Hiroshima And Its Past: Full Day Tour

Hiroshima And Its Past: Full Day Tour Photo #1 of 2 Photo copyright ShoreTrips.com.

Overview

See for yourself why the floating Torii gate is

We are all reminded of the same event when hearing the name of this city. But it is lovely as are the people and it is possible to enjoy the culture that has developed in and around the city.

Hiroshima is a city that truly honors its past, and it has built up a wonderful infrastructure for remembering both the beautiful and devastating events that make up its history. On this tour, you’ll delve into the complicated history of this major Japanese city.

You’ll begin in Hiroshima's Peace Memorial Park, which covers over 120,000 square meters of the central city with trees, lawns, and walking paths. Before the dropping of the atomic bomb in 1945, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city. The district’s importance in the city made it a target for the American pilots when they were determining where to drop the bomb. As Hiroshima began its recovery, it was decided that the area not be redeveloped but instead be devoted to peace memorial facilities. The park's main attraction is the Peace Memorial Museum. Consisting of two buildings, the museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its strongest focus is on the events of August 6: the dropping of the bomb and its destructive effects on the region.

The A-Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. Before the bomb was dropped, the building served to promote Hiroshima's industries. After the bomb exploded, the building was one of the few structures remaining in the area. It still stands today, and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Connecting the museum and the A-Bomb Dome is the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. The Cenotaph is an arched tomb for those who died from the bomb’s blast or its resulting radiation. A stone chest holding a register of the 220,000 deceased sits under the arch.

After you’ve taken in the park, enjoy an Okonomiyaki lunch. Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese pancake that could be called Japanese style pizza. It is a local specialty.

A brief ferry ride from Hiroshima will take you to Miyajima Island. This tiny sacred island is located in the Inland Sea and has been a holy place of Shintoism for many, many centuries. Its star attraction is the floating Torii gate, perhaps the most photographed site in Japan. Designated as one of Japan's "3 most beautiful views," the shrine it belongs to dates back to the 6th century with the present structure dating back to the 12th century. The harmoniously arranged buildings reveal incredible technical artistry, and have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such was the importance of the island that in bygone days, mere 'commoners' were not allowed to set foot on this holy place, and even now it is forbidden to give birth or die on the island!

You will have time to explore the island’s many shrines and temples and sample local goodies like maple leaf shaped cakes.

- Lunch is included in the price of the tour.
- Please note, that we have limited English speaking guides and this tour must be booked well in advance.
- The transportation for this program is done with public transportation which is included in the price of the tour.

- IMPORTANT. This tour has a cancellation/refund policy that is non-conforming with ShoreTrips standard policy. Full refunds will be made for cancellations due to your ship not making its scheduled port stop if you have notified the vendor or ShoreTrips of this situation at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled stop. 50% refunds will be made cancellations due to your ship not making its scheduled port stop if you have notified the vendor or ShoreTrips of this situation at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled stop. No refunds will be made for cancellations made in the last 48 hours prior to the scheduled stop. Excursion Protection insurance is available and highly recommended and will be offered to you during the checkout procedure.

Days offered: 7 days a week

Departures:

• 08:00 AM, duration: 8 hours
• 09:00 AM, duration: 8 hours