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Hiroshima Relocates 13-Meter Camphor Tree to Peace Park as Part of Atomic Dome Landscape Restoration
Hiroshima City relocated a 70-year-old camphor tree to Peace Park on June 9, 2026, as part of a landscape restoration initiative designed to obscure background buildings behind the Atomic Bomb Dome. The 45.7 million yen project reflects the city's effort to realize architect Kenzo Tange's original design vision, with the tree expected to mature over 10-20 years to effectively screen unwanted structures.
Quick Facts
Who
Hiroshima City
What
Relocation of 70-year-old camphor tree from Peace Boulevard to Peace Park
When
June 9, 2026 (transplantation date)
Where
Peace Boulevard, Tanaka-cho intersection, Naka Ward, Hiroshima
- Relocation of 70-year-old camphor tree from Peace Boulevard to Peace Park
- Implementation of landscape restoration to obscure background buildings
- Provision of fertilization and care for tree growth
- Planning of additional tree plantings through fiscal year 2029
- Hiroshima City
Hiroshima City has relocated a approximately 13-meter-tall camphor tree from Peace Boulevard to Peace Park as part of a long-term landscape restoration project aimed at realizing architect Kenzo Tange's original vision for the memorial site. The 70-year-old tree, weighing about 10 tons, was transplanted on June 9, 2026, near the Children of the Atomic Bomb Monument using specialized equipment including a 20-meter trailer and large cranes. The city allocated approximately 45.7 million yen for the relocation and associated surveying work in the current fiscal year.
The transplantation is part of Hiroshima City's effort to obscure background buildings when viewing the Atomic Bomb Dome from the south along the "Peace Axis"—a north-south line on which the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the Cenotaph for the Victims of the Atomic Bombing, and the Atomic Bomb Dome are aligned according to Tange's original design. Currently, buildings including the Hiroshima Chamber of Commerce and Industry (scheduled for demolition) remain visible behind the dome. While the newly planted camphor tree has only slightly reduced the visibility of these structures, the city plans to gradually obscure them through natural tree growth.
According to Hiroshima City Parks Development Division Chief Yasuhiro Shiramatsu, the project requires a 10 to 20-year timeline for the tree to mature sufficiently to effectively screen background structures. This timeframe aligns symbolically with 2045, when Hiroshima will mark the 100th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The city will provide regular fertilization and care to support the tree's growth during this extended period.
Beyond this individual transplantation, Hiroshima City plans to implement a broader planting initiative within Peace Park through fiscal year 2029, introducing additional camphor trees and other vegetation as part of its comprehensive vision to restore the memorial landscape. The project reflects the city's commitment to honoring the original architectural intentions while addressing the reality that height restrictions implemented in 2022 apply only to new construction, leaving existing structures exempt from these regulations.
Why This Matters
This relocation directly advances Hiroshima's long-term effort to preserve the architectural integrity of its most iconic memorial site. By screening unwanted modern buildings from key viewing angles, the city honors both the original design vision and the memory of atomic bombing victims. The 20-year timeline strategically aligns with the 100th anniversary in 2045, making this a meaningful gesture that links physical restoration to historical commemoration. For memorial tourism and peace education, a cleaner visual frame around the Atomic Bomb Dome strengthens its symbolic power.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 1956
WireCamphor tree planted on Peace Boulevard (approximately 70 years before relocation)
Jan 1, 2022
WireHiroshima City implements height restrictions for new construction behind Atomic Bomb Dome