Hiroshima
Hiroshima is located 894km (554 miles) W of Tokyo. It is best known for, along with Nagasaki, having the Atomic Bomb dropped on at the end of World War II. Hiroshima has risen from the ashes of that tragedy, and become a bustling, vibrant city.
With a population of more than one million, Hiroshima looks just like any other up-and-coming city in Japan. With modern buildings, industry, the manufacture of cars, and ships, it's a city full of vitality and purpose with a steady flow of both Japanese and foreign business executives in and out.
Hiroshima, laced with rivers and wide, tree-lined boulevards, boasts other worthwhile attractions as well, including several excellent museums. Hiroshima is also the most popular gateway for cruises on the Seto Inland Sea and trips to nearby Miyajima, a jewel of an island considered to be one of Japan's most scenic spots.
Hiroshima is a very modern exciting city, not as big as Tokyo or Osaka, but with a wealth of Historical sights, mixed with pubs, shopping and basically anything else you may think of. Its center is quite small, and anyplace can be reached by a Street train (tram) which cost around 150 yen.
History
Hiroshima is said to have originated in Tensho 17 (1589 A.D.) during the Azuchi Momoyama Period when Terumoto Mori began building a castle at the mouth of the Ota River and called the area "Hiroshima."
It is most famous for the events of August 6, 1945, when the atomic bombing took countless lives, and utterly destroyed most of the city.
In 1949, the national government enacted the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City
Construction Law, designed to help reconstruct Hiroshima as a "peace memorial city."
Hiroshima has since developed into a regional hub, a status clearly demonstrated by its successful hosting of the Asian Games in 1994.
Shopping
The shopping at Hondori, Kamiya-cho, and Hachobori allows the buyer to sample
Japanese and European fashion. Needless to say, bargains are found quite easily and clothes, shoes etc., can often be bought for very cheap compared European standards.
Nightlife
Hiroshima has a very extensive nightlife, but it caters for the Japanese taste, which I will explain shortly. For foreigners, Hiroshima`s night life is unfortunately, “What you make of it”. The areas for clubs and pubs is very centralized and the clubs and pubs themselves tend to be on the small side. However, the Irish bar “Molly Malones”, and “Mac” bar are where everybody meets at weekends and there is usually great fun to be had by all. During the week, Molly Malone`s has a wide range of bands playing music from home. It is pretty easy to make friends in these places, as there are plenty of foreigners living, working and enjoying a holiday in the Hiroshima area. Also, booze is a lot cheaper than Tokyo.
Clubs are extremely limited. I found two, “El Barcho” and some other one that was a bit of a walk and smelled. One was all out trance and the other hip – hop. Both I can`t stand and as they are pretty small, when the US army guys come up for the weekend, it gets very crowded.
Festivals
Flower Festival is the biggest festival in Hiroshima Prefecture held around the Heiwa Main Street and the Peace Park in Hiroshima City from May 3 to May 5 every year. An elaborately planned parade which includes dancers, marching bands playing Japanese drums, and performance shows by popular talents are performed brilliantly.
It is said that Yassa Festival was begun in commemoration of the establishment of Mihara Castle when KOBAYAKAWA Takakage constructed it. At the festival, the main street is filled with dancing people wearing Yukata (light, summer Kimono) chanting "Yassa Yassa" harmonized with shamisens or Japanese guitars and drums. The festival is held for three days including the second Sunday in August.
Tondo Festival in Notohara (Numakuma Town)
"Tondo Festival" is a New Year's event handed down from generation to generation at many places in Japan. Tondo in Notohara, which stands more than 8m high, presents a spectacular scene.
Hina-nagashi (Paper doll floating): Otake City
Little girls make paper dolls with utmost care, and float them down the Oze River while wishing for good luck. In early March
Kure Port Festival (Kure City)
At this lively festival in late April, people enjoy the sprightly shows on the stage, parades, and yacht races.
Sea Bream Netting Show at Tomo no Ura (Fukuyama City)
This event heralds an early summer and has seasonal charm. The show features the traditional fishing method that has been practiced in the Seto Inland Sea for more than 370 years. May
Hanadaue Event of Mibu (Chiyoda Town)
A traditional rice planting event designated as a national important intangible folk-cultural asset It starts on August 6
Lantern Floating (Hiroshima City)
To pray for the souls of the victims of the atomic bomb, paper lanterns are floated down the river, in which the reflection of the A-bomb Dome can be seen, on the evening of August 6, the anniversary of the atomic bombing.
Yassa Festival (Mihara City)
"Yassa dance" is said to have started some 400 years ago to celebrate the completion of Mihara Castle. An energetic dance is performed on all the main streets in the city. Second Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in August.
Kodonairi of Kisa (Kisa Town)
This is a Shinto ritual in which people under the protection of a community deity pay a visit to the shrine while carrying large lanterns in the darkness, in order to thank god for a bountiful harvest of the year. October 12
Sandankyo Gorge Maple Festival (Togochi Town)
This festival is held when the leaves of trees around the gorge begin to turn crimson and yellow. The double-waterfall gorge and triple-waterfall gorge provide splendid scenic beauty in autumn colors.
December 31
Chinka-sai Festival (Miyajima Town)
This festival is held at Itsukushima Shrine on New Year's Eve to pray for the prevention of fire while seeing the old year out. When the festival finishes, the New Year begins.
Dining Out
Oysters are a special product of Hiroshima and the prefecture produces 70% of Japan's total oysters. There are various recipes such as vinegar oysters, grilled oysters, oyster hot-pot, and deep fried oysters. You can enjoy oysters at most of the restaurants in Hiroshima City when they are in season.
