Shukkeien Garden is in a league of its own in this green city. Sculpted gardens, paths, ponds, bridges, waterfalls, bamboo groves, and cherry and plum blossom viewing in season, make this picturesque garden an extremely pleasant and photogenic place to go for a stroll. Tea ceremonies can often be seen performed by kimono-clad women in lawn-side tents.
Much of Hiroshima was reconstructed following the 1945 atomic attacks; few buildings of historical and/or cultural interest remain intact. An exception, along with Mitaki and Fudoin Temples, is Itsukushima Shrine on nearby Miyajima island. Suspended over the blue waters of the Seto Inland Sea, Itsukushima Shrine is traditional Shinto Japan at its best, blending unique architecture with the natural environment to create an aesthetic and spiritual whole. Its vermilion torii gate is a national treasure, its "floating" form an ethereal beauty that welcomes visitors into a world of serenity. The existing shrine dates back to the mid-16th Century but was constructed upon a design conceived of in the 12th Century. Built upon a pier, the temple seems to be afloat on the waters of the Bay, adding to its wholesome appeal. It was established by Kiyomori and dedicated to the goddesses he believed he owed his success to. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to several national treasures, such as the Heike Nōkyō, a set of thirty-two scrolls, each completed by a member of Kiyomori's family.
This museum is, from a moral and historical standpoint, one that perhaps all visitors to Hiroshima should visit. It contains heartbreaking and informative exhibitions and items connected with that fateful day in 1945. Historical records and contemporary exhibits can be explored here. A wealth of information in English is available for the international visitor. The museum is located in the Peace Memorial Park. Hours are seasonal.
Located in Hiroshima, Hiroshima Museum of Art is a lesson in the trajectory of European art, housed in modern Japan. The first room displays work by Romantics and Impressionists, while subsequent rooms proceed through post-Impressionism to Fauvism and Cubism, culminating in the Fourth Gallery and l'ecole de Paris. The second gallery of four rooms contains work by Japanese painters in oils, from the Meiji Restoration Era to the present.
Set in the wilds of Hijiyama Park, the Museum of Contemporary Art blends landscaping and aesthetics into a pleasing whole, a metaphor of the natural environment around this premier cultural institution. Inside, the museum is notable for periodic displays of contemporary art. Past exhibits have included works by Andy Warhol and a display of "art as resistance" from the politically troubled islands of Indonesia. Outside, the museum is sculpted into the mountainside. Around the museum are sculpture-lined trails, and a scenic lookout over Hiroshima, complete with Henry Moore installation.
Hiroshima Castle is a major landmark in the city visited by scores of tourists. Designated a national treasure in the 1950s, reconstruction of the donjon and some of the outbuildings began shortly thereafter. Overgrown foundations give the grounds an enjoyably rustic air. The five-story castle donjon houses a collection of swords, armor, a display of instruments and exhibits related to Hiroshima's past.
If you wish to explore the Miyajima Island while satiating the outdoor enthusiast in you, then Paddle Park has just the right activity for you. Located a short distance away from the island, this center organizes kayak tours that traverse the Onoseto Strait, and later allow visitors to indulge in some sightseeing. Sight of the famous Torii Gate is sure to mark as a highlight of your tour along with cultural nuances of the island it calls home.
Constructed in 2009, the MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima is a massive stadium dedicated to the sport of baseball. With a staggering capacity to hold 32000 spectators, it is one of the biggest arenas in the vicinity. Even when there are no games held, there are tours done twice a day with disabled access provided as well.
Shukkeien Garden is in a league of its own in this green city. Sculpted gardens, paths, ponds, bridges, waterfalls, bamboo groves, and cherry and plum blossom viewing in season, make this picturesque garden an extremely pleasant and photogenic place to go for a stroll. Tea ceremonies can often be seen performed by kimono-clad women in lawn-side tents.
Much of Hiroshima was reconstructed following the 1945 atomic attacks; few buildings of historical and/or cultural interest remain intact. An exception, along with Mitaki and Fudoin Temples, is Itsukushima Shrine on nearby Miyajima island. Suspended over the blue waters of the Seto Inland Sea, Itsukushima Shrine is traditional Shinto Japan at its best, blending unique architecture with the natural environment to create an aesthetic and spiritual whole. Its vermilion torii gate is a national treasure, its "floating" form an ethereal beauty that welcomes visitors into a world of serenity. The existing shrine dates back to the mid-16th Century but was constructed upon a design conceived of in the 12th Century. Built upon a pier, the temple seems to be afloat on the waters of the Bay, adding to its wholesome appeal. It was established by Kiyomori and dedicated to the goddesses he believed he owed his success to. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is also home to several national treasures, such as the Heike Nōkyō, a set of thirty-two scrolls, each completed by a member of Kiyomori's family.
This museum is, from a moral and historical standpoint, one that perhaps all visitors to Hiroshima should visit. It contains heartbreaking and informative exhibitions and items connected with that fateful day in 1945. Historical records and contemporary exhibits can be explored here. A wealth of information in English is available for the international visitor. The museum is located in the Peace Memorial Park. Hours are seasonal.
Located roughly thirty minutes from central Hiroshima, the Kure Maritime Museum, also known as the Yamato Museum, makes for an interesting and informative day trip. The world's largest battleship, the Yamato, was built here in the Kure Naval Dockyards, the most important naval port in the Far East. Modern and nuanced, the museum consists of three main sections. The first floor details Kure's history and evolution as one of Japan's most important arsenals, houses a collection of military hardware used in the war, including a Japanese Zero fighter, and also features an 86 foot-long model (1/10 scale) of the Yamato itself. The third floor focuses on education, including shipbuilding technology and future developments. An observation terrace is located on the fourth floor, providing a nice panorama of the shipyards.