Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima (must see)

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park stands as a profound testament to Hiroshima's enduring legacy as the first city in history to experience the devastation of an atomic bombing. Dedicated to the memory of the direct and indirect victims of the attack, the park commemorates the approximately 140,000 people who had died by the end of 1945 as a result of the bombing and its immediate aftermath. It occupies the site of the former Nakajima district, once a bustling commercial and residential neighborhood that was almost completely destroyed by the explosion.

Today, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park encompasses a remarkable collection of memorials, monuments, museums, and commemorative facilities. Designed by renowned architect Kenzō Tange and inaugurated in 1954, the park unfolds southward from the Atomic Bomb Dome. After crossing Motoyasu Bridge, turn right and follow the path for a short distance to reach the Children's Peace Monument, easily recognized by the bronze statue of Sadako Sasaki holding a golden paper crane above her head. Farther north stands the Bell of Peace, which visitors are encouraged to ring.

In the opposite direction, head south from the bridge toward the Flame of Peace, which has burned continuously since 1964 and will remain lit until all nuclear weapons have been eliminated. The flame rises from the center of the Pond of Peace. Continuing south along the same central axis brings you to the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims. At the southern end of the park, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum provides a comprehensive account of the bombing and its aftermath.

More than a place of remembrance, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park has become an international symbol of peace and nuclear disarmament.