20 THINGS TO SEE AND DO IN HIROSHIMA

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Worldwide known for the horrors of war, Hiroshima knew how to change his destiny based on the effort and work of a tireless people. Because of its terrible history, we expected a sad and gray place, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hiroshima resurfaced from its own ashes to become the colorful and lively city it is today. And it is that Hiroshima seems to be wrapped in an eternal spring. If you plan to visit it on your trip through Japan, in this post we tell you 20 things to see and do in Hiroshima.

This is our passage through Hiroshima: "It already blooms in Hiroshima"

1. We would begin, no doubt, visiting the Peace Memorial Park. It is the place where the greatest symbols of the city are concentrated and where to deepen on that fateful August 6, 1945, the day the atomic bomb fell. Here we tell you more about the tragic story of the Hiroshima atomic bomb.

2. In the park there are several essential visits: the first is that of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which perfectly tells what happened that morning, in a heartbreaking way. Admission is ¥ 200 (€ 1.50) and for us it is highly recommended. Tip: As you can imagine, it is the most visited site in the city, better to go early to avoid queues and crowds.

3. At the exit you approach the Cenotaph for the victims of the atomic bomb. Here the names of all the victims appear and they are paid tribute. In front of that stone arch is a Japanese inscription that quotes "Rest in peace, the mistake will not be repeated".

4. After the monument is located the Pond of Peace, in whose center and on a platform stands the Flame of Peace that burns incessantly since 1964. They say it will only go out when all nuclear weapons disappear.

5. Another essential emblem in the park is that of the Children's Peace Monument. Here you will be surprised to see many paper cranes, do you know the story of Sadako Sasaki? He was only 2 years old when the atomic bomb exploded very close to his house. He managed to survive, but at age 9 he got leukemia. He decided to make 1,000 paper cranes, because according to tradition, once finished he could make a wish: heal himself. He only reached 644 cranes before he died, but it was his classmates who finished his legacy.

6. Before leaving the park go to ring the peace bell. It is a symbolic gesture full of emotion: they say that every time it is touched, the victims are remembered.

7. A very impressive snapshot is that of the famous Dome, theAtomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima Peace Monument). It is the brick and concrete structure of a building that was about 150 meters from the epicenter of the catastrophe, and was one of the few that managed to stand. As a symbol of the horrors of war it was decided to preserve as it was after the bombing.

Do you want to explore the city with an expert local guide in Spanish? Book the tour here

8. If your visit to Hiroshima coincides with the anniversary of the bomb fall (August 6), you can attend the Tōrō Nagashi, one of the most emotional ceremonies in all of Japan. During that day thousands of lanterns are thrown into the river, which seems like dyeing light.

9. Do you want to take refuge in nature? The Shukkeien Gardens They are wonderful and a haven of peace. To access you have to pay ¥ 260 (€ 2), open from 09 to 17.

10. The Hiroshima Castle We thought it was beautiful, we also visited it in full sakura and it looked prettier than ever. It was completely shattered by the atomic bomb, so it is completely rebuilt. It consists of 5 levels, where you will see exhibits of typical objects of the feudal era (including one of samurai swords). From the last floor there are beautiful views of the city. Admission is ¥ 370 (€ 3). Take time to walk through the surrounding gardens, and be sure to visit a tree that survived the atomic bomb.

11. Enjoy a pleasantride on the banks of the Motoyasugawa River, especially if you coincide with the time of cherry blossom (sakura), in which everyone takes advantage of picnics and go to the parks. Also during the fall, when the trees are dyed thousands of red, orange, yellow and brown tones.

12. Another option is climb a little boat and navigate the riverNo doubt the city's perspective from there is very different. The boats leave from theMotoyasubashi Pier.

13. Walk the Hondori street, full of life, little shops and places to snack. Also if it rains it is a very good plan: it is covered!

14. That is a good place to try the “momoji maju”A mini sheet-shaped cake stuffed with bean paste. It is one of the most typical products of the city (and they are sooooo rich!)

15. Although the star of Hiroshima is the okonomiyaki, and you can't leave the city without trying it. It is a kind of pancake (some people define it as "the Japanese pizza") with the most varied ingredients (egg, yakisoba, cabbage, shrimp, meat, okonomiaki sauce, bacon, katsuobushi ...). There is a building (Okonomimura) where there are many specialized restaurants and apparently too many are delicious.

16. The Hiroshima Art Museum It is an interesting proposal for art lovers. There are paintings by Dalí, Van Gogh, Degas, Manet and Renoir (among others). Admission costs ¥ 1,200 (about € 9).

17. If you like sporting events, you can attend a Hiroshima Carps match, the local baseball team, in the Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima. Baseball is the national sport in Japan, we went to see the Giants in Tokyo and it was a somewhat surreal experience (yes, the game that touched us had less emotion than a game of chess). Tickets from ¥ 1,700 (about € 13.50). More info here.

18. The Mitaki Temple It is a perfect getaway for nature lovers. It is a hidden temple on the side of a mountain, where you will also find thousands of trees, a few statues, shrines and waterfalls. From the top the views of Hiroshima are sublime. It is to the north of the city and you must take the train and get off at Mitaki station, from there it is about 30 minutes walking.

19. Do you have more time? Get to know Okunoshima, a curious island full of loving bunnies! To get there you will have to approach the port of Tadanoumi and take a ferry for 15 minutes. More info here.

20. But the excursion is undoubtedly the most prominent and reason enough to extend your stay in Hiroshima is Miyajima. It is an island famous worldwide for its red torii in the water. In this post we tell you about our day in Miyajima (we don't sleep there and we regret it very much: don't make our mistake).