Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park hosts ceremony on 6 December

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park will host a commemorative ceremony on 6 December 2026, with the programme linked to the thirtieth anniversary of the A-bomb Dome’s World Heritage registration. The park, Hiroshima Heiwa Kinen Koen in Japanese romanisation, will be one of the main locations for the anniversary programme in Japan.

A-bomb Dome ceremony comes to Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima City has scheduled the commemorative ceremony for Sunday, 6 December, the day before the A-bomb Dome reaches 30 years as a World Heritage site. The ceremony will take place at the Rest House in the park, while a concert is planned around the waterfront terrace. If rain affects the outdoor setting, the concert will move to the second floor of the Rest House.

The official Hiroshima tourism guide lists the programme from 4.30pm to 8pm, provisionally. It says the event will include a presentation on the history of the A-bomb Dome and a concert using a piano that survived the atomic bombing. The official programme for 6 December also places further anniversary activities around the Dome and the park.

Park history gives the ceremony its setting

The park was completed on 1 April 1954 and was established by Hiroshima City. Its design, created by three designers including Kenzo Tange, won first place in a competition involving 145 submissions. The site covers approximately 122,100 square metres and occupies the former Nakajima district.

The area was once a commercial and administrative centre before the atomic bombing on 6 August 1945. After the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law was enacted on 6 August 1949, the district was designated for a peace memorial facility. The city’s official historical account records how the area became the park seen today, while its central axis and memorial buildings provide the setting for the December programme.

The December programme connects park and World Heritage site

The A-bomb Dome stands within the wider memorial landscape and is the focus of the anniversary. The official guide states that the building will mark 30 years since its designation on 7 December 2026. The ceremony therefore falls on 6 December, one day before the anniversary, and uses the park’s Rest House and waterfront terrace rather than treating the Dome as an isolated monument.

A light display is also planned from 6 December 2026 to 31 January 2027 on the north side of the A-bomb Dome. The programme includes candlelight and messages for peace, with information facilities and a stamp rally forming part of the wider anniversary project. These additional elements extend the visitor setting beyond the ceremony itself.

Visiting Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The commemorative ceremony is scheduled for 6 December 2026 at the Rest House in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park; the concert is planned for the waterfront terrace, with an indoor contingency location.
• The programme affects the park through a ceremony, concert and anniversary activities; the listed time is 4.30pm to 8pm, provisionally, and the light display begins on 6 December 2026.
• The park is in central Hiroshima, beside the Motoyasu River, and includes the A-bomb Dome, memorial monuments and the Peace Memorial Museum.
• The A-bomb Dome is viewed from the surrounding outdoor paths; the ceremony programme also identifies the Rest House and waterfront terrace as separate locations.
• Japanese is the official language of Japan, and the national currency is the yen.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

The 6 December ceremony and the anniversary installations give the park a specific programme during the current winter travel period.

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Frequently asked questions about Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

When does the commemorative ceremony take place at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park?

The ceremony is scheduled for 6 December 2026 at the park’s Rest House, with a concert planned around the waterfront terrace.

What is the 6 December ceremony about?

It marks the 30th anniversary of the A-bomb Dome’s World Heritage designation on 7 December 2026 and includes a history presentation and concert.

Where is Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and how do you get there?

The park is in central Hiroshima beside the Motoyasu River and contains the A-bomb Dome, memorial monuments and the Peace Memorial Museum.