numaji Transport Museum
Meanwhile, at Numaji Transport Museum, it’s not just about Mazda but a wide range of cars and other transportation around the world. Can you even believe it has around 2,000 vehicles on display?! It’s more than a car show. Your kids will surely love it here.
A trip to Hiroshima’s museums is the perfect opportunity to literally visit the past, feast your eyes on the grandeur of art, and maybe even experience Japanese cuisine with a tinge of food history.
Looking to immerse yourself deeper in Hiroshima’s rich culture and history? Join our local tour guides for our Hiroshima Free Walking Tour!
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