Peace Memorial Park and the Genbaku Dome
The park and the ruins of the atomic dome, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; free visit to the exterior.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the most important place of remembrance in Japan: more than 122.000 m² dedicated to honouring the victims of the bombing of 6 August 1945. At the northern end of the park, the Genbaku Dome —the preserved ruins of the former Industrial Promotion Hall— is the only building that remained standing near the hypocentre and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996. The park also houses the Memorial Cenotaph, the Flame of Peace (which will burn until there are no nuclear weapons left in the world) and the Children's Peace Monument of Sadako Sasaki. The visit to the park and the exterior view of the Dome are completely free. The grounds are open 24 hours. It is reached by tram to Genbaku Dome-mae (lines 2 and 6). Allow at least two hours to tour it calmly, combining it with the visit to the museum.