Hiroshima

Hiroshima is a city defined by both tragedy and remarkable renewal. Devastated by the world's first atomic bombing on 6 August 1945, it was rebuilt as a thriving modern metropolis and a global symbol of peace. At its heart lies the Peace Memorial Park, where the skeletal A-Bomb Dome (a UNESCO World Heritage Site left exactly as it stood after the blast) faces the moving Peace Memorial Museum across the river, together forming one of the most powerful experiences in Japan. But Hiroshima is far more than its history: it is a lively, welcoming city of riverside promenades, trundling vintage trams, the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle, and the tranquil Shukkeien strolling garden. It is also the gateway to nearby Miyajima Island, where the great vermilion torii of Itsukushima Shrine appears to float on the tide. Food is a serious local pleasure, from layered Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki to fresh Seto Inland Sea oysters, while a short train ride to the Saijo district opens up one of Japan's finest sake-brewing towns.