Understanding Hiroshima, Japan: From Tragic History to Resilience & Remembrance
Hiroshima (広島).
WWII.
August 6, 1945.
The world’s first atomic bomb attack.
This is what most people think of when they hear “Hiroshima.”
Did you?
The Peace Memorial Park & Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima is a reminder of that horrific day. It’s a colorful and tranquil place, a space to stroll along the walkways, dotted by numerous memorials, leafy trees, and benches on which you can stop to sit and reflect.
Through the arch of the park’s cenotaph that honors the atomic bomb victims, you can see the haunting remains of the Atomic Bomb Dome, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The bomb exploded just above it and killed everyone inside, but it was, in the end, one of the few buildings (or at least a shell of a building) left standing. Also visible through the cenotaph is the “Flame of Peace”, a sculpture symbolic of the anti-nuclear movement with a fire that hasn’t stopped burning since it was lit in August 1964.
On her mission to introduce you to different areas of the country, our Director of Program Operations Sarah Reid stopped to visit Hiroshima and took some time to visit and absorb the content shown in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.
“The museum was important to visit, but very challenging emotionally,” Sarah said. “They do not soften or filter the information about what happened in this place. The museum and the dome are located very close to the center of the explosion and, while the city has been rebuilt for quite a long time and is very lively, the gravity of the event was a lot to process. I only took a couple of photos at the start, but while inside, I needed to focus fully to respect the stories and information. I found myself involuntarily weeping because the stories from the survivors are so devastating to read and to hear.”
The museum is full of memories and photos. There are many personal objects, like destroyed clothing including student uniforms, a melted lunchbox that was a child’s, a burned tricycle and roof tiles, alongside many other items that were salvaged from the aftermath of the bombing. There are powerful video testimonials from survivors and artwork with descriptions of the horrors they witnessed and experienced first-hand.
Visiting Mayajima Island & the Itsukushima Shrine
Sarah took a day to explore Mayajima, an island near the city that is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“It was a stunningly cloudless day and the ferry ride over on the ocean was so beautiful it was hard to believe it was real,” Sarah said. “There's a lot to do on the island. There's a whole town! Lots of shopping and even hotels. I was surprised to see friendly deer on the island, just like in Nara.”
The Itsikishima Shrine is one of the most iconic and sacred Shinto sites in Japan. Its history stretches all the way back to the 6th century and it is dedicated to the Shinto goddess of the sea and marine transport. You’ll likely recognize the “floating” torii gate in the Seto Inland Sea, made of camphor wood, which is partially underwater when the tide comes in. The structure of the shrine itself and its walkways, built on pillars, are also hovering just above the sea,.
On the island, Momijidani Park is a peaceful place to stop for a picnic, and don’t miss a wander through Miyajima Omotesandō Shopping Street.
Modern-Day Hiroshima: A Lively Cosmopolitan City
After WWII, a period of revival began in Hiroshima, landmarks like Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden were reconstructed, and what was once assumed would be an uninhabitable place is now home to a thriving community of over 1 million people.
Though its history is very dark, Hiroshima today is a vibrant, friendly city with wide boulevards, beautiful gardens, and a bustling downtown area. There’s always something happening, as Sarah discovered on her visit!
“The hotel where I stayed was situated literally in the middle of the Hiroshima Flower Festival which was in full swing when we arrived,” she said. “Countless festival food stands, music, and general merriment went on for two days. There were people paddleboarding on the river, and couples holding hands walking along the river bank.”
If you spend time in Hiroshima, be sure to visit the historic Shukkeien Garden for an oasis of solitude, traditional Japanese landscaping, tea houses, and a carp-filled lake. The Hiroshima City Manga Library is a great hidden gem for manga comics enthusiasts and car fans can tour the Mazda Museum. The city also has a strong art scene with Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art and Hiroshima Museum of Art two galleries of note. Climb to the top of Hiroshima Castle for a panoramic view.
Food: Eating Local in Hiroshima
If you try one local food in Hiroshima, make sure it’s okonomiyaki. These savory pancakes, popular as street food but also found in restaurants, come in many varieties depending on where in Japan you order one. What makes a Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki is that the ingredients are layered instead of mixed into batter. First, a layer of batter is topped with cabbage, then a layer of pork belly slices, then other ingredients, like shrimp. It’s flipped over and steam-baked before more stir-fried noodles and eggs are added. The cabbage stems back to food shortages after the atomic bomb attack.
Other popular foods in Hiroshima? Ramen (pork-based broth with soy sauce and thin noodles or the local Onomichi ramen made from local fish and stock), the super spicey tsukemen noodle dish (if you dare), oysters (2/3 of Japan’s oyster production is from Hiroshima and Miyajima has an annual oyster festival!), anago (saltwater eels), maple-leaf shaped cakes called momiji manju which are filled with a sweet bean paste, and the area’s famous hattendo cream buns.
Getting Around
The public transportation in Hiroshima is convenient, with the tram being one of the most popular options. There’s also the electric trains Astramline, taxis, and buses. Much of the city is walkable. The ferry will take you from Hiroshima to Miyajima Island from Motoyasu Pier in about 45 minutes, departing every hour.
EdOdyssey in Japan
We’re thrilled to have Japan as one of our newest study abroad destinations. If you’re interested in learning more about history in Japan, and/or Japanese culture in general, reach out to create a custom program for your students.
Hiroshima is just one of the places you could stop; our custom programs can include popular destinations like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Himeji, and Nara, but can also be tailored to your leader’s area of expertise or interest and take you to places like Okinawa, Fukuoka, and all the way up to Akita and Sapporo. Alongside custom faculty-led programs, also offer First Year Experiences through our academic partner Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka and semester and full year programs through Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka.
