Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

In short

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is a museum dedicated to conveying the reality of the damage caused by the atomic bomb and calling for a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons. It opened in August 1955 within the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The core of the permanent exhibition is the "Reality of the Atomic Bombing" in the Main Building.

• ​Main Building Architecture​​: Designed by Tange Kenzo, the building is raised on pillars, allowing people to pass beneath it at ground level, and in 2006 it became the first postwar structure to be designated as a national Important Cultural Property. Beyond the passageway beneath the building, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and the Atomic Bomb Dome can be seen aligned in a single line
• ​Reality of the Atomic Bombing​​: Through personal belongings and photographs of people who experienced the atomic bombing, this exhibit conveys how the atomic bomb stole individual lives and everyday livelihoods
• ​East Building Exhibits​​: The East Building conveys the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons and Hiroshima's history of pursuing peace. Because the content is somber and can be emotionally draining, it is recommended to visit with ample time

History and Highlights

The ​Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum​ is a museum dedicated to conveying the reality of the damage caused by the atomic bomb and calling for a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons. It opened in August 1955 within the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The Main Building was designed by architect Tange Kenzo and features a structure raised on pillars, allowing people to pass beneath it at ground level. Considered the first postwar Japanese architecture to receive high international acclaim and the starting point of Tange's career, it became the first postwar structure to be designated as a national Important Cultural Property in 2006. The East Building, connected to the Main Building by a corridor, opened in 1994. Its exhibits were renovated in 2017, followed by the Main Building's exhibitions in 2019.

The permanent exhibition consists of four sections: Introductory Exhibit, Reality of the Atomic Bombing, The Dangers of Nuclear Weapons, and Hiroshima's History. The core of these is the "Reality of the Atomic Bombing" located in the Main Building.

Viewing and Experiencing Highlights

• ​Main Building Architecture​​: Looking through the passageway beneath the building, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims and the Atomic Bomb Dome can be seen aligned in a single line. Take time to view the exterior of the Main Building, which stands directly on the park's central axis.
• ​Reality of the Atomic Bombing​​: Through personal belongings and photographs of atomic bomb victims, the Main Building conveys how the atomic bomb stole individual lives and everyday livelihoods. Visitors can quietly confront the gravity of the devastation, which cannot be fully conveyed through numbers alone.
• ​East Building Exhibits​​: The East Building conveys the ongoing dangers of nuclear weapons and Hiroshima's history of pursuing peace. Here, visitors can connect what they saw in the Main Building to the modern world.

Visiting Tips

The exhibition route proceeds from the East Building to the Main Building, and then returns to the East Building. Because the content is somber and can be emotionally draining, it is recommended to visit with ample time. After touring the museum, consider visiting the park's Cenotaph, the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, and the Atomic Bomb Dome. Detailed information is provided for each of these sites.