The Hall of Remembrance contains 12 glass pillars of light that represent the hope for peace and the ongoing mourning for the victims.
The facility maintains a digital registry that records the names of all victims confirmed to have died as a result of the atomic bomb, including those who passed away from subsequent radiation effects.
The main structure is almost entirely subterranean, designed to foster a sense of stillness and distance from the outside world.
The design includes a water basin on the surface that reflects the sky and the glowing pillar of light at night, symbolizing the prayers of the survivors for those who died thirsty for water.
The memorial operates as a repository for personal testimonies, photographs, and video records collected from Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors).
The Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims is an underground memorial dedicated to the victims of the 1945 atomic bombing. Designed by architect Akira Kuryu, the facility features a glass tower that glows with light, symbolizing a pillar of prayer for peace. The hall contains a Hall of Remembrance featuring 12 pillars of light and a register of names of those who perished in the explosion and its aftermath. It serves as both a site for mourning and a center for peace-related information, including digital archives of survivor testimonies. The architecture utilizes natural light and subterranean spaces to encourage quiet reflection. Visitors can browse thousands of memoirs and personal accounts provided by survivors. The site is located directly adjacent to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
The view from the surface level looking down at the water basin and the illuminated glass pillar.
Start your visit at the adjacent Atomic Bomb Museum for historical context before entering the memorial hall.
Visit the Hall of Remembrance in silence to maintain the solemnity of the space.
Check the video archive area to listen to primary-source survivor testimonies.
Do not treat the site as a casual sightseeing stop; loud conversations and casual behavior are considered highly inappropriate.
Closed for year-end and new-year holidays.
Maintain silence, avoid photography in designated restricted areas, and dress modestly out of respect for the victims.
