Peace Memorial Park & Museum
平和記念公園・平和記念資料館
A memorial park and museum designed by Kenzo Tange, with the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, the Children's Peace Monument, and atomic bomb relics. It is essential for understanding Hiroshima.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park sits on Nakajima, the district between the Motoyasu and Honkawa Rivers. This was once Hiroshima's busiest commercial district, but it was leveled by the bombing. The park was completed in 1954 to a design by architect Kenzo Tange. Its central axis runs from the Museum, through the Cenotaph and the Flame of Peace, and straight toward the Atomic Bomb Dome across the river. Key memorials in the park include the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims. Beneath its saddle-shaped arch sits a stone chest holding the register of the dead, and the annual August 6 peace ceremony is held here. The Flame of Peace was lit in 1964 and will remain burning until the world is free of nuclear weapons. The Children's Peace Monument honors Sadako Sasaki, who died of leukemia at age 12. She folded paper cranes hoping to recover, and folded cranes sent from around the world are displayed beside the monument. Other sites include the Peace Bell, the Korean Atomic Bomb Victims Memorial, and the National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, which is free to enter and displays photos of the dead and survivors' written accounts. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is the park's core. Renovated in 2019, its permanent exhibition has three sections: 'Hiroshima on August 6,' 'The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons,' and 'The History of Hiroshima.' Through clothing worn by survivors, a twisted bicycle, a wristwatch stopped at 8:15, personal belongings, and photographs, it tells the story of the day's devastation and its aftereffects. The presentation is restrained yet deeply moving. Most visitors spend 1.5 to 2 hours inside. Chinese captions and a Chinese audio guide (400 yen) are available. Admission is only 200 yen. The paper cranes folded by Barack Obama during his 2016 visit are also on display. Getting there: Walk from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park-mae (Genbaku Dome-mae) or Fukuromachi stops on the streetcar, or take the Meipuru-pu bus from Hiroshima Station for about 15 minutes. The park is free to enter at all times. Visiting both the park and the Museum takes about 2.5 hours. Note that the Museum contains real footage of death and suffering, so use your judgment when bringing children. Photography is allowed inside without flash, but please be considerate of other visitors. Expect queues around August 6. From the park, you can walk to Hondori shopping street and the Hiroshima okonomiyaki restaurants.
Opening hours
Park open all day; Archives 08:30–18:00 (until 19:00 in August; until 17:00 Dec–Feb); closed Dec 30–31
Nearby sights
- Atomic Bomb Dome
- Hiroshima Orizuru Tower
- Hondori Shopping Street
- Hiroshima Museum of Art
- Okonomimura
- Hiroshima Castle
- World Peace Memorial Cathedral
- Shukkei-en Garden