Peace Boulevard
Peace Boulevard passes through Hiroshima Peace Park as it runs approximately 4 kilometers from the Kyobashi River in the east to the Ota Diversion Channel in the west. The broad tree-lined thoroughfare is as much a symbol of the city’s revitalization as the park itself. The roadway was originally cleared of houses and trees during World War II in order to prevent fires from spreading through the city. After the war, it became, along with Hiroshima Castle and the Peace Park, a major part of Hiroshima’s reconstruction plan. In 1951, it was officially named Peace Boulevard.
When the time came to plant the trees that now line the boulevard, Hiroshima was running low on funds, so the local government asked other cities around the world to donate to landscaping the street. Between 1957 and 1958, about 9,500 trees and other plants were donated, with more following in later years. As no requirements or particular species were specified, cities simply sent whatever seeds or plants they could. As a result, Peace Boulevard is now home to roughly 1 hectare of surprisingly diverse flora. The boulevard and the story behind it are a testament to the collective effort that was put forth to rebuild Hiroshima.