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Monday, April 8, 2013

Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Then and Now

In the summer of 1945, the Empire of Japan suffered a nuclear attack by the United States, ordered by the President Truman. On August 6, the bomb Little Boy was dropped on the city of Hiroshima and on August 9 the Fat Man bomb on Nagasaki. It is estimated that both nuclear weapons took the lives of 220,000 people. Furthermore, the effects of radiation on the surviving population caused serious health problems, including numerous cases of fatal cancer.

Cloud after the Hiroshima bomb (left) and Nagasaki (right) .


Getting to Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

  • From Tokyo: there are direct flights from Tokyo's Haneda airport that take us to Hiroshima and Nagasaki (about 1h45min) but their prices are very high (about 600 euros). A cheaper option is to go by train from Shinagawa Station (Tokyo). We can reach Hiroshima in 3h 40min. and the ticket price is usually around 150 euros. 
  •  From Osaka: from Shin-Osaka Station you can take the Nozomi train that leads to Hiroshima in 80 minutes.

Once in Hiroshima we can take a train ride to Nagasaki changing at Hakata (about 3 hours).
For schedules and train tickets in Japan there is a page that I recommend:



HIROSHIMA


Hiroshima 1945/Hiroshima 2006 ( photo der.: Voogd075 )


Map of the spread of fire caused by the bomb in Hiroshima.



The Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome)

Location : here.  
Tram stop: Genbaku Dome Station.  
Virtual Tour of the memorial: 
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/frame/Virtual_e/tour_e/guide1.html

The Peace Memorial houses the ruins of the adjacent buildings to the center of the explosion in commemoration to the victims.


 Panoramic of Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. (photo: Dean S )


Dome Genbaku before 1945, following the explosion and as it looks today.


Museum Peace Memorial

Location: here .  
Tram stop: Fukoromachi / Genbaku Dome  
Official Website: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/index_e2.html 
Opening hours (admission until half an hour before closing):
From 1 March to 31 November : 8:30-18:00
From December 1 to February 28: 8:30 to 17:00
From August 1 to August 31: 8:30 to 19:00  
Admission: 50 yen (0.50 euros) This museum covers the history and reconstruction of Hiroshima from 1945 through models, photographs, objects collected from the ruins, etc.







Communication Bunker Hiroshima

 Location: here.
Tram stop: Jogakuin-mae

It is said that from this bunker they gave notice of the attack and when the occupants came out they found a city completely destroyed.



 Bunker after the pump in 1945 and at present.



 NAGASAKI

Nagasaki before and after the bombing.

 Memorial Nagasaki hypocenter

Location here .   
Tram stop: Machuyamamachi

This memorial represents the exact spot where the bomb exploded.




 Remains of Urakami Cathedral in 1945 and today.


Peace Park in Nagasaki 

Location: here .
Tram stop: Machuyamamachi 
Park memorial commemorating the victims of the Second World War, especially those who died after the explosion.
photo: W.CC


Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki

Location : here .
Tram stop: Hamaguchimachi 
Timetable (last admission half hour before closing):
From May to August: 8:30 to 18:30
Rest of the year: 8:30 to 17:30
Closed from 29 to 31 December.
Normal ticket: 200 yen (1.70 euros)
The museum is entirely devoted to the attack suffered by the city on August 9, 1945. The exhibition is divided in Nagasaki before the explosion, the bomb that devastated Nagasaki and nuclear weapons.
photo: Kiyokun


Tateyama bomb shelter  

Location: here .
Tram stop: Suwajinjamae
photo: Sapphire123


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