The most visited site in Hiroshima is the torso of the Exhibition Hall, the only building in a 3 km radius to survive the atomic bomb explosion on 6 August 1945.
The site bears the official name Hiroshima Peace Memorial, but the more common names are Atomic Bomb Dome, Genbaku Dome (the word "Genbaku" means "atomic bomb" in Japanese) or A-Bomb Dome.
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The Hiroshima Peace Memorial has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.
Hypocenter of the atomic bomb explosion
The exhibition hall was built in 1915 by Czech architect Jan Letzel.
When the atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, the Exhibition Hall building, although badly damaged, was the only one in the wider center of Hiroshima that remained standing and retained its original shape.
This was partly due to the modern earthquake-resistant construction and partly to the fact that the building was subjected to an almost direct vertical force. The pressure wave in this direction did not have such a destructive effect.
In fact, the hypocentre of the atomic bomb explosion was practically directly above the Exhibition Hall at a height of about 600 metres above the ground and at a distance of about 150 metres (exactly above Sima Hospital in the next street).
Peace Memorial
The ruins of the building became controversial shortly after the end of the war, with some residents calling for its demolition and others demanding its preservation as a memento of the horrific events.
In the end, it was decided to preserve the torso of the building. To this day, the building is still maintained in its original state after the atomic bomb exploded.
The A-Bomb Dome is part of a large memorial complex along with the museum and the Peace Park.
Admission and opening hours
It is not possible to enter the ruins, however the walkway adjacent to the Genbaku Dome is accessible 24/7.
There is no entrance fee.
Hotels nearby
The Atomic Bomb Dome is located right in the center of Hiroshima, and accommodations in the surrounding area are convenient for exploring the entire city.
About a 5-7 minute walk from the memorial near the main bus station, you will find two large hotels:
Right on the street where the remains of the building stand, you can stay in traditional Japanese style at the highly rated Hiroshima no Yado Aioi ***.
What to see around
Discover all the places to see in Hiroshima.
