At 8:15AM on August 6^th, 1945, the US dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan in an effort to force the country to surrender at the end of World War II.  The bomb was detonated about 600 meters over the city, instantly killing 10’s of 1000’s of people and destroying 95% of the buildings within a 1.5 mile radius of the blast.  Since the event, over 250,000 lives have been claimed by the bomb and/or the devastating aftereffects of exposure to radiation.

Today, the Peace Park and Hiroshima Memorial Peace Museum stand nearly directly under the hypocenter of the bomb.  The museum is very well designed, informative and answered nearly every question I had about the mind-blowing ferocity and destruction of the atomic bomb as well as the events in history that governed the decision to use it.

More than anything, the museum serves as a somber and emotional reminder of the destructive and devastating power of atomic or nuclear weapons- weapons that many in Japan are working to have destroyed.

We highly recommend a visit to the museum and park.  Admission is is less than US$.50 (yes- 50 cents) and don't recommend the audio tour (US$2.60) which adds little to the text with each exhibit.