The city of Hiroshima (meaning Wide Island In Japanese) is very different from the expectations of most people that associate the name of the city with the atomic bombings of August 1945.
Since then, Hiroshima recovered and today is one of the most prosperous cities in Japan. The six rivers that flow through it, the surrounding mountains, the green parks make it a perfect tourist destination for those willing to discover Japan.

Today, Hiroshima is a city of peace and prosperity with over 1.100.000 inhabitants. A tourist can still find many places commemorating the tragic events of that 6th August 1945 in the city.
All the major memorials are located in the Peace Memorial Park.
The A-Bomb Dome remains Hiroshima’s symbol. This UNESCO World Heritage site was built in 1915, and today is he main city destination.
The Peace National Museum describes Hiroshima before the atomic bomb, during the bomb, and the post-war efforts made after the war. Visiting the museum is a very powerful experience, as some of the photos are very disturbing.
The Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims are two places that commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb. They contain the names of the people who died in the bombing.

Apart from being a city of peace, Hiroshima is also renowned for its castles and gardens. One of the most relaxing places in Hiroshima is the Shukkeien, a marvelous Japanese garden that is worth to visit for anybody. The garden was constructed in the 17th century, and it is made of many small islands, with tiny bridges connecting them.

The Hiroshima castle was originally built in 1589, but it was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. Today’s castle is a reconstruction of the original building, and the building was finished in 1958. Currently it hosts a museum, well worth the visit.

Those looking to visit some museums have a lot of choices. The Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art is probably the most suited museum to visit for those looking to explore the Japanese art. While it also contains works from major contemporary artists like Warhol, it is mainly focused on presenting Japanese contemporary art works.
The Hiroshima Museum of Art has works from famous European and Japanese painters of all time. The Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of Art is centered more on modern art, and it includes works by Magritte and Salvador Dali.
Mazda (whose headquarters are in Hiroshima) has its own museum a bit outside of the city. Well worth the visit for those looking to get a taste of the companies’ history and cars.

Overall, Hiroshima is a surprisingly good place to visit, and there are a lot of places to discover for those looking to get a grip of Japanese culture.

Mother and child, 4 months after the explosion of the atomic bomb.
Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt