To most, Hiroshima will be forever known as the target of the world’s first atomic-bomb attack during World War II. Nowadays, the modern city on Japan’s Honshu Island commemorates the 1945 event with powerful monuments that acknowledge the past while promoting progress.
The Atomic Bomb Dome is the most significant of Hiroshima’s historical monuments. Built by a Czech architect in 1915, it was originally the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall until the bomb exploded almost directly above it. Nowadays, it’s a UNESCO Wolrd Heritage Site and striking symbol of war and peace. The nearby Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is also a must-see. Here visitors can learn about the fateful day through displays, photographs and more.
Hugged by rivers on both sides, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a large green space criscrossed by walkways and dotted with tranquil spaces for reflection. Its central feature is the long Pond of Peace which leads to the Memorial Cenotaph that holds the names of all known victims of the bomb. Another key monument are the ten Gates of Peace, each enscribed with the word ‘peace’ in 49 languages.