Xplore Hiroshima

On August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb ever used in war was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, ushering in the nuclear age. Within 10 seconds, blistering heat, blast winds, and deadly radiation reduced a once vibrant and bustling city to rubble and ash. Hiroshima's atomic bomb survivors, or in Japanese, hibakusha, have been working tirelessly for 75 years to ensure that what happened to them will never happen again, anywhere on Earth. What did the people living in Hiroshima experience? How is Hiroshima's past and present relevant to our own lives? And how can the stories of hibakusha inspire us to create a more sustainable and peaceful future? During this tour, local guides Mary (American), and Haruki (Japanese) will introduce Hiroshima Peace Park, formerly Nakajima District, one of Hiroshima's busiest downtown centers and the target of the atomic bombing. You will see video footage from the day, toggle between maps of past and present Hiroshima, interact with 3D models of Little Boy, the A-bomb fireball, and the Atomic Bomb Dome, and hear the testimonies of hibakusha accompanied by art they created to convey their experiences. Stops include the Atomic Bomb Dome and Rest House, two A-bombed buildings that remain in the Peace Park even today, the hypocenter of the atomic bombing, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and the Sadako Sasaki inspired Children's Peace Monument.