Long line forms to visit newly reopened Peace Memorial Museum
Apr. 30, 2019
by Mio Hara and Takamasa Kyoren, Staff Writers
Just before 4 p.m. on April 29, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which reopened on April 25 after extensive renovations, placed a limit on the number of visitors allowed to enter because of the crowded conditions inside the building. During the day, a long line formed with some visitors waiting up to two hours to enter. As a result, museum staff judged that some of the people in line would not be able to complete their tour of the museum by 6 p.m., the closing time for the museum. The museum said that this was the first time that it has had to limit entry, and as a result, the staff have decided that an announcement will be made on the museum’s website whenever it becomes necessary to limit entry in the future.
On this day, some people began lining up at the entrance to the museum before 8:30 a.m., the time the museum opens. The number of visitors queuing to get into the museum reached a peak at around 2 p.m. The line eventually extended more than 300 meters to the north of the museum toward the A-bomb Dome. By around 3:55 p.m., museum staff had to start asking visitors for their understanding and cooperation because they would not be able to enter the museum. According to the museum, more than 10,000 people visited the museum, well exceeding the daily average of 4,194 visitors in fiscal 2018.
Despite some light drizzle, the long line included many international visitors and parents with their children. Susumu Takagi, 54, a company employee from Kawasaki City who is visiting Hiroshima during his vacation, said, “I’ve been waiting more than an hour and I still can’t get into the museum. I never expected it to be this crowded.” He looked exhausted.
The newly opened main building focuses on authentic artifacts like the personal belongings of A-bomb victims. Shuichi Kato, the head of the museum’s curatorial division, believes that the big crowd is the result of the long holiday period, the wet weather, and the large number of people looking closely at the exhibits. Takuo Takigawa, the director of the museum, said, “I feel very sorry for the many people who had to wait for a long time and who could not get into the museum in the end. However, I’d like them to understand that we have had to limit the number of visitors to ensure their safety and enjoyment while touring the museum.”
The museum’s hours will be extended until 8 p.m., as scheduled, between May 3 and May 5 when the 2019 Hiroshima Flower Festival is held along Peace Boulevard in Naka Ward.
(Originally published by April 30, 2019)
Just before 4 p.m. on April 29, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, which reopened on April 25 after extensive renovations, placed a limit on the number of visitors allowed to enter because of the crowded conditions inside the building. During the day, a long line formed with some visitors waiting up to two hours to enter. As a result, museum staff judged that some of the people in line would not be able to complete their tour of the museum by 6 p.m., the closing time for the museum. The museum said that this was the first time that it has had to limit entry, and as a result, the staff have decided that an announcement will be made on the museum’s website whenever it becomes necessary to limit entry in the future.
On this day, some people began lining up at the entrance to the museum before 8:30 a.m., the time the museum opens. The number of visitors queuing to get into the museum reached a peak at around 2 p.m. The line eventually extended more than 300 meters to the north of the museum toward the A-bomb Dome. By around 3:55 p.m., museum staff had to start asking visitors for their understanding and cooperation because they would not be able to enter the museum. According to the museum, more than 10,000 people visited the museum, well exceeding the daily average of 4,194 visitors in fiscal 2018.
Despite some light drizzle, the long line included many international visitors and parents with their children. Susumu Takagi, 54, a company employee from Kawasaki City who is visiting Hiroshima during his vacation, said, “I’ve been waiting more than an hour and I still can’t get into the museum. I never expected it to be this crowded.” He looked exhausted.
The newly opened main building focuses on authentic artifacts like the personal belongings of A-bomb victims. Shuichi Kato, the head of the museum’s curatorial division, believes that the big crowd is the result of the long holiday period, the wet weather, and the large number of people looking closely at the exhibits. Takuo Takigawa, the director of the museum, said, “I feel very sorry for the many people who had to wait for a long time and who could not get into the museum in the end. However, I’d like them to understand that we have had to limit the number of visitors to ensure their safety and enjoyment while touring the museum.”
The museum’s hours will be extended until 8 p.m., as scheduled, between May 3 and May 5 when the 2019 Hiroshima Flower Festival is held along Peace Boulevard in Naka Ward.
(Originally published by April 30, 2019)
