Flame of Peace

Updated April 15, 2024

## Flame of Peace (平和の灯), Hiroshima — what it is and why it matters

The Flame of Peace is a monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park whose flame has burned continuously since August 1, 1964. It was created as both a memorial for victims of the atomic bombing and a public, ongoing statement calling for nuclear abolition and lasting world peace. City PCF

Your provided address places it in Nakajima-cho (Nakajimacho), Naka-ku (Naka Ward), Hiroshima City—the central area of the Peace Memorial Park.

—

## The design: hands, thirst, and a deliberate message

The monument’s base was designed by Kenzō Tange (then a professor at the University of Tokyo). The official description explains the pedestal as two hands—wrists together and palms turned upward—meant to express:

– Condolence for victims who died pleading for water
– A wish for nuclear abolition
– An aspiration for enduring world peace City PCF

This symbolism is tied to one of the most documented realities of the Hiroshima bombing’s aftermath: survivors suffering extreme burns and injuries often begged for water. The design anchors the flame in that human detail rather than treating “peace” as an abstract slogan. City PCF

—

## The flame itself: continuous burning since 1964

According to the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation’s description, the flame has burned continuously since it was lit on August 1, 1964, and it symbolizes a resolve to keep it burning “until the day when all such weapons shall have disappeared from the earth.” City PCF

This is not just ceremonial language. The flame is used for peace-related events and relays, and it has also been used to light other symbolic flames; one specific example noted is that, in 1994, it lit the flame of the Asian Games held in Hiroshima City. City PCF

—

## How it fits into Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a memorial park in central Hiroshima dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memory of the bombing’s victims.

A key detail that helps you “read” the park’s layout: the Memorial Cenotaph is aligned so that the Peace Flame and the A-Bomb Dome appear in line through it. That alignment is an intentional piece of the park’s spatial storytelling—linking mourning, warning, and remembrance in one sightline.

—

## Visiting the Flame of Peace: what to expect on-site

What you’ll find is a compact monument—stone base and a single flame—designed to be visited quietly and directly. It is not a museum exhibit with labels and panels; the meaning is carried by the form and by its placement among the park’s other memorials. City PCF

Practical expectations based on official tourism guidance:

– The spot is identified as “The Flame of Peace” and listed as a Peace Memorial Park location.
– It is reached easily from central Hiroshima via streetcar and bus routes serving the Peace Memorial Park area.

—

## Getting there (public transport routes given by Hiroshima Peace Tourism)

Hiroshima Peace Tourism provides these access instructions:

– Streetcar (tram): Take the 2 or 6 line and get off at Genbaku Dome-mae (原爆ドーム前).
– Bus: Take the Maple Loop Sightseeing Bus to the Peace Memorial Park (Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum) bus stop.

These directions are useful because they route you to a well-known stop near the park’s main memorial corridor, from which the Flame of Peace is walkable within the park grounds.

—

## A respectful way to experience it

The Flame of Peace sits in a landscape explicitly designed for remembrance and anti-nuclear advocacy. The most practical “etiquette” is simply to recognize that many visitors are there for personal or historical reasons, not just sightseeing.

If you’re photographing, the park’s structure means you can often frame the flame within a broader narrative: the central axis connecting memorials, or contextual views that communicate where you are rather than treating the flame as an isolated object. The park’s well-known alignment through the cenotaph is part of that context.

—

## Data-quality notes from your provided details (potentially outdated or inconsistent)

– Rating (4.7): Public ratings can change frequently, so treat “4.7” as a snapshot rather than a permanent fact.
– City field: Your dataset lists the city as Higashi-Hiroshima, while the address provided is Naka-ku, Hiroshima City (Nakajima-cho/Nakajimacho). Those are different municipalities; the address-based location is supported by the official Hiroshima Peace Tourism listing.

—

## Key facts recap (verified)

– The flame was lit on August 1, 1964, and has burned continuously since then. City PCF
– The base was designed by Kenzō Tange, with symbolism tied to victims’ thirst and hopes for nuclear abolition and lasting peace. City PCF
– It is located in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park at 1 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima City (as listed by Hiroshima Peace Tourism).
– The park’s central memorial layout intentionally aligns the cenotaph, Peace Flame, and A-Bomb Dome.

Key Highlights

Flame of Peace

Location

Places to Stay Near Flame of Peace

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides