Les meilleurs hôtels à Hiroshima

Except for Tokyo, Hiroshima is probably the one Japanese city that everyone can name. Its distinction, of course, came in 1945 when Hiroshima became the first city ever attacked by an atomic weapon. Far from trying to erase the painful memories, the city of Hiroshima over the past half-century has fashioned itself as a global center for peace activism. Downtown Hiroshima's "Peace Park," constructed at the epicenter of the bomb blast, is both a beautiful and haunting place for a stroll. At one end of the park stands the "A-Bomb Dome," a building which, though located directly under the explosion, was not toppled. Its bomb-ravaged skeleton, surrounded by rubble, still stands as a perpetual reminder of both the bomb's devastation and the strength of the Hiroshima people. Across the street from the dome stands Hiroshima Municipal Stadium, home of the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. The stadium was one of the first buildings to go up as Hiroshima began to rebuild. The city elders believed that a professional baseball team would give the city a focal point for community spirit and optimism. There is far more to this pleasant, breezy city of 1.1 million (not all that large by Japan's standards) than history. If for no other reason, Hiroshima is worth a visit just to sample the local delicacy, okonomiyaki -- a type of Japanese pancake stuffed with vegetables, noodles and whatever else you desire. Just outside Hiroshima is Miyajima, the ancient Shinto shrine that stands in the water and is widely considered one of the most beautiful spots in Japan.