Geography
Hiroshima Prefecture, meaning "broad island", is located in the central part of the island of Honshu in the Chugoku region, its coastline overlooking the Inland Sea of Japan. The climate here is subtropical, snowless in winter. The capital of the prefecture is the city of the same name, Hiroshima, it is the largest city in the Chugoku region with a population of over a million people
History
People have inhabited these places since ancient times, from the Jomon period. Hiroshima itself was founded at the end of the sixteenth century as the headquarters of the samurai Mori family, which ruled the entire western part of the island of Honshu. In August 1945, Hiroshima became the first city in the world to be subjected to atomic bombing. About 140 thousand people died from the explosion and radiation sickness. After the war, Hiroshima was completely rebuilt, but several destroyed buildings were left as a memorial to the victims of the bombing.
Culture, attractions
and entertainment
The Peace Memorial Park, famous for its sakura gardens, reminds of the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The Peace Museum and the Eternal Flame are located here, as well as a statue of a girl holding a paper crane above her head. This memorial complex, named "Flame of Peace", was designed by world famous architect Kenzo Tange. And on the other bank of the Ota River, which divides Hiroshima, is the Atomic Bomb Dome, a local exhibition center building that has not been restored for the edification of posterity.
And directly next to Hiroshima is the island of Miyajima, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Miyajima means "island of temples" and is officially considered one of the three most beautiful places in Japan, along with Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture and Matsushima, an island off the city of Sendai. Miyajima has been a sacred place since ancient times, according to written data, at least one and a half thousand years. The Itsukushima Shinto Shrine located here is dedicated to the three sea deities, daughters of the sea god Susanno, brother of Amaterasu, the sun goddess. The sanctuary stands on the seashore and during high tide it appears in the water; you get the feeling that it is floating above the surface of the water. And the torii gate, made of camphor wood and preceding the entrance to the temple, is located about 150 meters from the shore and is constantly in the water, which creates a unique natural-man-made ensemble.
Not far from the Itsukushima Shrine there is a modern building of a historical and ethnographic repository, which contains hundreds of exhibits, many of which have the status of “National Treasure of Japan” or “Important Cultural Property”.
Also notable among the local extensive temple complex are Tahoto Pagoda and Daishoin Temple, located on the slopes of Mount Misen.
Hiroshima and Tokyo are connected by the Shinkansen super express, which takes 4 hours to travel.
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