The Atomic Bomb Dome, a World Heritage Site, is located near the center of
Hiroshima City.
It was not originally a park, but rather a place where merchants once gathered and inns, restaurants, and theaters lined the streets of Hiroshima.
Why did this place flourish?
The outer moat of Hiroshima Castle has now been filled in and turned into land, on which various buildings stand, but right in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome was the southwest end of the outer moat.
Nowadays, land transportation is well developed, but at that time, marine transportation was the mainstream.
The river is very important for transporting goods to Hiroshima Castle.
The castle was built facing the river, and merchants started their business because of the castle.
"Hiroshima River Cruise" will take you around the outer walls of Hiroshima Castle while imagining such a scene.
- Aioi-bashi Bridge
- Tera-machi (Temple Town)
- A hole?
- Motomachi Apartments
- Stairs "Kusunoki-no-Ogangi"
- Sandy Soil
- A Pedestrian Bridge, "Kohei-bashi Bridge"
- Private Gangi
- River Station
Aioi-bashi Bridge
We start from the pier in Peace Memorial Park.We will pass the Atomic Bomb Dome, a World Heritage Site, and the Aioi Bridge, a T-shaped bridge said to have been the target of the atomic bombing.
Do you see how the bridge is T-shaped?
After passing the Aioi Bridge, we arrived at the site of the former Hiroshima Castle.
Not many people in Hiroshima know this, but the base of the Aioi Bridge is the southwest corner of the outer moat.
When Hiroshima Castle was the administrative center of Hiroshima, there were no bridges north of the Aioi Bridge to protect the castle.
At that time, it seems that people came and went by boat.
Tera-machi（Temple Town）
Continue north, keeping the large temple on your left and the beautiful riverbank greenery on your right.The area where the big temple is located is called Teramachi.
As I wrote the above, the land across the river was the site of Hiroshima Castle.
It seems that the temples were consolidated as a line of defense when the enemy tried to invade Hiroshima Castle.
A hole?
Now, what do you think this hole toward the former site of Hiroshima Castle is?This hole is a water intake.
In order to purify the water in the inner moat of Hiroshima Castle, which still remains today, water is taken from the river, discharged into the moat, and then discharged into the river through another drainage ditch.
It is interesting that it is connected to the moat of Hiroshima Castle, which is about 500 meters away.
Also, a soccer stadium is scheduled to open here in 2024.
I can't wait to see what kind of recreational space it will become.
Motomachi Apartments
The high-rise apartment buildings on the right are called Motomachi Apartments.This was also the site of Hiroshima Castle, but it became an army facility in the late 19th century.
In 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, many people lost their homes and built barracks here to live in.
Later, high-rise apartment buildings were built and the landscape became what it is today.
In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom and it is very beautiful.
As you go forward, you will pass under the tracks of the Shinkansen and the local train.
Stairs "Kusunoki-no-Ogangi"
You can see stairs here and there along the rivers of Hiroshima.
These are called "gangi" and were used for loading and unloading cargo in the days when boats were the main means of distribution.
The "Kusunoki-no-Ogangi" shown in this video is one of the most magnificent.
Compare it to the narrow stairs behind it.
At the end of the 19th century, the railroad was built in Hiroshima.
This Kusunoki-no-Ogangi, close to Yokogawa Station, soon became a nexus of river and land logistics with the construction of a branch line.
It is a precious heritage of the era when the transportation by boat was replaced by that by land.
These are called "gangi" and were used for loading and unloading cargo in the days when boats were the main means of distribution.
The "Kusunoki-no-Ogangi" shown in this video is one of the most magnificent.
Compare it to the narrow stairs behind it.
At the end of the 19th century, the railroad was built in Hiroshima.
This Kusunoki-no-Ogangi, close to Yokogawa Station, soon became a nexus of river and land logistics with the construction of a branch line.
It is a precious heritage of the era when the transportation by boat was replaced by that by land.
Sandy Soil
Going further north, we came to a fork in the river.Sand seems to accumulate easily here, and a sandy soil has formed in the middle of the river.
The city of Hiroshima was built on a delta, and we can imagine that the original soil was this kind of sandy soil.
It's not hard to imagine how much work went into building the city.
There are also birds such as egrets and cormorants, so look out for them!
A Pedestrian Bridge, "Kohei-bashi Bridge"
Here the ship turns right and continues on the Kyobashi River.This area has been an army facility since the late 19th century.
On the right is where the army engineers' quarters used to be, and they built a bridge to get to their work stations on the other side of the bridge.
The bridge was rebuilt after the war, but it continues to exist as an active pedestrian bridge used by residents.
Private Gangi
Going south, we come to another fork in the river.If you look to the right, you can see stairs at regular intervals on the riverwall.
"These are called gangi, and they were used to lift and lower cargo carried by boats.
This area used to be private homes, so people must have used the kitchen door to put in the luggage they needed at home.
River Station
As we near Hiroshima Station, new tall buildings line the streets.Doves, a symbol of peace, also fly around.
We get off at a place called Kawa-no-Eki (River Station).
Of course, you can go to the Peace Memorial Park from the Kawa-no-Eki, so please use it when you visit Hiroshima.
For further information: https://www.hiroshima-water-taxi.com/english/
junccelefi Ashley Torgerson https://wakelet.com/wake/gtRAWFqFWJUgiuZ2i550F
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