HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER
HIROSHIMA, JAPAN
After meeting us at the Hiroshima Station, our local tour guide in Hiroshima literally ran us to a bus stop where we boarded a local city bus. She paid the fare and we stood amongst many locals and a few tourists. Our destination was the Hiroshima Memorial. I was quite surprised when we arrived as our guide took us to what appeared to be a modern office building located next to the Memorial. I wanted to go to the Memorial and did not see why we had to stop at an office tower. I went along and was so happy that our guide started the tour here at Orizuru Tower. After paying the entrance fee we were greeted by the staff and taken to an elevator to the top floor. As the door opened we entered into one of the most beautiful and dramatic simple rooms I have ever seen. Simple wood ceilings and floors with huge windows overlooking Hiroshima. We had the entire floor to ourselves and it was magical. As we walked towards the large windows facing the Hiroshima Memorial my heart dropped as the Memorial became clear. To realize that this was "the" spot of the the dropping of the Atomic Bomb was numbing. To see the Memorial from this room alone with my family and a few friends was pretty special. Something that I will never forget. Our guide was silent for a time and then began telling us the story of that grave day in August of 1945. 140,000 people from Hiroshima died that day and another 140,000 died in the days and years after from the effects of the radiation. The Genbaku Dome stands as a reminder of this day and to the strength of a city and its people. Was interesting to learn that the Atomic Bomb was actually detonated 600 km from the ground above the city. The actual impact or explosion zone can be viewed from the Orizuru Tower. Before leaving this beautiful and tranquil space we were escorted downstairs to interactive displays and an area where you can make an origami Crane to place inside the walls of the Tower. We made the paper Cranes and then went to a glass bottom walkway where you can drop your Crane into the air and watch it fly down the glass wall joining thousands that have came before us. A quick prayer to all those who died in Hiroshima was in my mind as I dropped my Crane down the chamber.
Click link below for additional posts on the Hiroshima Peace Memorial;
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| HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER |
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| HIROSHIMA ORIZURU TOWER GIVES YOU A GREAT VIEW OF THE GENBAKU DOME |
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| SIMPLE, ELEGANT ARCHITECTURE IS CALMING AND PERFECT SETTING FOR VIEWING THE DOME |
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| ENTRANCE FEE FOR ORIZURU TOWER. BRING YOUR PASSPORT FOR 50% OFF ADMISSION |
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| THE TOP FLOOR VIEWING AREA IS SIMPLY STUNNING AND BEAUTIFUL |
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| WALK UP TOWARDS THE LARGE GLASS WINDOWS |
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| WRAP AROUND VIEW OF THE CITY OF HIROSHIMA |
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| OUR FIRST VIEW OF THE A-DOME WAS STUNNING FROM THE ORIZURU TOWER |
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| THIS WAS WITHIN YARDS OF GROUND ZERO FOR THE A-BOMB |
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| THE SMALL WHITE BUILDING ON RIGHT SIDE OF BLUE BUILDING IS GROUND ZERO |
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| THE A-BOMB EXPLODED 600 KM ABOVE THIS SMALL WHITE BUILDING |
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| INTERACTIVE DISPLAYS ON LOWER FLOORS |
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| TECHNOLOGY MEETS FUN |
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| THE MAKING OF CRANES TO COMMEMORATE THE LIVES LOST AT HIROSHIMA |
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| ENTER THE GLASS HALLWAY WITH YOUR CRANES |
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| CRANES ARE DROPPED THROUGH THE GLASS HOLES |
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| YOU CAN VIEW THE DROPPING OF CRANES FROM OUTSIDE THE ROOM |
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| CRANES GO DOWN THE WALL AND LAY IN TRIBUTE TO HIROSHIMA |
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| AN UNEXPECTED SPECIAL MOMENT AT HIROSHIMA |
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| RETURN TO LOBBY VIA STAIRS, ELEVATOR OR A SLIDE! |
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| WE TOOK THE SLIDE DOWN TO THE LOBBY OF ORIZURU TOWER |
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