Japan Trip Report – Hiroshima – Days 6 to 7

Day 6

We boarded our first Shinkansen train just after 9am and were on our way to Hiroshima.  The train is really fast, but you don’t feel it.  They aren’t as modern inside as I thought they might be considering it was Japan.  Our trains had spotty wifi and were really no different than a train you’d see in Europe.   That still makes it a great way to get around the country.  And we caught a glimpse of Mt Fuji on the way

We made it into Hiroshima by 1:30pm.  I booked hotel rooms at the Hotel Granvia which was right next to the train station and a welcome break from our Japanese style apartment in Tokyo.  It was a luxury hotel but reasonable prices now that we were out of Tokyo.

We took a cab to Hiroshima Castle.  The castle is really cool from the outside.  But as you go inside, you realize it’s a reconstruction (for obvious reasons) as there’s nothing inside but steps to take you upstairs.

From the castle you can walk down towards the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.  You get to walk by the Atomic Bomb Dome which was one of the few buildings that was left standing and has remained as a reminder to the destruction.

And then we walked through the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.  This might be a bit controversial for Americans as it’s pretty one-sided view of the accounts of the bombing of Hiroshima.  And while I understand that they should show the devastation of nuclear warfare, it was a bit unnerving to see a completely different history of the events leading up to the bombing from what I was taught.  I always find that there’s truth in the middle.  The history taught in American schools may not be 100% correct, but I didn’t feel the history presented here was fair either.  I left a little fired up, but maybe that’s the point.

 

We ate dinner at Nagata-Ya just across from the park.  It’s an okonomiyaki restaurant and one of the more popular ones based on its location and English friendly menu.  Okonomiyaki are basically crepes layered with cabbage, noodles, fish sauce, cheese, meat, and whatever else you decide you want.  All cooked in front of you on a hot griddle.  It sounds weird.  It is weird.  But, it’s not that bad and you could get used to it.

Day 7

We took the 7:30 train down to Miyajimaguci station and then a ferry to Miyajima to see the floating Torii gate you see in all the of the pictures in Japan.

We were on the island by about 8:30. and had beaten the crowds.  The island was deserted except for us and the deer.  The islands main full time inhabitants are deer.  And they have zero fear of humans and will come right up to you.  Especially if you have food or look like you might have food.

After walking through the shrine, we headed up to the ropeway cable car that would take you up to the peak of the mountain and then walked back down.  We didn’t have much else to do that day and I had spotted a brewery on our walk in that didn’t open until 11am.

We grabbed a beer at the brewery and let the boys shop for their souvenirs.  The beer was disappointing but it was nice break.

Rested in the hotel for a bit before hitting the beer garden on top of the Hotel Granvia.  I was the first one there and there wasn’t a great beer selection.

But that didn’t stop me.

 

Had dinner at Roopali Honten, at great little Indian restaurant nearby and called it a night.

NEXT – KYOTO

PREVIOUS – TOKYO

TRIP SUMMARY