Rest House of Hiroshima Peace Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park Rest House stands about 170 meters from the hypocenter. It is the only atomic-bombed building within Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Built in 1929 as Taishoya Kimono Shop, it was being used as a Fuel Hall at the time of the atomic bombing. The architect was Kiyoshi Masuda, who also designed another atomic-bombed building, the Honkawa Elementary School Peace Museum. Due to the bombing, everything except the basement burned down, but because it was reinforced concrete, it managed to retain much of its original form. The Rest House reopened after renovation in July 2020. On the 1st floor there is a tourist information center and shop; on the 2nd floor, a cafe with an “atomic-bombed piano” on display; and on the 3rd floor, a reference room where you can learn about the Rest House’s history. In the basement level (B1), you can also see columns preserved in their original condition. Paid walking and cycling tours departing from the Rest House offer English support, so if you’re interested, consider joining. After visiting the Rest House, it’s recommended to also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, about a 5-minute walk away.