Hiroshima or Nagasaki Memorial Park

As far as these things go, the memorial park in Hiroshima is more interesting, and there are more atomic related sites in Hiroshima than in Nagasaki.

On the other hand, Nagasaki is probably the more interesting city for non-nuclear attractions.

I've never been to Nagasaki so can't compare, but would highly recommend both the museum and peace park at Hiroshima.

Pretty much agree with#1.

The Atomic stuff,and especially the museum,is more interesting in Hiroshima.

Nagasaki and around is maybe a nicer area though...if you visit both then you can decide for yourself.

thanks everyone! the surrounding area doesn't really matter, because I will be accessing both areas from a boat. Really most interested in the sites themselves. I think the Nagasaki site is quite a bit newer, which is why I was wondering about the difference in what they each have to offer. does anyone know?

For the pure memorial park, abomb museum, atomic history. I think Hiroshima wins hands down.

Why not visit both if you have the time?

First and foremost: the weather. When the bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, the weather was great, and the bombers hit dead center in the middle of the city. When the bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, the weather was awful, and they missed the center, dropping it instead in suburbs of the city a few kilometers to the north of the center, in an area surrounded by hills. The bombing in Hiroshima was much worse, did much more damage, and killed far more people.

In Hiroshima, there are a couple of museums and a park near the epicenter. There's also the famous dome, the frame of a large bank building near the epicenter that survived the bombing (very few buildings in Hiroshima's center did), and has been turned into a monument to remember the event.

Outside the main memorial area, you'll find a few other atomic sites scattered around town, mostly buildings which survived (though they're generally been heavily renovated since). Most interesting, for me, is Hiroshima's castle. There are some military bunkers there which survived the bombing, the foundations of other buildings which did not survive, and two trees which survived the bombing. There are more trees which survived planted on the grounds of the peace park, which have been moved there from elsewhere.

In Nagasaki there's the museum, which is less interesting than the museums in Hiroshima. The other noted site there are the ruins of a large church that were destroyed in the bombing. There are a small number of other related sites scattered around, including a notable torii gate, only half destroyed by the bombing.

As the bomb avoided Nagasaki's city center, there are numerous interesting old buildings and sights in the city center that still stand today. The whole of Hiroshima's city center was destroyed. You have to go at least 2, 3 kilometers away from the bomb's epicenter to find older buildings in Hiroshima, though there is one really lovely temple about 4km from the epicenter which survived without any damage.

wow! thanks for all the detail. easy decision!

You might also be interested in seeing the ' Peace Clock tower which was established by the Hiroshima Rijo Lions Club and chimes every morning at 8.15 am precisely which is the time the bomb went off.'
I could not leave Hiroshima without being there for that moment in time. Here is my video of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which includes the Peace Clock Tower about 60 seconds from the beginning of the video.
There is also an explanation under 'show more' of what I filmed there with my (broken) camcorder.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.