Most viewed - JAPAN PHOTOS by Philbert Ono

Most viewed - HIROSHIMA　広島県

The original exhibit showed a much more horrific faces and disfigurement with peeling skin down to their knees at least. I heard that they didn't want to make it too scary for children. Too bad.1845 views

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Gun turrets944 views

One exhibition room has a model of the Battleship Yamato wreck.825 views

Hiroshima Castle tower669 viewsRebuilt after World War II.

Fukuyama Castle tower580 views

Onomichi Castle (tourist facility). The castle was finally dismantled in 2020-21. A very slow process since heavy duty equipment cannot access the structure.495 viewsThis is not based on an actual castle, but built as an amusement attraction. Now closed.

The Gun turret was a part of the main gunnery system of Battleship Mutsu and was transferred to Imperial Naval Academy for use as a study aide in 1935.490 views

Battleship Yamato has an Imperial chrysanthemum crest on the bow. This was one of the things which helped to identify the wreck on the sea bottom.431 views

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Yamato Museum's main attraction is this large scale model of Battleship Yamato. You can walk around it. This area of the museum is called Yamato Hiroba.397 views

Atomic Bomb Dome369 views

Battleship gun, life-size.366 views

Mihara Castle tenshu main tower foundation and moat. No buildings remain.339 views

The scale model of the battleship is 26.3 meters long. It has been reconstructed as accurately as possible based on photographs and exploration of the wreck.320 views

Another large exhibition room had a Japanese Zero fighter plane, kaiten manned torpedo, and midget submarine.309 views

Atomic Bomb Museum and Statue of Mother and Child in the Storm.301 views

Projectile of a "Mutsu" class battleship.283 views

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Fukuyama Castle tower247 views

Battleship Yamato was commissioned a week after the Pearl Harbor attack in Dec. 1941. It was Japan's most powerful battleship and now legendary. It turned out to be great waste since the big guns were hardly used and it was sunk 4 years later. 243 views

Outside the museum, a battleship gun and anchor are displayed.240 views

Children's Peace Monument before they built origami crane shacks around it.239 views

Torpedoes239 views

Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto's connection with Kure. On the bridge of the Yamato, he commanded the fleet at the Battle of Midway.239 views

Showcase of gifts from Honolulu, Hawaii, Hiroshima's sister city.228 views

Training boats226 views

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Rudder and propellers of Battleship Yamato.211 views

One of the Japan's best-designed memorials.210 views

Training boats210 views

One of the five midget submarines used in the Pearl Harbor attack. On display at the Naval History Museum on Etajima island, Hiroshima.209 views

Hiroshima Castle in the early 1900s from a vintage postcard.208 views

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Peace Flame and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum207 views

View from Onomichi Castle. A lookout deck will be built on the Onomichi Castle site.207 views

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View from Miyajima island's Mt. Misen.206 views

View of Seto Inland Sea from Miyajima island's Mt. Misen.205 views

Propellers of Battleship Yamato.201 views

View from castle tower197 views

Front of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum (opposite side from the Cenotaph) and Statue of Mother and Child in the Storm.193 views

"Yamato" is another name for Japan, and so it is a very revered and prestigious name for any ship. Many movies, anime, etc., have been based on Battleship Yamato which retains a strong cultural influence in Japan.189 views

The Yamato's final mission was suicidal. It was ordered to go to Okinawa in April 1945 and beach herself offshore so it wouldn't sink. While beached, it would fire its guns at the enemy on Okinawa.187 views

Children's Peace Monument, Hiroshima185 views

Onomichi Castle overlooking Onomichi Station. Sadly, the company that owned the castle went bankrupt and the castle museum closed and became an abandoned building in 1992. Abandoned for almost 30 years. 184 views

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The Yamato Museum is open 9 am to 6 pm (enter by 5:30 pm). Admission is 500 yen for adults, 300 yen for high schoolers, and 200 yen for kids. Battleship Yamato was built in Kure.184 views

Rear of Children's Peace Monument, Hiroshima.183 views

Hiroshima181 views

Manhole in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima179 views

The Naval History Museum on Etajima has this outdoor display of one of the five midget submarines used in the Pearl Harbor attack.175 views

