Hiroshima - Japan

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Hiroshima is a historical city which painfully conjures up an array of horrific pictures of debris, blood, plight and disorder. Japanese would permanently remember the dreadful moment when atomic bomb was dropped by United States of America on August 6, 1945.

However, being the world’s first atomic-bomb target was yesterday, its citizens have long ago recovered from nuclear devastation. Time flies and Hiroshima has totally changed its depressing facade into a prosperous and globally minded population. It is now a modern, cosmopolitan city wherein tourists find scrumptious food at every corner and the exhilarating nightlife.

Geographically, Hiroshima is the largest city located along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea in the western of Chugoku region of western Honshu, the largest island in Japan. This capital of Hiroshima Prefecture has a modern face of an industrial city punctuated with criss-crossing rivers, broad highway, and a populous city center.

The Magic of Hiroshima

Kyoto has plenty of preserved culturally rich heritages because history tells us that it was luckily removed from the list of atomic attack targets. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the two unfortunate cities. However, that doesn’t mean that Hiroshima is a gloomy city with nothing to appreciate. Indeed, one of the most amazing things you can never find in other points in the atlas is the convincing testimony it offers to the vigor and resilience of its citizens. How so?

After the atomic bomb attack, tremendous efforts were carried out to reconstruct the city. Predictions that the city would no longer be inhabitable spiraled around the world. However, its people use ganbaru (perseverance) to tumble the prediction once and for all. Their concerted efforts eventually pulled off the rebuilding of the destroyed Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden, which are the two most priceless monuments of Hiroshima’s historical heritage. Ironically, the rebuilt Hiroshima Castle reflects the one built by Mori Terumoto in the old time, which was once the most formidable fortification for miles. Other than that, Peace Memorial Park was built to serve as a constant reminder of that catastrophic moment as well as to mirror the objective of the re-born city; peace.

These spots have become the city highlights for travelers from all over the world seeking for the significance of the atomic bomb attack and the true meaning of peace. For history dummies travelling to Hiroshima for meaning of life rather than for what happened in the past, the downtown area of this vibrant city is a perfect spot to walk around. You could leave the world behind and indulge in the shopping paradise that emulates the one in Tokyo; eat ‘til you drop in countless of Japanese restaurants with tip-top gourmet to offer as if you were in Osaka. What more? Accessing the natural wonders like the untouched countryside Sandankyo Gorge at the north could be a Déjà vu. May be it just reminds you of the experience in Nara. Besides, Mazda Motor Corporation is yet another testimony to the vigor of Hiroshima city. Outside the city center, Mazda owns a tremendous factory in which a museum is open for visitors besides offering them a look at the process of assembling its cars.

Travel To Hiroshima - Top 5 Best Places

Here is the A-list of place to travel in order to get the most out a rebuilt city with a past of nuclear holocaust.

Peace Memorial Park - Commemorating the drop of the atomic bomb.
Mazda Museum - Museum and factory tours of the car maker.
Hiroshima Castle - Reconstruction of the former castle.
Shukkeien Garden - Japanese landscape garden.
Hiroshima Downtown – Shopping district and nightlife.

3 Reasons Why I Love Hiroshima

The reasons I’m into Hiroshima might be different from others’ perspectives, but that’s me.

I first came across Hiroshima and Nagasaki from high school history text book and since then curious about how they look now. To explore the horrific past behind the city’s modern facade has been one of the thing in my travel to-do list. I am simply adventurous.
This is the best place to study about the ganbaru spirit Japanese always emphasizes in their lives. I would want to mingle with the people there and find a chance to go into their minds and see what they have inside. How they keep their spirit on and achieve peace of mind 24/7 remains a big question mark to me.
Last but not least, finding out how my dream car Mazda is assembled would be a great achievement in life. I bet you want to know too how Mazda crews’ knowledge, shrewdness and discipline have gained worldwide fame for the company.