Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park in the centre of Hiroshima. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is visited by thousands of people each year. The park is there in memory of the victims of the nuclear attack on August 6, 1945. In the park are the ruins of Genbaku Dome, one of the few buildings that was left standing near ground zero. Marcus Neal, our Senior Event Operations Manager, said after visiting that “this was an incredibly moving place – a must visit for anyone visiting Japan.”

Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake and a traditional dish in Hiroshima. Often referred to as Japanese pizza, okonomiyaki are cooked on a flat grill or griddle. Traditionally, cabbage or other firm vegetables make up the bulk of the batter but you can also order a thinner version. The dish is typically prepared with flour, eggs, yam, meat, seafood, vegetables and cheese. These ingredients can be mixed together or layered on top of each other. Okonomi-mura is a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki food park located in the heart of Hiroshima and one of the top food destinations for families in Japan. Here you will enjoy traditional okonomiyaki with a variety of toppings and ingredients. This variability is reflected in the dish's name; "okonomi" literally means "to one's liking". Although okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Hiroshima, it is widely available and enjoyed throughout the country.

The Fukuromachi Elementary School was one of the closest schools to ground zero when the atomic bomb fell on August 6, 1945. Although many students were saved during the evacuation, 160 students and teachers lost their lives and the building suffered extensive damage. After a few days, the school became a first aid station, and its black burned wall became a message board to find missing people. During renovation of the school, they discovered the messages written on the walls by Hiroshima survivors looking for loved ones. Marcus Neal, our Senior Event Operations Manager, described it as an “unforgettable place to visit and it’s difficult to read the stories without feeling emotional.” The school is keeping it as a relic of the atomic explosion, to foster peace, and to send their information to the world.

Hiroshima does not have an underground subway system like many other Japanese cities, instead it has an extensive tram network known as the Hiroden. The main route leaves from Hiroshima Station and travels out to the dock area, passing the Peace Park, Hiroshima Castle and close to the Mighty Carp Baseball Stadium. Taxis are a very good way to get around Hiroshima, and there is also an extensive local bus service. It’s unlikely that you will need to make use of it, but there are two lines that are of some interest to foreign travellers: the green and orange Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Buses (Meipuru-pu buses) that stop at Hiroshima Station and make loops of the main sights, including the Peace Park. Hiroshima is also serviced by a newer light rail system known as the Astram. It links much of Hiroshima’s northern suburbs.