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| Hiroshima | ||
| region | Chūgoku | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1.306.589 (2018), 1.198.021 (2021) | |
| height | unknown | |
no value for height on Wikidata:  | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
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Hiroshima (広 島) is an industrial city in the west of the Japanese region Chūgoku. The city gained notoriety from the world's first atomic bombing and has been attracting numerous tourists since its reconstruction.
background
Hiroshima was an important city as early as the 16th century. During World War II it was one of the military centers of Japan and had about 350,000 inhabitants. The city is located on the Otagawa, which forms a delta in the area of Hiroshima and flows into the Seto Inland Sea. The flat urban area was one of the reasons why the Americans wanted to try their new weapon here during WWII. Hiroshima was therefore spared attacks before the atomic bomb was dropped. More than 80% of the urban area was destroyed in the attack on August 6, 1945, far more than 100,000 people died immediately, and to this day over 250,000 atomic bombs have been killed in Hiroshima.
Just 3 days after the atomic bomb detonation, the first tram was running again in Hiroshima, and that is one of the reasons why the people of Hiroshima love this mode of transport. Tram cars from all over the world, including low-floor cars from Germany, can be seen in the cityscape. Today Hiroshima is a modern city with more than 1 million inhabitants. The "Crow Castle" was also rebuilt in its old location, but the atomic bomb dome, the Peace Park and many other details ensure that the memory of the disaster of 1945 remains alive.
getting there
By plane
The Airport (HIJ) is connected to the main departure points in Japan. Both ANA and JAL have flights from Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo Chitos on. International flights are available from Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul and Taipei. Buses connect the airport to the city's train station (50 minutes, ¥ 1,300).
By train
Hiroshima is a major station on the San'yo Shinkansen Line. The city is 40 minutes from Okayama and 90 minutes from Osaka away. With the cheap but slow regional trains, Osaka is a full 7 hours away by train. Of Tokyo from the travel time is 4 hours with the Nozomi and 5 hours with the Hikari (Change !, preferably in Shinosaka). When driving with the Hikari Japan Rail Pass holders do not have to pay an additional fee. Cheaper, but slower regional trains go to the city from other cities in the region.
By bus
Night buses out Tokyo takes 12 hours and costs ¥ 12,000. This makes them the cheapest, but not the most convenient connection.
In the street
By boat
mobility
The city center is very small and the trams are reliable and run in close proximity. The 1 railway station located outside the city center; therefore it is necessary to take the tram after arriving by train. The bus station (広 島 バ ス セ ン タ ー), on the other hand, is located in the Sogo department store in the city center. Hondori, a long covered shopping mile, is very suitable for orientation. Most of the sights can be easily reached on foot.
Tourist Attractions
Those who expect a city marked by destruction will be surprised: after leaving the train station, a city awaits the visitor that is on a par with any other Japanese metropolis.
 View from Friedenspark to the atomic bomb dome |  In the Peace Park |  Hiroshima Peace Museum |
- The 1 Peace Dome (原 爆 ド ー ム Genbaku Dōmu) is probably the most famous building in Hiroshima. Before the atomic bomb was dropped it was an exhibition hall and when it detonated it was only a few meters away from Ground Zero. Only the skeleton remains of the building; it is one of the few remaining pre-war buildings and is UNESCO world cultural heritage.
- The 2 Peace Memorial Park lies between the Ota-gawa River and the Motoyasu-gawa River on a triangular surface opposite the Peace Cathedral. The rivers appear from the air like a Y and made it easier for the bomber pilot to find his way around. Today there is a green park on which the Peace tower stands. This was erected in memory of the children who were victims of the atomic bomb. The little one Sadako Sasaki first survived the bomb, got leukemia and, according to an old legend, folded 1000 cranes in the hope of recovery. Every day visitors bring innumerable paper cranes in memory of the girl's will to survive and the death. Not far from there are other memorials, such as the peace bell and a memorial in honor of the Korean slave laborers who died. The central point of the park is a cenotaph with the name of all victims. The Peace Flame is further in the direction of the atomic bomb dome.
 Diorama in the museum: Before the detonation |  After the detonation |
- The 3 Peace Memorial Museum (平和 記念 資料 館 Heiwa Kinen Shiryōkan) documents the bombing and the time afterwards. On display are models that document the state of "before" and "after", melted tricycles and a harrowing reconstruction of a destroyed street. Warning: A visit to the museum, even if it is highly recommended, can be very emotional and therefore make further tourist exploration of the city difficult or even prevent it! Entry to the museum is only ¥ 50. A flyer with an overview of the museum is available free of charge (also in German), and an audio guide in German can be borrowed for ¥ 300 (highly recommended).
 Peace tower with thousands of paper cranes |  Peace bell, it sounds every day at the hour of detonation |  Cenotaph with the names of all victims |  Memorial to the memory of the Korean victims |
- The 4 Chuo Park or Central Park is north of Peace Memorial Park across the river. Here is the Yu Hua garden, the city's art museum Hiroshima Museum of Art, the Hiroshima Children's Museum with a planetarium, the baseball stadium and a family swimming pool.
- That is on the park area directly afterwards to the east 5 Hiroshima Castle or the carp castle.
- A little further east is that 6 Shukkeien Garden with the Art Museum of the Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum.
- South of the park is the Memorial Cathedral for World Peace, a Catholic church built in 1954.
- In the southeast of the city lies the 7 Hijiyama Park, it is in him Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art.
- The Company Matsuda, better known to us under the name Mazda, produced at Hiroshima. she has a museum, in which there are also guided tours in English.
activities
shop
kitchen
- Okonomiyaki is quite popular in the region, it is also known as japanese pizza. Often found in simple restaurants in a wide variety of varieties, mostly quite inexpensive.
- The Hiroshima area is also for theirs Oysters known.
Cheap
medium
Upscale
nightlife
The website Get Hiroshima gives a good overview in English of bars, clubs of Hiroshima.
Cheap
medium
Upscale
accommodation
Cheap
- Hiroshima Youth Hostel. A relatively inexpensive option.
medium
Upscale
- Hotel Granvia Hiroshima, right next to the train station. From the station forecourt you come through a pedestrian underpass to the Ekimae-ohashi Bridge, from here Ekimae-dori Avenue goes to the southwest, then Aioi-dori Avenue to the west, after about 2 km you reach the atomic bomb dome.
security
health
Practical advice
Hiroshima is a modern, cosmopolitan and clean city. It's safe and friendly so visitors shouldn't have any problems.
trips
- On the small island Miyajima, just a short tram and ferry trip away, is probably the most famous Japanese shrine. One drives up Miyajima-guchi and take one of the ferries, which take around 20 minutes to translate.
- The small town Onomichi, 75 minutes away by train, is known for its temples and novelists.
- The river valley of Sandan-kyo invites you to hike to various waterfalls, especially during the autumn colors. After about 3/4 of the hike there is a shuttle bus stop that brings you back to the "main gate" of the valley. It can be reached from the Hiroshima Bus Center in 1.5 hours (express bus 1400 yen) to 2 hours (normal bus 1200 yen).
literature
Web links
- Official website
- English website of the Tourist Information
- Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum website
- Hiroshima International School. In the content: The story of Sasaki Sadako and how to fold cranes
- Japan National Tourist Organization Overview of Hiroshima
