Hiroshima Castle and Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

Hiroshima Castle, sometimes called Carp Castle, is five stories tall and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. There is a shrine on the grounds, as well as one main gate. Hiroshima developed as a castle town, whereby the castle was both the physical center of the city and the source of its prosperity.

Built in 1589 by the powerful feudal lord Mori Terumoto, Hiroshima Castle was an important seat of power in Western Japan. It was spared the destruction that many other castles met during the Meiji Restoration, and survived into the modern era. Unfortunately, like the rest of the city, Hiroshima Castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945.

Rebuilt after the war, Hiroshima Castle's wooden exterior makes it a reconstruction with a considerable semblance of authenticity. Inside the castle is a small but informative museum on Hiroshima's history, Hiroshima Castle, and Japanese castles in general.

Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

This little boy was turning 5 and his parents brought him to the temple, when the children turn 3 and 5 here they bring them to the temples. This man gave each of us a free charm, once again showing how giving the Japanese people are.

Another part of the castle.

On the way out we stumbled upon a wedding getting ready to take place, so of course I raced over and got a picture.