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- Destinations
- Asia
- Japan
- Hiroshima
Hiroshima
Tragedy has turned Hiroshima, the main city of the Chugoku
Region on Japan's main island of Honshu, into the country's most
famous tourist attraction. On 6 August 1945 the unfortunate city
became the first ever target of an atomic bomb. Early in the
morning three United States B-29 bombers flew in from the
northeast; one dropped its deadly ordnance over the centre of the
city, leaving a mushroom cloud that darkened the sky while more
than 200,000 civilians died. Today thousands of visitors make a
pilgrimage to Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, marvelling at the
lively modern city that has overcome its tragedy to become the
thriving home to more than a million people. Not surprisingly the
city has become vehemently engaged in the promotion of peace, and
American visitors are welcomed with open arms along with those of
other nationalities. Visitors are drawn mainly to the Peace
Memorial Park and its museum, but the rebuilt city is an attractive
place to visit in its own right, criss-crossed by rivers and wide
avenues and containing several good museums. Nearby are some of
Japan's most scenic excursion destinations.
Information & Facts
Climate
The climate in Hiroshima is generally temperate, with four
distinct seasons. The weather can get very hot during summer (June
to August) with the most rain falling in June and July. Winter
(December to February) is generally cool and sunny but there is
often light snowfall any time between December and March.
Getting Around
Hiroshima still operates an extensive tram network, called
Hiroden. Most tram routes emanate from the JR Hiroshima Station,
charging a flat rate within the city centre. The city also has a
metro system, which only serves the northern suburbs, and is not
usually useful for visitors.
Language
Japanese is the official language. Most Japanese people
will have studied English at school, but few can speak it well or
understand what is said to them.
Money
The currency is the Japanese Yen (JPY), which is equal to 100
sen. Major credit cards are accepted in the larger hotels and
stores, but most Japanese operate with cash. Cash and travellers
cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and currency
exchange bureaux. Banks are usually open Monday to Friday 9am to
3pm. Travellers cheques offer the best exchange rate and are best
taken in US dollars. ATMs do not accept all credit and debit cards;
only the international ATMs in post offices, airports and some
major stores.
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