Miyajima Island and Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

We headed out to Miyajima for a day trip from Hiroshima. With the JR Rail Pass this meant we didn’t have to pay anything extra for the train or the ferry ride across to Miyajima Island to see the O-Torii gate of Iksukushima Shrine. Geez where did that shoe come from!

It was a fascinating island with lots of deer just wandering around. There is a sign that says not to get close to the deer (FAIL), touch the deer (FAIL), feed the deer (FAIL); it ate a plastic bag out of Chris’s pocket!

It was also very picturesque.

Chris also found out some information from one of the local girls.

We also got to eat a variety of foods too, such as grilled oysters,

a soy bean filled pastry that what was still warm from the elaborate automated machine,

an awesome beef filled bun,

and a fish cake on a stick I wasn’t so sure about.

We then headed back to Hiroshima on the train and saw some woman dressed up as their coming of age ceremony sitting at a station along the way.

The A-bomb dome was just as spectacular and moving during the day.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park also contains a Children’s Peace Monument as a dedication to all the children who died as a result of the bombing. The statue is based on Sadako Sasaki, a girl who died from radiation from the bomb. She believed that if she folded 1,000 paper cranes she would be cured. People from around the world (mostly children) fold cranes and send them to Hiroshima where they are placed near the statue.

We then spent 2.5 hours in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum before it closed and we had to leave. Don’t underestimate the amount of time needed here; it is a superb exhibition that explains Hiroshima before and after.

The Peace Memorial and Peace Flame, with the A-bomb dome in the distance are also within the park. The flame has burned continuously since it was lit in 1964, and the intent is that it will remain lit until all nuclear bombs on the planet are destroyed and the planet is free from the threat of nuclear annihilation.

The Peace bell rings a very rich sound throughout the park.

For dinner, we went to Hakatatet Unabe and had some more great food.

We then retired to our hostel and played jenga with some sake and beer, but did adapt it for a bit more fun.