Day 10 ( Monday 5th October 2025) a visit to Hiroshima

Hiroshima was one of those destinations that leaves a lasting impression, balancing moments of reflection with the simple pleasures of travel. 

Cruise terminal Hiroshima

Shipping near Hiroshima

Google translate becomes useful again

We began the morning in the best possible way, with breakfast delivered directly to our cabin. After a leisurely start to the day, we got ready and headed ashore. As our ship was docked in a working port, a shuttle bus was required to reach the local train station. 

Downtown Hiroshima

Typical street 

Typical street 

From there, we boarded a tram for the journey into Hiroshima city centre, a trip that took around an hour. Our first impressions of Hiroshima were much like those of other Japanese cities we have visited. The architecture in the urban areas is practical and functional, with rows of modern buildings that prioritise efficiency over ornamentation. It is often only on the outskirts that Japanese architecture begins to reveal more traditional and visually distinctive styles.

Hiroshima peace Park

Hiroshima peace Park - bell for the children 

80 years of regrowth Hiroshima peace Park

Bell to peace Hiroshima peace Park

 Our main destination was Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, situated near the hypocentre of the atomic bomb that devastated the city on 6 August 1945. Today, the park is a beautiful and peaceful green space, yet it is impossible to stand there without reflecting on the unimaginable devastation that once occurred. It is difficult to comprehend that this tranquil setting was, for a brief and terrible moment, a vision of hell on earth. The Japanese people have created a deeply respectful and moving memorial dedicated to the victims and the pursuit of 

peace. 

Atomic dome

Memorial mound - 70000 victims ashes buried 

Throughout the park, monuments and memorials remind visitors of the horrors of nuclear warfare while encouraging hope for a more peaceful future. One of the most poignant sites is the Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound, a large grass-covered knoll containing the cremated remains of approximately 70,000 unidentified victims. The location itself is significant, as the park occupies what was once Hiroshima's bustling commercial and residential heart. The area was completely destroyed by the blast and was later transformed into the Peace Memorial Park we see today, visited by more than a million people each year. Near the centre of the park stands the Memorial Cenotaph, an elegant arch-shaped monument sheltering a stone chest that contains the names of those who perished. The monument is carefully aligned so that visitors can see the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome through its arch. Completed in 1952, the design symbolises protection and shelter for the souls of the victims. The Peace Flame burns nearby as a powerful symbol of remembrance and hope. It serves not only as a tribute to those who lost their lives but also as a reminder of humanity's ongoing desire for a world free from nuclear weapons. Another memorable feature of the park is the Peace Bell. 

Suspended within a simple open-sided structure, the large bell invites visitors to strike it as a prayer for world peace. Throughout the day, its rich and resonant tone can be heard echoing across the grounds, adding to the park's contemplative atmosphere.

To the girls school that was vaporised 

Atomic Dome 

 Perhaps the most recognisable landmark is the Atomic Bomb Dome. This skeletal structure miraculously survived the explosion and remains standing today in a carefully preserved state of ruin. Once known as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the building was designed by Czech architect Jan Letzel and completed in 1915. Its distinctive dome made it a notable feature of the city long before it became one of the world's most powerful symbols of the consequences of war. 

Memorial mound

The Peace Park is beautifully maintained and thoughtfully presented. While educational, it is also deeply emotional. The other significant learning was the gifts of water left by visitors which represented the dying request for water by the victims of the atomic bomb. The visit brought tears to Cos's eyes as he reflected on the immense human tragedy behind the memorials and what they continue to represent 

Hiroshima bank that became a bakery survived the bomb

After leaving the park, we made our way to Hondōri Shopping Street, the vibrant heart of downtown Hiroshima. Stretching beneath a covered arcade, Hondōri is filled with shops, cafés, restaurants and entertainment venues. Unlike some of the more tourist-oriented shopping districts we have visited elsewhere in Japan, Hondōri felt very much like a place where local people come to shop, meet friends and enjoy everyday life. 

today. 

Hobby shop

Ramen booth

Lunch was at Ichiran Ramen, the famous tonkotsu ramen chain originating from Fukuoka. Dining at Ichiran is an experience in itself. Customers are seated in individual "flavour concentration booths", separated by wooden dividers designed to eliminate distractions and allow diners to focus entirely on their meal. Orders are completed on customised forms where diners can select everything from broth richness and garlic levels to noodle firmness and spice intensity. Meals are delivered discreetly through a small curtained opening, creating a uniquely Japanese dining experience that has become popular with both locals and visitors. 

Under cover shopping arcade

Shopping street 

The former bank

Following lunch and a little souvenir shopping, we retraced our route by tram back to the port. Before rejoining the ship, we passed through Japanese immigration formalities as we would be departing Japan's main islands later that evening on our way to Busan, South Korea. 

Dinner was enjoyed in the ship's Pacific Moon dining room, which provided a pleasant and relaxing end to the day. As has become something of a tradition, we finished the evening with a couple of nightcaps in the Warehouse Bar before heading back to our cabin for an early night. 

Overall, Hiroshima was a memorable and deeply moving destination. The city seamlessly combines remembrance and resilience, offering visitors both an important lesson from history and a glimpse of the vibrant, modern community that has flourished there today.