Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima Island closed off, some tourists visiting unaware
May 19, 2023
Due to the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations), access to the Peace Memorial Park area in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward and Miyajima Island in Hatsukaichi was restricted from around noon on May 18. Currently, only authorized personnel are allowed to enter Peace Memorial Park and the surrounding greenbelt, including the A-bomb Dome, until the end of summit-related events on May 21. Only Miyajima islanders who received an identification card from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance are allowed to go to Miyajima Island until 2 p.m. on May 20.
Shortly after noon in the Peace Memorial Park area, movable fences were set up on the south side of the Peace Memorial Museum and on the Aioi Bridge. During the course of the summit, the Peace Memorial Museum and the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in the park are closed. A 34-year-old Dutch tourist who visited Hiroshima on May 18 was puzzled, saying he did not know that the summit would be held and that if he could not enter Peace Memorial Park, he would have to start his plan from scratch.
A baggage inspection area and two metal detectors were installed at the Miyajima-guchi Ferry Terminal on the opposite shore of Miyajima Island. After noon, islanders showed their identification card, underwent inspection, and boarded the ferry bound for Miyajima Island. Some domestic and international tourists who visited the terminal without knowing the restrictions were turned away.
People who visited Peace Memorial Park or Miyajima Island the morning before restrictions were surprised at the large number of police officers put in place at both locations for security duty. Most of the approximately 80 souvenir and other stores on Miyajima omote-sando shopping street were temporarily closed, and only four remained open in the afternoon. A 33-year-old male office worker from Fukuoka said, “I was surprised to find few stores open. It’s a shame,” and left the island after only one hour.
(Originally published on May 19, 2023)
Shortly after noon in the Peace Memorial Park area, movable fences were set up on the south side of the Peace Memorial Museum and on the Aioi Bridge. During the course of the summit, the Peace Memorial Museum and the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims in the park are closed. A 34-year-old Dutch tourist who visited Hiroshima on May 18 was puzzled, saying he did not know that the summit would be held and that if he could not enter Peace Memorial Park, he would have to start his plan from scratch.
A baggage inspection area and two metal detectors were installed at the Miyajima-guchi Ferry Terminal on the opposite shore of Miyajima Island. After noon, islanders showed their identification card, underwent inspection, and boarded the ferry bound for Miyajima Island. Some domestic and international tourists who visited the terminal without knowing the restrictions were turned away.
People who visited Peace Memorial Park or Miyajima Island the morning before restrictions were surprised at the large number of police officers put in place at both locations for security duty. Most of the approximately 80 souvenir and other stores on Miyajima omote-sando shopping street were temporarily closed, and only four remained open in the afternoon. A 33-year-old male office worker from Fukuoka said, “I was surprised to find few stores open. It’s a shame,” and left the island after only one hour.
(Originally published on May 19, 2023)
