Hiroshima, Japan

Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshū, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon near the end of World War II.

The main attraction in Hiroshima is the Peace Memorial Park. There are more than fifty memorials, statues, and other structures in the Park. Some will be obscure in their meaning; others are immediate and devastating. As well as memorials there is the Peace Memorial Museum which documents the atomic bomb and its aftermath.

Other attractions in Hiroshima include the Hiroshima Castle, Chuo park area, Hijiyama park area and many interesting museums. A highlight for motoring fans is a tour of the Mazda Museum.

Things to See & Do

* Peace Memorial Park
* Chuo Park area
* Hiroshima Castle
* Hijiyama park area
* A- Bomb Dome & Museums

General information

Cruise Season - Jan - Dec
Currency - Yen (JPY)
Language - Japanese
Population - 1,174,000 approx
Land Area - 905.01 km2
Electricity - 2 perpendicular flat pins USA style or with a round pin below
Time - GMT plus hours nine hours
International Country Telephone Code - 81

Port Location - The port of Hiroshima's passenger terminal is located at the Ujina Foreign Trade Wharf near the Streetcar Station (a 15-minute walk).

Travel Links - Hiroshima airport connects to domestic destinations in Japan. Both ANA and JAL offer flights from Tokyo Haneda and Sapporo Chitose airports. ANA also offers flights from Narita, Sendai and Okinawa. There are direct international flights from Dalian, Guam, Shanghai, Seoul, and Taipei.

Long-distance buses arrive and depart from the north exit of JR Hiroshima Station, where there is a JR Bus counter, and the Hiroshima Bus Center in the city center. There is service to and from cities in Kanto, Kansai, Kyushu, Shikoku, and much of the rest of Japan.

Ferries dock at Hiroshima's Ujina Port, which also serves as terminus for several tram lines. Ishizaki Kisen operates daily service to and from Matsuyama in Shikoku, with some boats stopping in Kure along the way. The ride takes 70-80 minutes to reach Matsuyama.