Hondōri (本通) is a commercial area in Naka-ku, Hiroshima, Japan, which centers on the Hondōri street which today is a shopping arcade. Hondōri, which means "Main Street", runs from Hatchōbori to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Hondōri was also previously called Hirataya-chō. ^[1] Hondōri prospered in the early 20th century, and in 1931, lily-of-the-valley lanterns were installed which allowed shops to stay open late. ^[2]

Atomic bombing

The entire shopping area along Hondōri was destroyed by the 1945 atomic bombing, due to the blast and fire. Shimomura Jewelers, located in a reinforced concrete building with an iconic clock tower, was severely damaged but like a number of concrete buildings in Hiroshima, it partially survived. The blast caused its side walls to severely tilt over. ^[1]

The Teikoku Bank building, originally built in 1925, ^[3] also survived the blast, although its roof collapsed, a wall was destroyed, and it received other structural damages. By May 1950, the Teikoku Bank building had been restored and the Takaki Bakery ( Andersen Bakery) opened in the building in 1967. ^{[4] [5]}

Present day

In the 1950s, Hondōri was reconstructed and now it is a modern shopping arcade, which connects the Peace Memorial Park, across Rijō-dōri, to Parco department store and Hatchōbori.

Hiroshima's Hiroden (street cars) stop at the Hiroden Hondori Station. The Astram Line also serves Hondori, with the Hondōri Station as a terminal station.

Okonomi-mura, located near the east end of Hondōri, was the top food theme park destination for families in Japan according to an April 2004 poll. ^{[6] [7]}

References

External links

• Hondori (ja)

34°23′37″N 132°27′25″E / 34.39361°N 132.45694°E / 34.39361; 132.45694