Hiroshima

Hiroshima is the largest city of Western Honshu province in Japan. When the first atomic bomb exploded over Hiroshima on 6 Aug 1945 the city became an immediate symbol for the horrors of war. That day at 8:15 am, a chunk of metal known as "Little Boy" dropped from an American plane, and the sky ignited and glowed for a moment . Than it became as hot as the surface of the sun in Hiroshima, until then a ordinary city in wartime Japan. Almost half of the city was leveled by the blast, and the rest was set ablaze. Rain of radioactive fallout fell than, killing many that the fire and massive shock wave missed. By the end of this man-made disaster, more than 140,000 people lost their lives. In the years following the war Hiroshima has been rebuilt into a typical industrial city (Mazda has one huge factory there). It is now covered with shopping arcades and lively department stores and a helpful information and tourist office. The city’s streetcar system is not very extensive but is efficient and provides stops info in both Japanese and English. When visiting Hiroshima you are advised to learn in advance of the horrors of World War II and the use of the atomic bomb over this city. This way you will be able to understand most of the monuments and landmarks of the city and to evaluate fully the spirit of the people managed to rebuild Hiroshima to its current state. Millions visit this city every year to pay their respects at the the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Peace Memorial Museum. The park, which was constructed in 1949, became home to many monuments and buildings, including the Children's Peace Monument and the A-Bomb Dome, built in 1915. The ruins of this dome are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and became symbol of the international desire for peace. But more than the formal monuments, the reconstructed city – bigger, brighter and more alive than ever – is a testimony to the power of life over destruction. Where once there were only ashes for as far as the eye could see, there now stands a modern city with an old-world feel by its trundling trams and sunny disposition. As if to show how earnestly Hiroshima has redefined itself, only a short walk from the monuments is Nagarekawa-cho, the city's most known nightlife district. And don't forget - there are tons more of attractions, activities and interesting places to see in Hiroshima, visit them and write here at HolidayStreets.com about their beauty and mystery!