Hiroshima is in the Chugoku region of Japan on the bottom of the most populated island of Honshu, about 2 hours from Osaka and 4 hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen (bullet train). Hiroshima is most internationally recognized as the sight of the first Atomic bombing at 8:15am on August 6, 1945 at the end of World War II. Many visitors from around the world visit the city and pay their respects at the peace park in the city center every year. Most foreign residents are from Asian countries, Asian visitors to the city were over 80,000 (2008), North Americans over 72,000 (2008) and Europe 84,200 (2008).http://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/page/1172558742695/

The Peace park's A-bomb dome and Miyajima's Itsukushima floating shrine are the two designated World Heritage sights in Hiroshima.

As of January 2010 Hiroshima city's population was 1,173,980 people which includes the third largest foreign population in Japan. The geography of the city is fairly flat in the center, surrounded by mountains on the outskirts of town. It is situated along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea and there are 5 rivers that flow through the city center so is referred to as the Amsterdam of Japan- the wide boulevards and riverside paths make it a nice city to cycle around.

Hiroshima city is surrounded by small islands that can be seen from the coast or mountains: Etajima island, Yoshijima, Miyajima and Nomijima are closest to the city.

Hiroshima's history dates back 7,000 years ago to the Jomon period. The city of Hiroshima was established as a capital in 1589 by Terumoto Mori and became a powerful port city for the rest of Japan and international shipping lanes. It later became a city of industry and a military base for Japanese navy in Kure where the famous battleship the Yamato was built and deployed from during WWII. Since the war, the people of Hiroshima have rebuilt the city and moved forward positively as the city of "Peace". Mayor Akiba travels around the world conveying the city's message of peace. 2009 was significant in history as President Obama stated he wanted to visit the city, becoming the first time an American president has said he might visit the city during his official term in office. Steven Leeper, an American who spent some of his youth growing up in Hiroshima has become the first non-Japanese director of the Peace culture foundation in the city in April, 2007. http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/topic/leeper_award.htm

• • Shukkei-en Gardens
• • Hijiyama park and modern art museum
• • Hiroshima "Carp" Castle
• • Children's museum, planetarium and manga museum
• • Hiroshima prefecutural museum
• • Mazda car museum
• • Mazda zoom zoom baseball stadium
• • Big Arch Soccer stadium
• • Ai-Yu-Ichiba Traditional Market
• • Peace Park: museum, monuments and memorials
• • Silver Peace Pagoda- up the hill from the Hiroshima station (Shinkansen exit)
• • Itsukushima Floating Shrine and Giant Torii gate (Miyajima island)
• • Yamato Battleship Museum (Kure-city)
• • Okonomiyaki-mura

• Tadatoshi Akiba (Mayor of Peace)

• Saijo Hideki (Singer/Entertainer)

• Rumi Shishido (Anime voice actress)

• Miki Maya (Actress)

• Sora Izumikawa (Singer, songwriter)

• Megumi Okina (Actress)

• Steven Leeper (Chairman of the Peace Culture Foundation)