Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima - all you need to know

The most visited site in Hiroshima is the ruins of the Exhibition Hall, the only building within a 3 km radius to have survived the atomic bomb explosion on 6 August 1945.

The site’s official name is Hiroshima Peace Memorial, although the names Atomic Bomb Dome, Genbaku Dome (the word ‘Genbaku’ means ‘atomic bomb’ in Japanese) or A-Bomb Dome are much more widely used.

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The Hiroshima Peace Memorial has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.

The hypocentre of the atomic bomb explosion

The exhibition hall was built in 1915 by the Czech architect Jan Letzel.

When the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima at 8.15 am on 6 August 1945, the Exhibition Hall was severely damaged, but it was the only building in the wider centre of Hiroshima to remain standing and retain its original shape.

This was due partly to its modern, earthquake-resistant construction and partly to the fact that the building was subjected to an almost direct vertical force. The shockwave had a less destructive effect in this direction.

The hypocentre of the atomic bomb explosion was, in fact, practically directly above the Exhibition Hall, at a height of approximately 600 metres above ground level and a distance of approximately 150 metres (directly above Sima Hospital on the adjacent street).

A-Bomb Dome

Memorial at the A-Bomb Dome

Peace Memorial

Shortly after the end of the war, the ruins of the building became a subject of controversy, with some residents calling for them to be demolished and others, conversely, wanting them preserved as a memento of the horrific events.

In the end, it was decided to preserve the remains of the building. To this day, the structure is maintained in its original state following the atomic bomb explosion.

The A-Bomb Dome forms part of a large memorial complex, alongside the museum and Peace Park.