Hiroshima is the site of one of the world’s only two atomic bombings in World War II, but after you pay your respects at the atomic bomb memorial, there are several other sites you can visit. These include Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden and several art museums.
Hiroshima Castle, also known as the Carp Castle, is an attractive, compact castle surrounded by a large moat and located inside a tree-filled compound. Originally built in the late 16th century, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb so what you see now is a rebuilt version. The black-roofed castle features distinctive brown panelling on each of its levels, with historical exhibits about Hiroshima and the castle inside.
Within the castle grounds, are a shrine and the stone ruins of the Imperial Army headquarters during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894, destroyed from the atomic bomb.
Shukkeien Garden is a smallish wonderland of a garden that recreates Japan’s various landscapes such as mountains, valleys, and forest. Built in 1620, the garden features a large central pond with huge carp, bamboo groves, a mini rice field, and even a small hill. There’re also a few tea houses around the garden which feature tea ceremonies at certain times of the year, and a teashop where you can enjoy tea anytime.
But even here in the garden, there is an Atomic Bomb Memorial Monument where 65 remains of atomic bombing victims were found buried in the park in 1987. The remains were then placed in the A-Bomb Memorial Tower at the Peace Memorial Park.
Shukkeien itself means “shrunken garden” in Japanese but its beauty and elegance is anything but small.
Hiroshima also features several museums for art lovers – the Hiroshima Museum of Art, City Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Prefectural Art Museum. I tried going to the City Museum of Contemporary Art, which is located on a small hill park (Hijiyama Park), but its main exhibition was closed for renovation.
Hiroshima Castle grounds, seen from the castle
Entrance to the Hiroshima Castle grounds
Ruins of the Imperial Japanese Army headquarters during the Sino-Japanese War in 1894 
Greedy carp at Shukkeien Garden 
City Museum of Contemporary Art
