M@S: Japan: Hiroshima

Trip with AFS intercultural program to Hiroshima

We went there by car from Beppu City. It takes about 4-5 hours but if you are traveling from other cities, Shinkansen would be the best way to get to Hiroshima. From Tokyo it takes around 4 hours or if you leave from Osaka it takes around 2 hours. The thing you have to be aware is trains in japan run on time and they stop at each station for only 60 seconds so make sure that you wait at the right place and be able to broad right after the train arrives. In Shinkansen there is not much space for your luggage. Behind the last row of seats in any carriage might be able to fit big suitcases.

We went there on the 4th of AUG and saw lots of tents everywhere. It was the time when they almost had the Peace Memorial Ceremony on the 6th of every year to console the souls of those who were lost due to the atomic bombing as well as pray for the realization of everlasting world peace.

The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima at 08:15 on August 6th, 1945. Very few buildings survived, but you can see two of them which are the museum (It used to be the Bank of Japan before) and Peace Memorial Park which contains monuments and a museum is the A-bomb Dome (It's called Genbaku Dome in Japanese) which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the symbol of Hiroshima.

Another recommendation is Miyajima or Shrine Island which is one of Japan's most scenic sights and attracts many visitors. It takes about 25 minutes from JR Hiroshima Station by local train and then you have to take a ferry for another 10 minutes to get to Miyajima Pier.

The most famous place is called Itsukushima Shrine. It's inscribed on the UNESCO's World Heritage list. It's a large red torii gate which guards the shrine stands in the sea.

There is one interesting fact about this island. They believe that "To give birth, to die, or to be buried were forbidden on the island", that is why there are still no hospitals or cemeteries on the island.