Okonomiyaki has become a symbol of Hiroshima. Its origin dates back to the 1920's when it was known as "Issen Yoshoku" or "One cent Western food". It is characterized by heaps of vegetables such as cabbage and bean sprouts, various kinds of ingredients depending on the person's taste, and a pleasant-smelling sauce.
Things to see
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum has collected and exhibited articles left by
atomic bomb victims and photos/data showing the horrors of the atomic bombing. The exhibits tell us not only about Hiroshima's history before and after the atomic
bombing, but also about the situation with regard to the nuclear age.
Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims was constructed by the national government in order to have the sufferings of atomic bomb victims engraved on people's mind, pay tribute to the victims, and pray for everlasting peace. This peace memorial hall is expected to serve as a facility to convey the horrors of the atomic bombing to the entire world and to hand "what people in Hiroshima experienced after the atomic bombing" down to future generations.
Itsukushima Shrine
Viewed at high tide, Itsukushima Shrine appears to be floating on the water. The
wooden structure on the sea, which was designed with consideration given to the ebb and flow, makes the shrine unparalleled in the world. Itsukushima Shrine, which is a truly remarkable example of the integration of architecture into nature, is registered as a World Cultural Heritage. The solemn and magnificent architectural beauty created by the masterpiece of the Shinden-style architecture, together with the majestic figure of Mt. Misen rising behind the shrine and the magnificent view of the Seto Inland Sea spreading out in front of the shrine, conveys the court culture of bygone days to visitors.
Momijidani Park
Momijidani Park, located at the foot of Mt. Misen, is noted for its splendid autumnal view of scarlet tinged maple leaves (momiji). Although it looks like a natural valley, it is in fact an artificial valley. Since Itsukushima Shrine had been frequently hit by avalanches of earth and rocks, the location of the original valley was changed, and the current artificial valley was created, with consideration given to keeping its shape as natural as possible, when disaster restoration work was carried out.
Five-storied Pagoda
The cypress bark-roofed five-storied pagoda, approximately 27.6 meters high, rises on the hill. It is said to have been built in 1407. Each pillar has a gold-brocaded decorative painting at the top. On the inner walls, Buddha and other sacred images are painted in vivid colors. The pagoda shows a splendid structural beauty created by skillfully combining Japanese and Chinese styles.
Miyajima Island
Miyajima Island is properly called "Itsukushima (sacred island), because it is believed to be a sacred island in which the spirits of deities dwell. The entire island has been an object of worship since ancient times. Nature has been preserved well and many legends have been handed down over the centuries on the island. Mt. Misen, the highest mountain on the island, is covered with primeval forests. Valleys at the foot of the mountain, which create beautiful scenery with various aspects of nature as it changes from season to season, have fascinated many people. Miyajima Island, which forms part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park, is designated as a place of special scenic beauty, a place of special historic interest, a special scenic zone, a natural
monument, etc. Miyajima Island, whose scenic beauty created by varied shapes of the mountains and the sea around the island has been loved by many people, is renowned as one of the three most beautiful scenic spots in Japan, together with Matsushima and Amanohashidate.
Senjoukaku
Hideyoshi Toyotomi started construction of Senjoukaku, Buddhist Hall, in 1587 in
order to read the sutras and console the war dead. However, due to his death 10-plus years later, part of the building remains unfinished. Votive pictures of a horse, dedicated to Itsukushima Shrine in the past, hang from the beam.
Atomic Bomb Dome
The A-bomb Dome is the skeletal remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial
Promotion Hall, which was completed in 1915 and served as a facility to exhibit
specialties of Hiroshima and to hold various events. At that time, citizens of Hiroshima entertained friendly sentiments toward this hall, designed by the Czech architect Jan Letzel, due to its modern structure.
Citizens began to call the remains the "A-bomb Dome" after the atomic bomb exploded in the air above the building. Since then, the A-bomb Dome has become known to the world as a symbol of "No More Hiroshimas". With the passage of time, however, the dome began to suffer deterioration due to constant exposure to the weather. Two large-scale preservation works were thus conducted, with the costs covered by fund-raising carried out at home and abroad. It was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage in December 1996.
River Cruises
Hiroshima is known as the "Water City" and the "City of Rivers." There are daily
cruises down the river that flows lazily through the city center or around the Seto Insland Sea where the islands float lightly on the sea. You can spend a relaxing time looking up at the city streets from the boat's window or fully enjoying the view from the deck of the many beautiful islands.
e.g. River Cruise "Suisui" - departs from the bank opposite the Peace Memorial Park.
Other
There are also lots of little statues, parks, shrines, temple etc., dotted around
Hiroshima that are well worth a quick visit. Tourist information is extremely good,
with the level of English and knowledge a welcome relief to blundering around the city. They also have a large selection of detailed maps and advice for people looking to enjoy Hiroshima for the first time
- Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
- Hiroshima City International House
- Health Sciences Museum
- Hiroshima City Asa Zoological Park
- The Hiroshima Botanical Garden
- Hiroshima City Transportation Museum
- Hiroshima Castle
- Motoyasu-bashi Bridge
- Tour of Old Temples and Shrines
- Kokuzenji Temple
- Onaga Tenmangu Shrine
- Toshogu Shrine and Kinko Inari Shrine Myojoin
- Nigitsu Shrine
- Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
- Hiroshima City Comics Library (Manga)
- Danbara Kottokan Antique Shop
- Beach
- Kintaikyo Bridge
- Kikko Park
- Shukkeien Garden