Hiroshima Orizuru Tower: A Powerful Experience Folding Paper Cranes

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Hiroshima Orizuru Tower offers visitors a focused way to engage with one of Hiroshima’s most powerful symbols of peace: the paper crane.

Located beside Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, the tower is designed around the tradition of folding paper cranes (orizuru). Inside, visitors are invited to participate – rather than simply observe.

In this guide, I’ll walk through the meaning of paper cranes in Hiroshima and then take you inside Hiroshima Orizuru Tower to explain exactly what you can do there.

If you’re considering visiting Hiroshima Orizuru Tower, this post will help you decide whether it belongs in your Hiroshima itinerary.

Hiroshima Orizuru Tower Origami Crane: Children’s Peace Monument — Paper Cranes at the Children’s Peace Monument

The Story Behind Hiroshima’s Paper Cranes

In Japan, the crane has come to symbolize peace, longevity, and healing. Through Japanese folklore, the folding of 1,000 paper cranes – senbazuru – is traditionally believed to grant a wish, often for health or recovery.

After the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, paper cranes became a global symbol of peace through the story of Sadako Sasaki.

The story of Sadako and the thousand paper cranes

Sadako was two years old when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She survived the blast but later developed leukemia, a result of radiation exposure.

While hospitalized, she began folding paper cranes after learning the legend that folding 1,000 cranes could grant a wish. Her wish was simple: to live.

Sadako did not survive – and she did not finish her 1,000 origami cranes, but her story did.

For me, this experience carried deep personal weight.

One of my favorite books growing up was Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Although time has passed, it is still a story that has stuck with me.

Standing in Hiroshima – folding a crane of my own, in the very place where Sadako’s story is remembered – felt emotional, grounding, and incredibly full-circle.

It transformed this story from my childhood into something even more real, human, and unforgettable.

Origami Cranes today

After Sadako’s death, classmates and supporters finished the senbazuru in her memory.

This movement grew internationally, leading to the creation of the Children’s Peace Monument and the tradition of sending paper cranes to Hiroshima from around the world.

Today, millions arrive each year from schools, churches, and peace organizations.

Paper cranes in Hiroshima are no longer just wishes for healing – they are promises of remembrance. In today’s world, they are often used for fundraisers and awareness projects.

Orizuru - paper crane - origami crane in Orizuru Tower, Hiroshima — Finished orizuru

inside Hiroshima Orizuru tower

Orizuru Square & the Orizuru Wall

Take the elevator up to 12F.

You’ll arrive at Orizuru Square, where you will be guided to a table with a tablet showing you how to make the origami crane.

Making the crane isn’t too hard – but I did have to re-do a few steps (… a few times).

After creating your orizuru, you’re invited to place it into the Orizuru Wall – a vertical window installation that runs through the building. As you drop your crane into a narrow opening, it joins thousands of others inside the tower.

Hiroshima Orizuru Tower - Orizuru Wall viewed from outside — Orizuru Wall viewed from outside

What makes this moment especially powerful is that the Orizuru Wall is visible from outside the building. As you walk around the base of the tower or approach Peace Memorial Park, you can see layers of colorful cranes stacked behind glass – each one folded by a visitor who paused here to reflect.

Orizuru overlooking Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park — Overlooking Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park

It’s a quiet reminder that this experience is shared, collective, and ongoing.

From this floor, you can also see the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and ground zero.

atomic bomb dome from hiroshima orizuru tower — Atomic Bomb Dome from Hiroshima Orizuru Tower

Hiroshima Hill: The Rooftop Observation Deck

At the top of the tower, on floor RF, is Hiroshima Hill.

This is an open-air observation deck that directly overlooks Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. You can also see the surrounding city, including Hiroshima Castle.

There’s plenty of seating and also a take-out café on this floor to encourage you to stay for a while.

It was very cool to see a birds-eye view of the park and city. It also gives you a different perspective on the atomic bomb dome.

Café and Souvenirs

On the first floor, there are plenty of souvenirs for you to look through. Honestly, I found some nice items here and didn’t feel like this was a cheesy souvenir spot. Of course, I appreciated the orizuru themes – they felt more meaningful than a “Japan” magnet.

On the other side of this floor, next to the ticket counter, you will also find a small drink café and a popular okonomiyaki restaurant: Mitchan Sohonten

Moving throughout the floors

While there is an elevator available, many visitors descend the tower via a spiral slope that wraps gradually past each floor.

Next to the slope is a spiral slide. This was a welcome treat – I definitely enjoyed the playfulness of taking the slide. It stops between each floor so participants can enter or exit. This would be a great activity for kids, too!

Cost of Hiroshima orizuru Tower

Admission is approximately 2,200 yen for adults (about $14 USD)

👉 Get your tickets in advance

How much time should you plan for?

I would recommend planning on about 90 minutes here. This will give you enough time to trial-and-error your way through making your paper crane, and allowing you to explore the skyline.

Was it crowded?

I visited Hiroshima at the end of March, which is cherry blossom season. I arrived at Orizuru tower late morning and was actually shocked at how few people there were.

While there were definitely visitors – the rooftop views were unobstructed, and there were no lines to fold paper cranes.

The souvenir shop on the bottom floor was the most crowded area in the tower.

Children’s Peace Memorial orizuru — Orizuru art at the Children’s Peace Memorial

Is Hiroshima Orizuru Tower Worth It?

While the cost isn’t crazy expensive – it is a little pricer than other tourist admissions. I also thoroughly enjoyed the activities here, but I do wish they had more activities available in this huge building.

Regardless – I found Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is absolutely worth including in my Hiroshima itinerary. In fact, this activity solidified my decision to visit Hiroshima.

Visiting Hiroshima Orizuru Tower allows you to both participate and reflect on Hiroshima’s past and future.

If you loved this Hiroshima orizuru tower guide, check out more –

👉 Plan your Orizuru trip as a part of a larger Hiroshima trip

Hi, I’m Amber —

A Michigan native now living in Washington with a deep love for travel and the outdoors. What started with church mission trips and years of traveling across the U.S. as a nurse has grown into a passion for exploring destinations across Asia and America through hiking, scenic landscapes, local food, wildlife encounters, and underwater adventures. Sometimes I’m joined by my goldendoodle, Millie, but I’m always traveling with my camera. My goal is to help you feel inspired and confident that travel is possible — no matter where you’re starting from.