Honkawa Elementary School Peace Memorial Museum

Overview

The Honkawa Elementary School Peace Memorial Museum is located in Honkawa-machi, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City. It preserves a section of the old school building of Hiroshima Municipal Honkawa Elementary School, which was exposed to the atomic bombing. Completed in 1928 as the city's first reinforced concrete elementary school building, Honkawa Elementary School suffered catastrophic damage on August 6, 1945, due to its proximity to the hypocenter—approximately 410 meters away. The museum showcases photographs, documents, and a diorama depicting the immediate aftermath of the bombing, allowing visitors to deeply understand the horrors of the atomic bomb and the preciousness of peace. The account of Kimiko Imori, an 11-year-old elementary school student who was the sole survivor, is particularly moving. While unharmed at a distance of 350 meters from the hypocenter, she witnessed the tragic fate of her classmates and the loss of her family. Seeing the family registration documents submitted in a child's handwriting, she felt deeply for their situation. Shizuko Ogata, a surviving teacher, suffered severe facial injuries and faced discrimination, yet she never gave up on education. Through these exhibits, visitors gain a profound understanding of the horrors of war and the importance of peace. The Honkawa Elementary School Peace Memorial Museum is a must-see destination in Hiroshima, alongside the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome.