Almost everyone who comes here for the first time expects to see a gloomy place, weighed down by memories of a tragic past, but they are met by a hospitable city open to the future. The experience of Hiroshima teaches a lot.
As a symbol of the desire for peace, the Peace Memorial Park was laid out in the center of Hiroshima, on the banks of the Motoyasu River. It occupies an area of more than 12 hectares, there are the Peace Memorial Museum, many monuments, the ritual Peace Bell and the cenotaph.
Opposite the park, on the other side of the river, the city authorities decided to save for posterity one of the few buildings that survived after the bomb explosion – the famous Genbaku Dome, “Atomic Dome”. Before the Second World War, there was an exhibition center of the Hiroshima Chamber of Industry.
The dilapidated skeleton of this building is a kind of symbol of hope that the world will someday completely get rid of nuclear weapons.
The dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is visited annually by over a million tourists.
No wonder you see the word “peace” everywhere in Hiroshima. This is both the Boulevard of Peace and the Gate of Peace. Motorized bikes for rent here are called mirosipeds.
From different parts of the city, you can see the silver Pagoda of Peace towering on the mountain, a Buddhist stupa, which stores the ashes of the Buddha – a gift from the Buddhists of Mongolia.
Japan in miniature
This prefecture is called “Japan in miniature”, since in the nature of Hiroshima there are all the main features characteristic of the entire archipelago: subtropical coast, mountain ranges, snowy peaks, forest lands. Hiroshima is washed by the Inland Sea of Japan. 140 islands of its water area territorially belong to Hiroshima. The coastline is very uneven, indented with many bays, convenient for ships. For centuries, the waters of the sea served as the region’s most important transport space. The ecological situation of recent decades leaves much to be desired, therefore, almost the entire coast of Hiroshima is occupied by the territory of the Seto Naikai National Park.
The settlement of the territory of Hiroshima belongs to the Paleolithic. Ancient sites dating back 25,000 years have been found. The first state formations appeared in the 3rd-7th centuries (Kofun period). At the end of the 7th century, two historical provinces were created: Bingo and Aki. They lasted until the administrative reform of 1871, when they were merged into the single prefecture of Hiroshima. Until now, there is a difference in dialects in the territory of the former provinces. In 1945, the prefecture was hit by a nuclear bombing by US aircraft, when the city of Hiroshima was in ruins. Today, Hiroshima is an economic center dominated by the automotive industry, agriculture, and the marine industry.
There are two World Heritage Sites on the territory of Hiroshima: the ancient Shinto shrine Itsukushima on the island of the same name and the Genbaku dome in Hiroshima, the building of the Exhibition Center of the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce miraculously survived after the bombing. It was located 160 meters from the epicenter of the explosion, but survived. There are 19 Japanese national treasures in the prefecture, which include Buddhist temples and valuable museum exhibits (sacred texts, famous samurai armor).
Rabbits on Okunoshima, Hiroshima Prefecture
Okunoshima once housed a chemical weapons plant, but now the island is famous for a much more attractive attraction – rabbits. Many of these wild animals live in the forests and on the coast of the island. Today, tourists come here, dreaming to please the hungry but friendly rabbits with a special treat.
After the animals have received their portion of delicacy, and you – tenderness, go for a leisurely walk along the beautiful beaches with golden sand. Plan your trip from Hiroshima and come back to rest at the Kurayado Iroha Hotel on the island of Miyajima – unfortunately no more rabbits.
