Hiroshima Paper Crane Tower: A Journey to a Symbol of Peace and Hope

#September2024

A touching experience visiting Hiroshima's Paper Crane Tower

During my trip to Hiroshima, I made a special trip to the Hiroshima Paper Crane Tower. I was deeply moved by this place full of symbols of peace and hope.

Attractions

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park - Children's Peace Monument was built to commemorate the suffering endured by the children of Hiroshima during World War II, especially after the atomic bomb. The tower was inspired by the famous "Thousand Cranes" story. According to legend, Sadako Sasaki, a girl suffering from leukemia, folded a thousand paper cranes while lying on her hospital bed, hoping to recover. However, she ultimately failed to overcome the disease and had only folded 644 paper cranes when she passed away. Her story moved the world and became an important symbol of the Hiroshima peace movement.

The sculpture of the Paper Crane Tower is a flying crane with its wings spread. The tower is surrounded by tens of thousands of colorful paper cranes, which represent the wishes for peace from people from all over the world. Every year, thousands of tourists come here to place paper cranes to mourn the children who died in the atomic bomb and pray for world peace.

Location

The Hiroshima Paper Crane Tower is located in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, not far from the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Peace Memorial Museum. This area is filled with memorials related to World War II and the atomic bomb, and is one of the places that tourists from all over the world must visit when they come to Hiroshima. There is a beautiful green space near the Paper Crane Tower, which makes people feel a sense of peace and tranquility in the atmosphere of mourning.

Transportation

The Paper Crane Tower is easily accessible from Hiroshima Station. Take the Hiroshima City Tram Line 1 or 2 and get off at the Atomic Bomb Dome-mae Station. It is about a 10-minute walk from the station. This route is not only convenient and fast, but also allows you to enjoy the urban scenery of Hiroshima city along the way. You can also choose to walk, which takes about 15-20 minutes from Hiroshima Station.

1F Store Introduction

Next to the Paper Crane Tower, there is a very special Peace Memorial Shop, which sells various souvenirs related to Hiroshima peace. The store has many handmade paper cranes, peace badges, postcards, books, and even some handicrafts donated from all over the world. These items are not only commemorative, but also support local peace activities and funds. There is a story behind each product, and buying them is like paying tribute to history while also doing your small part to promote peace.

In the store, I picked up a small paper crane as a souvenir. It is not only a symbol of peace in Hiroshima, but also a wish for future world peace.

Conclusion

Visiting the Paper Crane Tower in Hiroshima was a profound experience that made me feel the weight of history and the value of peace. This tower is not only a memorial to the tragedy of the past, but also a symbol that reminds us to cherish the present and protect the future. Every time I stand here, countless thoughts always come to my mind - I hope there will be no more wars in the world, and I hope every child can grow up happily in a peaceful world.