There are lots of rivers flowing through Hiroshima and the ground does not lend itself to the easy installation of a subway, so the city has the longest tram network in Japan, with 35.1 km (21.8 miles).

I love trams: they're majestic, graceful and safe because you know that they can't hit you if you are not standing on the rails.

The Hiroshimans are very fond of their trams: the latter are painted a variety of colours and there are alao special versions for particular occasions.

Hiroshima Electric Railway Co., Ltd. (広島電鉄株式会社 Hiroshima Dentetsu Kabushiki-gaisha) is a Japanese transportation company established on June 18, 1910, It is known as "Hiroden" (広電) for short. The company's rolling stock includes an eclectic range of trams manufactured from across Japan and Europe, earning it the nickname "The Moving Streetcar Museum".

The majority of trams were destroyed in the bombing, but some outside the immediate blast area survived and are STILL RUNNING today. Indeed, some were up and running THREE DAYS after the bombing.

Amazingly, too, my PASSMO rail/bus card used in Yokohama ALSO worked on the Hiroshima trams - which was very convenient.