Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city of the Chugoku Region, the westernmost region on Japan's main island of Honshu. It is home to about one million people.

Places to go:

Peace memorial Park

The Peace Memorial Museum graphically displays the atomic bomb's horrible effects on the city and its inhabitants. A visit is naturally depressing. In the museum's east building, Hiroshima's militarist past and the process leading to the dropping of the bomb are documented. Audio guides are available in more than a dozen languages.

Getting there:

From Hiroshima Station, take streetcar line 2 or 6 to "Genbaku Domu mae (A-Bomb Dome)". The ride takes about 15 minutes.

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien is a pleasant Japanese style garden in Hiroshima which was originally constructed for the villa of the local daimyo (feudal lord) in the 17th century.
Shukkeien literally means "shrink scenery garden", as it displays a Chinese scenery in miniaturized form with a pond, small islands, bridges and various plants. Shukkeien is a stroll garden, best enjoyed by following a circular route.
Getting there:

Shukkeien is a 15 minute walk from Hiroshima Station, located just next to the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum. Streetcar number 9 stops just in front of the garden at "Shukkeien-mae". From Hiroshima Station, take streetcar line 1, 2 or 6 to Hacchobori where transferring to streetcar line 9.