Hiroshima

Hiroshima stands as a city remarkably reborn from atomic devastation where the Peace Memorial Park's hauntingly skeletal A-Bomb Dome preserves August 6, 1945's ruins as UNESCO World Heritage Site serving as powerful warning against nuclear weapons, nearby Miyajima Island's iconic floating orange torii gate ranks among Japan's three most famous scenic views and most photographed landmarks, and the city's extraordinarily resilient spirit rebuilt vibrant modern urban life while perfecting Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki savory layered pancakes now considered Japan's best. This Chugoku region capital and largest city (pop. 1.2 million) suffered history's first atomic bomb attack August 6, 1945 at 8:15am when American B-29 Enola Gay dropped "Little Boy" killing an estimated 70,000-80,000 instantly and 140,000+ by year's end—almost 80 years later, the comprehensively rebuilt city thrives with wide tree-lined boulevards, efficient retro streetcar trams rattling through streets, parks, and moving memorials honoring victims while actively promoting global peace and nuclear disarmament through museums and educational programs.

The central Peace Memorial Park (free entry 24/7) anchors the city's message through powerful monuments: the A-Bomb Dome's skeletal reinforced concrete structure (former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, one of very few buildings partially surviving near ground zero due to blast coming from almost directly above) deliberately preserved in ruined state, the Peace Memorial Museum's sobering extensive displays documenting bomb effects, survivor testimonies, and pre/post-bombing city models (entry about ¥200/~$1 emotionally intense requiring 2-3 hours), and the Children's Peace Monument inspired by young leukemia victim Sadako Sasaki's thousand paper cranes legend where millions of folded cranes from worldwide schoolchildren now accumulate. The Memorial Cenotaph, eternal Flame of Peace burning until all nuclear weapons eliminated, and dome align in poignant symbolic geometry. Yet Hiroshima absolutely transcends atomic tragedy to showcase peaceful modern Japan: stunning Miyajima Island (officially Itsukushima, about 25 minutes by JR train from Hiroshima Station to Miyajimaguchi port, then 10-minute ferry crossing around ¥200 each way or included with JR Pass) hosts the famous floating Itsukushima Shrine's massive orange torii gate appearing to hover on water at high tide or becoming walkable at low tide (check tide schedules online for optimal photography), UNESCO-listed shrine buildings constructed over water (¥300 entry), sacred sika deer roaming freely and aggressively begging food from tourists, and Mount Misen ropeway (¥2,000 return) ascending for sweeping Seto Inland Sea island views—the island justifies full-day visit with overnight ryokan stay offering evening shrine illumination and morning peace before day-trippers arrive.

The celebrated food scene perfected distinctive Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki differentiating from Osaka's version through layering rather than mixing: cabbage, bean sprouts, yakisoba or udon noodles, egg, and toppings carefully layered then grilled on hot teppan griddle (¥800-1,500/$5–$11 Okonomimura building near Peace Park houses 24 competing restaurants on four floors, watch chefs prepare before you). Miyajima's famous for grilled oysters (¥500-1,000 for half-dozen), while Onomichi's hillside port town (1.5 hours east) offers temple walk paths through narrow lanes and cat-filled alleys. The rebuilt city surprises beyond memorials with traditional Shukkei-en Garden's (¥260) scaled landscapes and seasonal beauty, nostalgic streetcars including original 1940s-50s models (#650-680) rattling routes, and reconstructed Hiroshima Castle's 1950s concrete recreation housing museum (¥370) after original 1945 atomic destruction.

Visit March-May for cherry blossom season (late March-early April) and comfortable spring weather (12-22°C), or September-November for autumn foliage and pleasant temperatures (15-25°C)—summer June-August brings heat, humidity, and rainy season making it less ideal. With moving atomic history providing profound educational experience, stunning offshore island beauty at Miyajima, distinctive culinary specialties, impeccable Japanese efficiency and safety, and peaceful modern city demonstrating remarkable recovery, Hiroshima delivers both sobering historical pilgrimage and hopeful present, memorial and life coexisting, tragedy remembered and peace celebrated in a city that rose literally from ashes.