Visit Japan Web Hiroshima Castle
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Hiroshima Castle, a historical fortress located in Hiroshima. It formerly serves as the residence of the daimyō of the Hiroshima Domain. Initially built in the 1590s, the castle suffered extensive damage from the atomic bombing on August 6th, 1945, but the main keep was reconstructed in 1958, now functioning as a museum showcasing Hiroshima’s pre-World War II history.
The original wooden structures was primarily constructed of pine. The reconstructed castle features a five-story main tower made primarily of reinforced concrete. It stands at 26.6 meters above the stone foundation, with additional wooden structures, including a gate and three yagura.
Hiroshima Castle is an outstanding example of a hirajiro or plains castle. It originally had three concentric moats along with the Otagawa river to the west, which served as an additional natural barrier. The two outer moats were filled in during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Today, much of the area that was once within the castle grounds has been transformed into a modern urban area. Previously, a number of secondary castle buildings, towers, and turrets stood within the castle grounds. The Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine is now located within the innermost moat after being relocated there following the events of 1945.
Within the confines of the castle, three trees managed to endure the atomic bombing. A eucalyptus and a willow located roughly 740m from the hypocenter, and a holly approximately 935m from the hypocenter. Both trees are carefully preserved just beyond the Honmaru. Inside the Honmaru, there is also a concrete bunker from which the first radio broadcast was made.
