Motoyasu River

The Motoyasu River flows through Hiroshima’s Naka Ward and is deeply tied to the memory of the atomic bombing. During the bombing in 1945, many victims suffering from severe burns and radiation exposure desperately sought water and made their way to this river, where countless lives were lost. To console the souls of these victims, a lantern-floating ceremony is held on the river every year on August 6.
Even today, the riverbed is believed to hold personal belongings of victims and fragments of buildings blown away by the blast. In 2017, a stone fragment weighing over 200 kilograms—thought to be part of the Atomic Bomb Dome’s balcony—was discovered, showing how the river continues to preserve traces of that day. In recent years, as part of Hiroshima’s "City of Water" initiative, riverside attractions such as the open-air café Caffè Ponte have opened along the Motoyasu River. The Motoyasu River Pier also serves as a boarding point for the "Hiroshima World Heritage Route," which directly connects the Atomic Bomb Dome and Miyajima, as well as for Hiroshima River Cruises. Access to the Motoyasu River is via the "Atomic Bomb Dome" streetcar stop, as the river flows directly in front of the dome.