Every year on the evening of 6 August, after the morning’s memorial ceremony, Hiroshima marks the anniversary of the atomic bombing with toro nagashi, the floating of paper lanterns. Thousands of lanterns, each carrying a handwritten message of peace or remembrance for the dead, are set on the Motoyasu River and drift slowly past the illuminated A-Bomb Dome as darkness falls. It draws people from all over the world and locals whose families were lost that day, and the atmosphere is quiet and profoundly moving rather than festive. Visitors can buy and write their own lantern to float.
🗓️ At a Glance
| Location | Naka-ku, Hiroshima |
| Hours | Evening of 6 August, from around dusk |
| Admission | Free to watch; lanterns a small fee |
| Time needed | An evening |
| Best time | 6 August only; arrive well before dusk |
What to Expect
- Thousands of paper lanterns drifting past the A-Bomb Dome.
- Handwritten messages of peace and remembrance.
- A quiet, deeply moving atmosphere at dusk.
- The chance to write and float your own lantern.
Combine Your Visit
- Combine with the Peace Memorial Park by day.
- Pair with the Peace Memorial Museum beforehand.
- Read our Hiroshima overview .
Getting There
- By tram: Genbaku Dome-mae, right by the riverbank.
- Timing: the city is extremely busy on 6 August — book accommodation far ahead.
Tips
Book accommodation months ahead, as 6 August fills the city completely. Arrive well before dusk to buy and write a lantern if you want to float one, and treat the evening as the act of mourning it is — keep quiet, be careful and respectful with photographs, and remember many people around you are remembering family members who died that day.
