Hiroshima A-bomb museum logs record 2 million visitors in FY2024

Terribly crowded and chaotic — so much so the museum’s own website recommends visiting before 08:30 or after 17:30!

On an average day, a visitor will encounter large masses of students, often aged 12-14, quickly and loudly pushing into each museum room. Every 5-10 minutes, each room fills with a new flood of jostling, playful students. Their attention is generally on each other. Teachers loudly encourage them to keep quiet out of respect for older visitors, creating even more of a disturbance.

If you desire a more peaceful visit to such a museum, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is much less busy.

the devastation caused by a U.S. atomic bomb in 1945 

Wrong, that devastation was caused by Japanese decision to enter WW2 by attacking Pearl Harbor and the rest just follow. Consequence can be really expensive, sometimes those who are innocent need to pay for it.

Reflecting an increase in overseas tourists due to the weak yen and growing public interest in the museum amid Russia's war against Ukraine and the conflict in the Middle East, according to the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, which released the preliminary data.

That Museum can attract better foreign tourist than most that rural area in Japan.

sakurasuki

the devastation caused by a U.S. atomic bomb in 1945 

Wrong, that devastation was caused by Japanese decision to enter WW2 by attacking Pearl Harbor and the rest just follow. Consequence can be really expensive, sometimes those who are innocent need to pay for it.

I assume you are meaning the attack the USA orchestrated right down to the time and day it would happen, had all of their modern ships out at sea on "exercises" on that day saving them from any damage, ignored the warning 2 hours before the first planes arrived of a Japanese submarine in the harbor which they shot and sank. You need to do a little more homework and you will find this event took the USA from being broke into a good economy, which was the main purpose.

Does this museum really serve a useful purpose? By now most people in the world know what the effects of an atomic bomb explosion would result in. It is now nothing more than a tourist attraction..It teaches nothing.

Alan Harrison

Does this museum really serve a useful purpose? By now most people in the world know what the effects of an atomic bomb explosion would result in. It is now nothing more than a tourist attraction..It teaches nothing.

Have you been there? This museum should be compulsory to visit for any one visiting Japan as an advertisement on why the world does not need nuclear weapons.

Alan Harrison

But will add no one under 13 should be allowed to view it. It is very confronting

@alongfortheride Have you been there? This museum should be compulsory to visit for any one visiting Japan as an advertisement on why the world does not need nuclear weapons.

I visited the museum in 1980. A good Japanese friend of mine from Hiroshima took me there. Afterwards, we discussed the visit and we both agreed - let's move on. We are all friends now.

Alan Harrison

@alongfortheride Have you been there? This museum should be compulsory to visit for any one visiting Japan as an advertisement on why the world does not need nuclear weapons.

I visited the museum in 1980. A good Japanese friend of mine from Hiroshima took me there. Afterwards, we discussed the visit and we both agreed - let's move on. We are all friends now.

Agreed, we are all friends now but not a reason for the museum to disappear. Younger people who could potentially grow up in military should visit the place and see just what’s these weapons can do. All the while remembering that todays nuclear bombs are 50 time bigger than that one.

If you desire a more peaceful visit to such a museum, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is much less busy.

I've been to both, but it was in 1993. I liked the Nagasaki museum more because it has more photographs. I find photographs of victims more moving than indirect indicators, like pieces of melted glass or the famous steps with a human shadow burnt into them.

I'd like to go again, but it will have to be without my kids because I want to know how the museum deals with the "was it necessary?" question. This may involve standing in one room for a long time reading and taking in a lengthy text on a wall.

The number of schoolchildren in Japan is falling off a cliff, so any crowding with them will be more schools proactively taking them. Given where Hiroshima is, I doubt many will be coming from Kanto, because its too far and too costly to go there.

Alongfortheride

This museum should be compulsory to visit for any one visiting Japan

A grand overstatement.

Foreign visitors don’t want their tourist destinations mandated by the Japanese government.

It is a brilliant museum with a noble cause. I've been two or three times with different visiting friends or relatives. Its always their idea, because even now, Hiroshima has name recognition overseas- it is one of the five or six places that most people can name, even if they don't know much about Japan. Unfortunately, I fear the experience would be ruined by their being too many people to properly take in all of the exhibits.

Bobby Franks

Alongfortheride

This museum should be compulsory to visit for any one visiting Japan

A grand overstatement.

Foreign visitors don’t want their tourist destinations mandated by the Japanese government.

Figure of speech Dude, Chill!

As others noted - it has become way too overcrowded, diminishing the quiet, reflective spirit necessary to take in all in.

Large groups of school kids, contribute to the packed/rushed atmosphere. They have every right to be there, but from observing I doubt many of them are taking much in.

I've been a number of times over a few decades, but last year with relatives from Australia was totally unsatisfactory. They were disappointed that they couldn't look and read at leisure and go back and check things again - all the while with buzz of so many around.

I'm not sure what the answer is. Bookings only, limited admissions at special times, charging more, restricting entries to match exits.....etc??? What do other museums do?

ATM I'm not willing to take visitors there again and have a repeat of the last experience.

On reflection, although the content of the museum is excellent, it is in a weird position in that it intends to convince and remind people of the horrors of nuclear weapons, but anyone who visits on their own accord has likely made up their mind already. So the more passive visitors (school groups) are probably the best target and it is the foreign visitors who are maybe problematic.