There is more to Hiroshima than its tragic war history.

With seven rivers, there are many riverside walks and bridges to discover. We also enjoy walking through the neighborhood alleys and observing the daily activities of the local people. For us, it is not just the attractions but also the slice of life (for example, grocery shopping in a neighborhood green grocer or eating in a small mom-and-pop cafe where we are often the only foreign visitors) that leaves lasting memories of our visit. 

We did two other major attractions:

> Hiroshima Castle: sometimes known as Carp Castle. The original was built in 1590s but was destroyed by the bomb. Rebuilt in 1958 as a replica (it’s amazing in Japan that they have kept detailed construction drawings from centuries ago and if needed, that helps in rebuilding a temple or shrine or castle or garden). Three trees survived the bombing (about 740m and 935m from the hypocenter) and located within is a bunker where the first radio broadcast out of Hiroshima after the bombing. 
> Shukkeien Garden (translated “the Shrunken-Scenery Garden”): a daimyo (feudal lord)’s scenic garden with over 400 years of history (origin: 1620), resembling miniaturized valleys, mountains, and forests throughout Japan. It is inspired by the Chinese West Lake in Hangzhou. Though it was heavily damaged by the bombing, it has been completely renovated based on original drawings of the garden.