Right in front of you, you’ll spot Mashirosan stop station as two small, sheltered platforms set in the middle of the road, flanked by railings and nestled among a row of modern apartment buildings-just look for the brown-roofed stops where the tram tracks cross the street.
Welcome to Mashirosan stop station, a place with more stories than your neighbor’s cat has lives! Now, imagine it’s December 1944. The world is in turmoil, but here, the newly opened station buzzes with hope. The cool mountain air from Hijiyama brushes your cheeks, and the clang of the first trams running along these tracks is a promise of progress for Hiroshima. The platforms-low and close to the road-welcome travelers heading off to explore the city or climb the green slopes of Hijiyama, just to the east.
But then, just months later on August 6, 1945, life pauses. The atomic bomb devastates Hiroshima, and these rails fall silent. For three long years, the station is frozen in time, the everyday sound of trams replaced by an eerie quiet. It isn’t until 1948 that hope-and trams-return. Once again, the platform becomes a sign of resilience. People gritty with determination and dust crowd these stops, heading toward recovery, rebuilding lives and homes in the shadow of Hijiyama.
Through the decades, the Mashirosan stop has transformed. In 1974, its platform was raised and separated from the busy street, so waiting passengers could dodge cars rather than only raindrops! Today, only the bright green 5 tram line rumbles through, but thousands of passengers board and hop off each day, on their way to work, school, or maybe just a quiet stroll to the top of Hijiyama.
Look around now: to the west, the Kyobashi River sparkles, while the east rises into the gentle fold of the hill. From here, you’re perfectly placed for adventures to the manga library, museums, or a hamburger at a corner café. Once just a handy tram stop, Mashirosan now sits quietly at the crossroads of Hiroshima’s spirit, a small station with a big heart and an even bigger history. And fun fact: the next time you’re late, just blame the strategic tram stop numbering changes-surely that’s more convincing than blaming your cat!
