Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony is held every year on 6 August in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, marking the moment the world’s first atomic bomb was dropped on the city at 8:15am on 6 August 1945. The ceremony is organised by Hiroshima City and attended by the Mayor, national government representatives, foreign dignitaries, and members of the public. It is the most solemn public event in Japan’s annual calendar and one of the most significant peace gatherings in the world. The ceremony is open to all visitors.

The Ceremony

The formal ceremony begins at 8:00am at the Peace Memorial Cenotaph, the arched monument at the centre of the park that is designed to frame the view from its opening to the Atomic Bomb Dome across the Motoyasu River. At 8:15am — the exact time of the bombing — a moment of silence is observed across the city. Bells ring, and doves are released. The Mayor of Hiroshima delivers the Peace Declaration, calling for global nuclear disarmament. Wreaths are laid at the cenotaph by Japanese government officials and representatives of countries whose nationals were among the victims.

Following the main ceremony, representatives of survivor (hibakusha) groups speak. The event lasts approximately one hour.

Attending the Ceremony

The ceremony is free and open to the public. Visitors should arrive by 6:30am to pass through security checks and be seated or positioned within the park before the ceremony begins. The park fills up significantly from early morning; arriving by 7:00am is advisable for a clear sightline to the cenotaph. Dress is respectful but there is no formal dress code requirement.

Hiroshima City also opens the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and surrounding park areas throughout the day on 6 August. The evening of 6 August sees the Toro Nagashi (lantern floating) ceremony on the Motoyasu River, when thousands of paper lanterns are floated downstream beside the Atomic Bomb Dome — a separate and equally moving event.

Getting There

Hiroshima is on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, approximately 90 minutes from Osaka or 4 hours from Tokyo by Nozomi. From Hiroshima Station, trams run directly to the Peace Park stop (approximately 15 minutes). The Peace Memorial Museum (entry approximately 200 yen as of 2026) opens at 8:30am and should be visited before or after the ceremony. See our Hiroshima guide for recommended accommodation near the park.