Pictures made of origami at Hiroshima Peace park.174 views

Yamato Museum's official name is Kure Maritime Museum. Although the 1/10 scale model of Battleship Yamato is the main attraction, it also has other exhibits explaining Kure's maritime history.166 views

On her way to Okinawa, the Yamato was spotted by US submarines and aircraft and sunk by American carrier-based bombers and torpedo bombers on April 7, 1945.166 views

Hiroshima is also famous for okonomiyaki.165 views

Sample wood paneling used for the model deck.164 views

Kure Port in Hiroshima Prefecture. We arrived from Etajima island across the Seto Inland Sea. Kure is also a short train ride from Hiroshima Station.163 views

Since the Yamato was built in secrecy, there are very few clear photos of the ship.162 views

Main torii of Itsukushima Shrine and perhaps Japan's most famous and iconic torii.162 views

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Fukuyama Castle from the train160 views

Fukuyama Station (shinkansen)158 views

View from Onomichi Castle.157 views

Hiroshima Atom Bomb Dome153 views

Another building that survived the atom bomb. Now a rest house and tourist information center. Hiroshima.152 views

Mannequins depicting bomb victims who suffered peeling/melting skin among other things. This depiction has been toned down considerably from the original exhibit that I remember before the museum was renovated in 1994.151 views

Sign for Tomonoura. Tomonoura is a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).150 views

They eventually found all five subs (the fifth one was finally found in 2009) used at Pearl Harbor. Two of them are on display. One of them is here and the other is at the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas.150 views

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From the boat, we could see the dock where the Battleship Yamato was built in Kure, Hiroshima. "Kure" is pronounced "Kuray" not like the word "cure."149 views

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Midget submarine.148 views

One of Japan's Scenic Trio (Nihon Sankei), the famous torii with Miyajima island in the background. 148 views

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I visited Itsukushima at high tide in the morning so the shrine was floating.147 views

Built in 1893 and used for classrooms and living quarters for students. Today, it is part of the Officer Candidate School and used as classrooms and students' living quarters. Etajima, Hiroshima.145 views

The model even has little human figures.145 views

Fukuyama Station (shinkansen)143 views

Ferry between Tomonoura and Sensui island.143 views

Ceremonial Hall. Built in 1917 and designed for holding ceremonies and moral education. One of the few buildings which we could enter. Etajima, Hiroshima.142 views

Itsukushima shrine142 views

Fukuyama Station (shinkansen)141 views

Bentenjima island near Tomonoura.141 views

The academy's most distinctive building is this Students’ Hall dubbed the "Red Brick Building." We weren't allowed to go inside. Etajima, Hiroshima.141 views

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Battleship Mutsu plaque. After seeing the Yamato Museum, be sure to cross the street over to the submarine museum called the JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) Kure Museum.140 views

Fukuyama Station (shinkansen)139 views

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Gun shells136 views

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Naval History Museum on Etajima. Built in 1936, the museum is substantial with detailed exhibits tracing Japan's naval history (including the Pearl Harbor attack). 134 views

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41-cm diameter gun from Battleship Mutsu, outside the Yamato Museum. Until the Yamato was built, the Mutsu was Japan's largest battleship.133 views

A park on top of the Mihara Castle site.132 views

The midget sub displayed here was found in 1960 off Keehi Lagoon east of Pearl Harbor's entrance. The sub had been damaged by a depth charge attack and abandoned by its crew before it could fire its torpedoes.132 views

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All aboard!132 views

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Street car stop nearest to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Hiroden Genbaku Dome-mae Station. Hiroshima is one of the few Japanese cities which still has street cars.131 views

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The JMSDF (Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force) Kure Museum is mainly a submarine museum whose main attraction is the decommissioned Japanese sub called Akishio. The museum is conveniently right across the street from the Yamato Museum.128 views

Part of Hiroshima Castle stone wall is black due to the atomic blast.128 views

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Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima is one of Japan's most iconic shrines and sights. The vermillion floating torii and shrine (at high tide) are part of Japan's Scenic Trio.127 viewsGateway to Miyajima is Miyajimaguchi Station, about 30 min. from Hiroshima Station.

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Miyajimaguchi Station125 views

Life-size replica of the Hiroshima bomb, nicknamed "Little Boy." It's about 3 meters long.124 views

Torpedo bay of midget submarine used in Pearl Harbor attack.124 views

We could also see the submarine museum at the JMSDF Kure Museum adjacent to the Yamato Museum.124 views

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Midget submarine cockpit.124 views

123 views

The former Akishio submarine just stands out and can be seen from boats approaching Kure Port. Very impressive to be seen on land amid small cars passing by. The museum is a short walk from JR Kure Station.122 views

Atomic Bomb Dome area.121 views

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Hiroshima Castle tower is a museum of Hiroshima's history before World War II.121 views

Japanese Zero fighter.120 views

Behind the midget sub used in Pearl Harbor, another different type of midget sub is displayed.119 views

Kure is a major shipbuilding town.119 views

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Waterfront path to Itsukushima Shrine.119 views

Hiroshima Castle ninomaru turret was reconstructed in 1994.119 views

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Midget submarine cockpit.118 views

Itsukushima Shrine at high tide.118 views

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Midget sub's rudder and propeller.117 views

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Miyajimaguchi Station's exit for Japan Railpass holders.117 views

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Shrine worshippers also arrive by boat like they did in the old days before modern ferry service.117 views

Right near the streetcar stop is the Atomic Bomb Dome or A-Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム). I visited in fall 2012.116 views

Tattered clothing from a 13-year-old girl who died in the evening on the day of the bomb.116 views

Glass bottles melted together.116 views

Japanese Zero fighter cockpit.116 views

Hiroshige's woodblock print of Itsukushima Shrine's fall festival from his "Famous Views of the 60 Provinces" series.116 views

The Atomic Bomb Done was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.115 views

Orange ball shows where the bomb fell.115 views

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Map of the Naval Academy or Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force First Service School (海上自衛隊第1術科学校).115 views

It was subsequently salvaged and restored for display at Etajima in 1962. The front part of the sub was severed, so the front part was reconstructed by a Kure shipbuilder for this display.115 views

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Kure Port dock.115 views

Local photographer is kept busy.115 views

The deer are trained to pose with tourist groups. They know that there will be a reward.115 views

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Renovating the floor maybe.115 views

Noh stage at Itsukushima shrine.115 views

Near the entrance to Itsukushima Shrine is Omotesando shopping street for Miyajima eats and souvenirs.115 views

And how it looked after the bomb. The Peace Park is on the land in the center between the two rivers. The Atomic Bomb Dome is on the lower left.114 views

Photos of the atom bomb blast.114 views

Inside a street car in Hiroshima.114 views

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Entering Kure Port terminal.114 views

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Ferry arrives at Miyajima Sanbashi Port.114 views

Approaching the famous floating torii. A short walk from the port.114 views

Before visiting Miyajima, you should check the tide times. Best to go during high tide.114 views

Torii and deer on Miyajima.114 views

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Noh stage at Itsukushima shrine does not have much room for an audience.114 views

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Miyajima's Oshakushi giant rice scoop. Made in 1983. 大杓子114 views

I think all Americans visiting or living in Japan should visit Hiroshima. It's not about who's to blame for what happened here in Aug. 1945. It's about a major event in human history and a reminder of man's fatal flaws.113 views

Notice the steel braces to reinforce the building.113 views

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Miyajima island. The ferry ride is only about 10 min.113 views

Approaching Miyajima Sambashi Port.113 views

Miyajima is a National Important Traditional Townscape Preservation District (重要伝統的建造物群保存地区).113 views

Another Miyajima symbol is the deer.113 views

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Itsukushima shrine as seen from Tahoto Pagoda on Miyajima.113 views

Walking back.113 views

Damaged Buddha statue.112 views

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Front Pier. This is considered the school's front gate instead of the gate on land. Officer Candidate School graduates are sent off here by school staff and a military band and transferred to a training fleet anchored offshore in Etauchi inlet.112 views

Ferry for Miyajima at Miyajimaguchi Sanbashi ferry port.112 views

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Itsukushima is dedicated to the three daughters of Susano-o no Mikoto, Shinto god of seas and storms, and brother of the sun goddess Amaterasu.112 views