Hiroshima
Hiroshima 広島
Overview
Hiroshima is the main city in the Chugoku Region, in southern Honshu.
Hiroshima has six rivers within it, and has been called the City of Water. The city dates to 1589 C.E. when feudal lord Mori Terumoto built Hiroshima Castle at the delta of the Otagawa River.
As the delta looked like a large island, the surrounding area came to be referred to as "Hiroshima" - "wide island" in Japanese.
Hiroshima today is best known however for the horrific events of 6 August 1945.
On that day, a US Air Force B-29 bomber dropped the first atomic bomb on a civilian population. "Little Boy" devastated Hiroshima, and was followed three days later by the bombing of Nagasaki (which was known, in military parlance, as "Fat Boy"). Japan surrendered on August 15, ending fifteen years of war.
Within four months of the bombings, between 90,000–166,000 people in Hiroshima had died from the effects of the bomb. Approximately half of the deaths took place on the day of the bombing; thereafter many died of radiation sickness, burns, and other illnesses. Most of those who died were civilians (Hiroshima was a center of munitions building and Imperial army activity, and was thus chosen as a target).
Today the city is home to 1.1 million people and has a laid-back pace, interesting dialect, and good climate. And, it must be said, there is almost no - if any at all - anti-American feeling in the city.
Hiroshima also has a few great tourist sites, most of which can be seen on a bicycle.
The most famous area of the city is Peace Park. Within this lovely slice of green is the A-bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. It is a harsh but necessary lesson.
Nearby is downtown. Close to the Peace Park is the central shopping area of Hiroshima. It is lively and good for all kinds of shopping and dining and strolling.
Another fun day out is the Mazda Museum. Even though CycleKyoto prefers and strongly advocates use of more environmentally-friendly forms of transportation, the car is deeply embedded in the history of Hiroshima. Visitors to the Mazda Museum must make reservations by phone or e-mail prior to visiting. Once a day tours are held in English.
Visitors to the museum first gather at the Mazda head office building near JR Mukainada Station. A short bus ride takes visitors to the museum building on grounds of Mazda's Hiroshima Plant.
Hiroshima Castle is a reconstruction of the original, which was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945. It was rebuilt in 1958, and now is also a museum dedicated to the city's history before World War II.
Shukkeien Garden is a lovely garden full of small hills and slopes and forests. The name itself means "shrunken-scenery garden." Shukkeien dates to 1620. There are several tea houses and a path that follows the pond at the center of the garden.
Hiroshima Museum of Art has a modest but interesting collection that features works by Delacroix, Corot, Courbet, Millet, and others of note.
Farther afield are Miyajima (island) and Itsukushima Shrine. This would be a long, long ride, so CycleKyoto recommends taking the train. It is possible to go via JR or on a city trolley. Itsukushima Shrine is thought to date from 593 C.E. The current pavilion was first built in the 12th century. The torii gate, which is out in the inland sea in front of the sea, is on dry land when the tides recede; when the tide comes back in the base of the gate is under water. It is a magical place.
Getting to the Starting Point
A good place to start is Peace Park, which is centrally located.
Directions
The map below is helpful for those with a smart phone.
Traffic in Hiroshima is generally lighter than other similar sized Japanese cities. Moreover, many of the streets are quite wide, though one has to be careful of the trams that crisscross the city.
Total Riding Time
It will take one day for the sites listed on the map, and a lot more if one cycles to Miyajima.
Places of Interest
Hiroshima Peace Museum
Open from March 1 to November 30, from 8:30 to 18:00 (last entrance at 17:30); December 1 to February 28, from 8:30 to 17:00 (last entrance at 16:30); August 1 to 31, from 8:30 to 19:00 (last entrance at 18:30).
Admission: 50 yen
Mazda Museum
e-mail : mazdamuseum@mail.mazda.co.jp
Tel : 082-252-5050
Admission: no fee
Hiroshima Castle
9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 on weekdays from December to February). Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time; it is closed December 29 to January 2.
Admission: 360 yen
Shukkeien Gardens
2-11 Kaminobori-cho, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
9:00 to 18:00 (unitl 17:00 from October to March)
Admission: 250 yen
Tel: 082 221 3620
Hiroshima Museum of Art
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (last entrance 4:30)
3-2 Motomachi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima
Tel: 082 223 2530
Admission: 1000 yen
Itsukushima Shrine
6:30 to 17:30 (until 18:00 March to mid-October, until 17:00 in December)
Access: About 25 minutes from JR Hiroshima Station by the Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi Station. From the station, about 10 minutes by ferry. By streetcar, it is about 60 minutes from Hiroshima Station to Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station. From the station, about 10 minutes by ferry.
Admission: 300 yen (500 yen for combined entry with Treasure Hall)
Bike Rental
The following hotels have rental bikes: Hotel Granvia Hiroshima (080-3885-0597); Oriental Hotel Hiroshima (080-3885-0692); Hotel Sunroute Hiroshima (080-3885-0783); Mielparque Hiroshima (080-3885-0846); Grand Prince Hotel Hiroshima (082-256-1111). Rates: Adult (13 & over) 1,000 yen for a day. Rent-a-bicycle service is available at Nippon Rent-A-Car. Nippon Rent-A-Car Hiroshima Station branch (082-264-0919); Nippon Rent-A-Car Hacchobori branch (082-222-0919). The Hiroshima Tourism Promotion Office has a list of bicycle rental outlets around the city.
Map
Hiroshima Sites
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