The Memorial Park stretches between the Aioi Bridge, which was the target of the atomic bomb, and the museum.

Before 1945, this area was the political and commercial centre of Hiroshima, which is one of the reasons why it was the main target of the bombing.

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The Memorial Park was built on the open field created by the atomic bomb blast. Kenzō Tange was the park’s architect.

What is there to see in the park?

Today, the park is a popular place to relax, offering beautiful views of the river and the A-Bomb Dome. You’ll find many memorials, a museum and educational halls here.

These memorials are among the park’s main landmarks.

Memorial Cenotaph

One of the main attractions is a small, rounded monument covering an empty tomb bearing the names of all 140,000 victims of the atomic bombing.

The tomb is situated at the southern end of the Peace Basin, at the opposite end of which the Eternal Flame of Peace burns.

Children’s Monument

In the centre of the park stands a statue dedicated to the memory of all the children who died as a result of the bombing of Hiroshima.

The main symbol is a statue of Sadako Sasaki, a girl holding a paper crane, who died of radiation sickness.

Before her death, Sadako Sasaki folded over 1,000 paper cranes – birds which, according to Japanese legend, live for a thousand years.

Rest House

This building, together with the A-Bomb Dome, is one of the few structures to have survived the atomic bomb blast.

It is situated at the end of the Motoyasu Bridge and has been fully restored to its original appearance. Although it was almost completely destroyed during the bombing, 47-year-old Eizo Nomura survived in the concrete cellar and went on to live to the age of 80.

Not even the radiation caused by the bomb’s explosion penetrated the thick concrete walls.

The cellar and the first two floors have been left in their original condition, and the Rest House is now open to the public as a memorial hall.

Opening hours vary depending on the season and can be found on the website:hiroshima-resthouse.com/hours.

Aioi Bridge

This unusually shaped T-shaped bridge connects both banks of the River Honkawa, with a branch leading to the island where Memorial Park and the museum are located.

The Aioi Bridge is situated right in the centre of Hiroshima and, due to its location and distinctive shape, served as a target for the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

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