Hiroshima Peace Memorial

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial, commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome (Genbaku Dome), is the skeletal remains of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall that was destroyed by the first atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. It serves as a memorial to those killed and a symbol of hope for world peace, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The dome is located within the larger Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, which also contains the Peace Memorial Museum, the Cenotaph, the Children's Peace Monument, and the Flame of Peace that will burn until all nuclear weapons are eliminated. The museum provides a deeply moving account of the bombing and its aftermath. Free English volunteer guides are available at the park. Hiroshima is accessible by shinkansen from Osaka (about 1.5 hours) and Tokyo (about 4 hours).