Jejak Sakura 2016: Atomic Bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park

Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan
Sunday, 17 Apr 2016


Continue from Jejak Sakura 2016: Miyajima Island

Next agenda ke... Peace Memorial Park. Tempat wajib pergi kalau ke Hiroshima ni. Jom kita explore history behind the tragedy of Atomic Bombing in Hiroshima on 6 Aug 1945.

Sampai saja di Hiroshima Station, kena exit dulu dari JR station & follow signboard "Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus". Bas terletak kat luar bangunan JR station, so, kena jalan lebih kurang 2 minit nak sampai ke Bus Station. Bas ada setiap 15minit. Ada 2 pilihan bus samada Orange route or Green route. Basically both route lalu di spot yg penting iaitu di Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. Boleh refer map below for further info.

Sightseeing Loop Bus ini juga akan lalu Hiroshima Castle and some other historical places. Kalau banyak masa memang boleh cover semua area. Korang boleh ikut laluan bas ni ke spot pilihan. Kalau takde JR Pass maybe boleh beli One day Pass untuk ke semua attraction yang cover by Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus. Boleh habiskan masa di spot loop bus ini seberapa lama yang suka.

Boleh study map ni dulu before naik Sightseeing Loop Bus

Sightseeing Loop Bus Route

We choose Orange Route sebab bus ni yang sampai dulu

Hiroshima City

Hiroshima Peace Memorial commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dome (A-Bomb Dome) in Hiroshima is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation. (source)

The Atomic Bomb Dome

History...

The Product Exhibition Hall building was originally designed by the Czech architect Jan Letzel. The design included a distinctive dome at the highest part of the building. It was completed in April 1915 and was named the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition (HMI). It was formally opened to the public in August that year. In 1921, the name was changed to the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall, and again, in 1933, to the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building was located in the large business district next to the Aioi Bridge and was primarily used for arts and educational exhibitions.

The building was the only structure left standing near the bomb’s hypocenter. Soon commonly called the Genbaku ("A-Bomb") Dome, due to the exposed metal dome framework at its apex, the structure was scheduled to be demolished with the rest of the ruins, but the majority of the building was intact, delaying the demolition plans. The Dome became a subject of controversy, with some locals wanting it torn down, while others wanted to preserve it as a memorial of the bombing and a symbol of peace. Ultimately, when the reconstruction of Hiroshima began, the skeletal remains of the building were preserved. (wikipedia)

The only structure left after nuclear bomb exploded over Hiroshima in 6 Aug 1945

The Genbaku Dome amidst the devastation in October 1945 (source)

Aku memang suka structure bangunan lama, lebih lebih lagi historical architecture, so, memang banyak gambar aku abadikan kat sini. Kira hebat jugalah architecture Genbaku Dome ni sebab masih mampu mengekalkan sebahagian strukturnya selepas ledakan bom atom memusnahkan hampir seluruh Hiroshima. Paling kesian mereka yang masih meneruskan hidup selepas kejadian paling tragis di Jepun  dengan kesan radiasi akibat dari atomic bomb. Tak dapat bayangkan kesengsaraan yang terpaksa dihadapi ketika itu.

Ruin of Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall

Close up of the dome

Steel supports are being added to three areas of the dome to reinforce sections which could be seriously damage by earthquakes

The Genbaku Dome after 71years

Side view of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Menjejak sejarah

From the Atomic Bomb Dome, jalan kaki saja nak ke Peace Memorial Park, on the other side.

Tram aka Hiroden... only in Hiroshima

Hiroshima City

Spring now in Hiroshima

Hiroshima kini yang gah membangun

The Atomic Bomb Dome seen from Aioi Bridge

Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall now & then

Hiroshima Dome as seen from the memorial park

Actually, ada banyak lagi spot yang boleh dilawati berhampiran dengan Peace Memorial Park. Tapi kami cuma menghabiskan masa di dua tempat ini sambil menghayati kesan atomic bom. Lagipun dekat Peace Memorial Park ni, ada spot Sakura yang cantik, hahaha. Ada juga lah sisa sakura yang masih ada. Kalau nak lebih menghayati sejarah boleh lah ke Hiroshima Peace Memorial Muzium yang berhampiran. Lagi banyak gambar & video sewaktu zaman perang dunia kedua dipaparkan. Pernah tengok Jihan menagis masa melawat Muzium ni dalam rancangan “Jejak Jepun Jihan” di Astro Ria. Kalau tengok map kena menapak sikit dari Atomic Bomb dome nak sampai ke sini. Tapi kami tak banyak masa, so, by 4pm kami dah mula cari tram nak balik ke Hiroshima station balik. Sebab kami nak kejar Shinkansen yang pukul 5.16pm. Oh, Tram tak cover by JR Pass, so, kena bayar cash. Anyway, bila lagi nak merasa naik tram kat Jepun kan. Lagipun hanya di Hiroshima saja yang ada Tram.

The Aioi Bridge an unusual "T"-shaped three-way bridge in Hiroshima, Japan. The original bridge, constructed in 1932, was the aiming point for the 1945 Hiroshima atom bomb because its shape was easily recognized from the air.

Masih ada sakura di Hiroshima

Gadis & Bunga

From Peace Memorial Park, kami naik tram balik ke Hiroshima station. Kalau ikutkan boleh jer nak naik sightseeing loop bus sebab kami boleh guna JR Pass tapi sebab nak merasa naik tram kan, hehehe. Fare 160yen from Peace Memorial Park to Hiroshima JR station. Alhamdulillah managed to catch Shinkansen at 5.16pm.

Tram last stop at Hiroshima station

To be continued...