When looking for where to go in Japan you will have a hard time choosing which place to visit. There are so many great areas to choose from that you may feel you will miss an important landmark or area. There are so many good places to go that it can be a little nerve-wracking trying to figure out which one should be on your travel route. One place that should be visited is definitely Hiroshima.

Peace Memorial Park

This will most likely be the number one thing on everyone’s list when visiting Hiroshima. It is one of the most well-known places in the entire world. Even if you didn’t know about it, you would probably end up stumbling across it as it is a major part of the city. It is 120,000 square meters large and adds new scenery to the downtown area of the city. After the bomb was dropped on it it was decided to leave the area undeveloped and kept as a memorial to remember the act of the bomb and its aftermath. The built the memorial facilities over time, and these facilities house the museum that contains relics and information from the time of the event.

The Atomic Bomb Dome is also located there, and it was the only building from the time of the bomb that is still standing. It was originally a place where the Hiroshima city officials would promote business and local industries. Now it has been declared a world heritage site to stand as a reminder of the bomb and the tragic loss it incurs.

There is also the large cenotaph located between the museum and the Atomic bomb dome. It has the names of all of the people who lived in Hiroshima when the bomb was dropped on the city. There are over 220,000 names on the stone located beneath the arch in the memorial. Every year on the anniversary of the bombing there is a ceremony given for those who died during the event. The local officials give speeches, there are wreaths laid for the fallen, and it is observed at the time of the bombing, which is 8:15 AM. 

Mazda Museum

Since it was founded in Hiroshima in 1920, the corporate headquarters of the Mazda Motor Corporation can be found in the city. The company has large portions of land dedicated to its motor cars, research, and development, and it even has the company museum. You can even have a tour inside of the factory to see how it works from the inside. Even though Mazda doesn’t see the same amount of influence as Toyota or Nissan, it is still an integral part of Japanese business and has a large impact on the economy. It is also the only Japanese car to ever win the Le Mans Grand Prix and is striving for more eco-friendly vehicles. If you want to see the inside of the factory you will need to make a tour reservation by e-mail or by phone. They even offer an English tour once a day. You will get to see Mazda’s history and a glimpse into their future and the tour lasts for 90 minutes.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle is one of the castles in Japan that was not built on a mountain or hilltop and instead built on a flat plane in the middle of the city. Its nickname is the carp castle and it retains its moat. The castle was built with the intention of making the city a castle town where the castle would be the center of commerce for the area. Built-in 1859 by Mori Terumoto it was seen as an important seat of power for the western part of Japan. It was able to avoid being demolished when Japan was going through the Meiji Restoration but was later destroyed by the atomic bomb. It was later rebuilt and certain parts of the castle were turned into a museum that gives information on all the castles of Japan and a great view of the city. It is a must-see landmark if you find yourself in the western part of Japan.

Hiroshima Downtown

If you go to Japan you will, of course, want to bring back plenty of souvenirs for your family and to remember the trip. There is no better place to go than Hiroshima’s Downtown shopping area. Hondori Street will be a must-see and is closed off to traffic so people can walk around freely there. There are tons of shops and restaurants and it is adjacent to the Peace Memorial park. The surrounding streets have many trains and trams that run to and from the area, leading to easy access from wherever you may be staying. If you want a true taste of the area you can go to the Okonomiyaki village which has many okonomiyaki restaurants. There is a special version of this traditional Japanese food and what better place to get it than there?

You can find many more places to see and enjoy, but these are just a few of the main highlights of the city. You can find all sorts of things to do and see if you do some simple research. It is always a good idea to check for times as some places may open and close at unfamiliar times. You will be sure to have a great time in Japan if you try to see these wonderful and historic areas.