Overview
On 6 August 1945 the first atomic bomb used in war destroyed the centre of Hiroshima; the city that rose from the ruins has made remembrance and the case for peace its lasting mission. Today it is a broad, green city on a river delta, its wide avenues and Peace Memorial Park laid over the rebuilt ground. Visitors come for the memorials and the history, but stay for a warm city, its own style of okonomiyaki, and the island shrine just offshore.
Highlights
The Peace Memorial Park holds the skeletal Atomic Bomb Dome, left standing as a witness, along with the museum and cenotaph that tell the story with sober care. A short train and ferry reach the island of Miyajima, where the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float at high tide. Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, layered with noodles, is the local dish to seek out.