Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is the most important museum visit in Japan. Through belongings, photographs and survivor testimony it documents the 6 August 1945 atomic bombing and its aftermath, plainly and without melodrama. It is heavy, essential and handled with extraordinary care.

Visiting thoughtfully

Allow 90 minutes to two hours inside, then time in the surrounding Peace Memorial Park: the Cenotaph, the Children’s Peace Monument draped in paper cranes, and the A-Bomb Dome across the river. Mornings before the tour groups, or the last entry window, are the quietest. The main exhibits are confronting; parents of younger children should walk through with them.

Tickets

Entry is inexpensive and e-tickets mainly buy you a smooth arrival during busy seasons, when the queue outside can stretch. Audio guides in English add survivor testimony and are worth the small extra.

Getting there

From Hiroshima Station, the tram to Genbaku Dome-mae runs about 15 minutes, or the sightseeing loop bus, which JR Pass holders ride free, stops beside the park. Hiroshima itself is an easy Shinkansen day from Osaka or Kyoto, though it deserves an overnight with Miyajima the next morning.

Frequently asked questions

Is it appropriate for children? Japanese school groups visit constantly. Use your judgment for under-10s on the main exhibit.

How long for museum and park together? Half a day treats it properly.

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