There is no doubt that the most historical and as a result the most popular location in Hiroshima City is the Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum. These 2 iconic locations always come up first on everyones agenda when planning a trip to Hiroshima, no matter whether you are Japanese or any other nationality from around the world.
It really is a bucket list location that we all must visit at least once in our lives and especially whilst traveling around Japan. In fact, all Japanese school students must visit Hiroshima and or Nagasaki at least once in their school education as mandated by Japanese law. For this reason, whether you are in Nagasaki or Hiroshima it is more than likely that you will encounter at least one school group at the Peace Park or Atomic Bomb Museum. I have been told numerous times by my clients that it was amazing and beautiful to see the next generations of Japanese youths being educated about the horrors of war and why we should try and attain peace for humanity to thrive.
For me personally, it had been about 6 years between visits to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park but it was just as I had remembered. The main attractions including the Prayer Fountain, Pond of Peace, Peace Flame, Bell of Peace and of course the main monument the Atomic Bomb Dome which is the most famous and iconic image as a result of these 2 devastating Atomic explosions during WW2.
However, what really delighted me, is to see the park being expanded and many more public spaces being created. The vibe and atmosphere of the area now is very different and the 2 separate parks have definitely improved the overall concept and image of the City. It is not just a sad and depressing place where contemplation of humanity is fore-front in every visitors minds but an area where vision and a strong, vibrant and positive future can be visualized by everyone. It is for these reasons that you could easily spend 2 or 3 hours just in the parks let alone the Peace Memorial Museum.
Our professional guides will be able to show you all the main sights both on and off the beaten track to leave you fully satisfied at days end.
Please check out the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park on the map below:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
The peace fountain
It's a very iconic view
The eternal flame
Always many school children
A place to contemplate
The peace bell
Lots of info to digest
The atomic dome
Close up
Powerful images are everywhere
So much to see
The symbol of Hiroshima
Entrance to the Museum
A place for all to enjoy
Main entrance
Please check out these videos below to see more of the Hiroshima Peace memorial Park:
The One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki City (gate entrance of a Shrine) is well known as one of the unanticipated consequences of the atomic bomb blast on August 9, 1945. The epicenter of the bomb's destructive force was located approximately 800 meters from the Shrine and as a result, one support column was knocked down but the other somehow remained standing, even though it was rotated about 30 degrees on its pedestal base, and facing another direction than its original position.
Just to stand here now and see the remnants of the bomb and its effects on Nagasaki makes one realized how significant life really is. "The One-Legged Torii bears the scars of traumas past and still stands with determination" is a famous quote I once heard that really resonates with me and provides me inspiration whenever I am going through a tough time and need to re-evaluate what is really important in life.
The One Legged Torii Gate a real find and a place that pictures just don't do justice. A little word of warning though, the actual location is situated above the road level and quite an amount of stair climbing is involved in getting to the place in point.
Pictures can be taken from below and will give you a sense of the power of the atomic explosion all those years ago but of course to get up close and personal and to touch the monument will give you so much more of a connection. You will just have to conserve the amount of stairs you climb during the day and save them all up for the last and biggest climb of them all, you won't be disappointed!
Our Private Nagasaki and Shimabara Tours nearly always visits this site at the end of the day before returning to the Nagasaki Port which is only 10 minutes away.
Check out the One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki on this map below:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Lots of stairs
Great story
In all its glory
Still standing
Destroyed column
English info
Please check out the One Legged Torii Gates in the videos below:
The Fat Man Atomic Bombis the code name for the atomic bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. It was the second of two nuclear weapons to be used in warfare to date (the other being The little Boy over Hiroshima) and its detonation caused the third man-made nuclear explosion.
The Atomic Bomb was an implosion type weapon with a plutonium core compared to Hiroshima that was a Uranium type weapon therefore its intensity and detonation impact was expected to be many times more powerful and destructive than that of Hiroshima days earlier.
At the moment of the explosion there was a brilliant flash of light, ten seconds later an enormous roar sounded and a fearful blast swept across the area. Sharp rays of heat emitted massive amounts of radiation all over Nagasaki within seconds and because there were no barriers to the spread of radiation huge amounts of Nagasaki, were destroyed almost instantaneously.
People didn't feel anything abnormal, as this radiation didn't produce sound or heat but in actuality it had permeated deep into their bodies and affecting them greatly. The temperature directly under the explosion was estimated to be somewhere from 3,000 to 4,000 degrees Celsius. The force of the blast and the heat rays unleashed immediate destructive power and then fires broke out which severely damaged one third of the buildings in the city with all buildings inside a 2 kilometer radius of the explosion burnt to ashes.
Please check out the Fat Man Atomic Bomb at the Nagasaki Peace Park Museum on the map below.
Below are a few photos that I took from the Nagasaki Peace Park Museum that shows the full destructive powers of the Nagasaki Fat Man Atomic Bomb and its course of destruction.
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
The Fat Man Bomb
English Subtitles
Interactive displays
Teary stories
Interesting displays
Click on the video below to see more about the Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki.
The Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki is located in the park above the epicenter. It's exhibits show the overwhelming destruction caused by the bombing while also telling us the importance of world peace and the removal of weapons to protect the Earth from something like this ever happening again!
It is a very sobering place and definitely not for the faint hearted as the stories, exhibits and pictures are extremely graphic. There hasn't been a time when I haven't seen someone crying out loud and or emotionally uncontrollable. This museum definitely isn't every one's cup of tea. However, it is important to remember history and not to forget about the past as this is the way we don't make the same mistakes of the past. So, in that sense the museum can be a great place to come together and never let this happen again for the benefit of mankind.
There isn't a lot of English posted but that might not be a bad thing as the graphic details definitely provides more than enough information to process at any given time. Recommend that people really think about their desired objectives in what they want to achieve whilst in Nagasaki and this will basically provide the impetus of whether or not a Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum visit is warranted! I always give our Private Nagasaki Tour customers this choice to make for themselves.
Check out the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum on a map:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Student messages of Peace
Light display
Location of the blast
Melted clock
Amazing displays
Outer building
The walk down to the past
Lots of messages
Plenty of visitors
The entrance
Here is a video taken from the roof of the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and shows the Peace Park below:
