When you visit Hiroshima, you will easily recognize a shinning silvery building on a mountain which is located sevral hundreds meters north of Hiroshima Station.That is the Peace Pagogda,and the mountain is called Futabayama.
Mt.Futaba is easy to walk up from the north side of Hiroshima Station(Shinkansen side).Take a 10-minute walk to the mountain side,you will get to the Toshogu Shrine which was dedicated to Ieyasu Tokugawa,the first shogun of the Edo Bakufu government (1603〜1867),by the Hiroshima Clan to pledge their loyalty to him about 350 years ago. November of 1998 was the first time in 183 years to hold the shrine's traditional Edo style mikoshi procession. It was suspended in 1815 because of the confusion of the last days of the Tokugawa regime.

From the ground of the shrine,take a 20-minute ascent to the Peace Pagoda which rises on the top of the 139-meter Mt.Futaba. This 25-meter tall pagoda,in which Buddha's ashes from India are laid,was built by local people to console the spirits of the A-bomb victims.It took some twelve years for them to complete in 1966.
From the top of the mountain,you can see a beautiful view of Hiroshima City with Seto Inland Sea for a background.

◆Getting there

From Hiroshima Station(Shinkansen side),cross the road at the traffic lights in front of the Hotel Granvia and turn left and walk for about 150 meters to the next traffic lights at the busy intersection. From there,turn right and go straight for about 250 meters to the T intersection,and turn right.You will soon find the entrance of the Toshogu Shrine on your left.Walk up the stone steps to the ground of the shrine.From there,go right and take a paved road to the mountain.You will soon find a guideboad showing the way to the mountain This place is the trail-entry point of the mountain.

◆Suggested Schedule

JR Hiroshima Sta. Shinkansen side(9:30)---Toshogu Shrine(9:40-9:50)---

----Mt.Futaba(10:10-10:30)---Toshogu Shrine---Hiroshima Sta.(11:00)