The museum complex is aligned on an axis with the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims.
The Main Building underwent an extensive multi-year renovation to earthquake-proof the structure while updating exhibition displays.
The museum houses a 'Peace Clock' that has never been reset since it was donated, remaining fixed at the time of the explosion.
The collection includes the watch of Kengo Nikawa, which stopped precisely at 8:15 AM.
The museum archives contain over 100,000 items, though only a small fraction are rotated through the public galleries.
Architect Kenzo Tange designed the elevated structure of the main hall to allow the visual connection between the park and the Genbaku Dome.
The museum holds a permanent collection of artworks created by survivors, known as hibakusha, depicting their experiences.
The facility functions as a research center for nuclear disarmament studies.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is located within Peace Memorial Park, situated on the site of the former Nakajima district, the area closest to the hypocenter of the 1945 atomic bombing. The museum is housed in the Main Building and the East Building, designed by architect Kenzo Tange to symbolize peace and recovery. It displays artifacts salvaged from the ruins, including personal belongings of victims, scorched clothing, and melted glass. The exhibits track the history of Hiroshima, the catastrophic effects of the uranium bomb 'Little Boy,' and the subsequent radiation-induced illness. The museum serves as a repository for peace-related testimonies and documentation aimed at global nuclear abolition. It remains a central site for international diplomacy and educational outreach regarding humanitarian impacts of modern warfare.
The view from the museum's glass-walled corridors looking out toward the Atomic Bomb Dome.
Allow sufficient time for the East Building, which provides the historical context before you enter the more emotional Main Building.
Rent the official audio guide to access deeper narrative details and survivor testimonies not fully captured on placards.
Visit the Peace Memorial Park grounds immediately after the museum to process the exhibits in the context of the surrounding monuments.
Do not attempt to rush through the exhibits; the museum is emotionally heavy, and visitors should manage their energy accordingly.
Closed annually on December 29th, 30th, 31st, and January 1st.
Maintain a quiet, respectful demeanor throughout the galleries; photography is restricted in specific areas featuring sensitive items.
