It would be our first Shinkansen trip, to Hiroshima.
When we reached JR Osaka Station, we had a hard time choosing a bento for our brunch!
There are several trains that go to Hiroshima. I did the research and made sure we took the Sakura Shinkansen as it takes just 1.5h to get there.
When we reached Hiroshima Station, I tried to exit to no avail. I was referred to a counter which informed me that the 5-Day West Kansai JR Pass we purchased on Klook did not cover Hiroshima!
I ended up paying more than $500 for our return tickets to Hiroshima and Miyajima on the spot. It was quite a mess as the station staff could not speak English and we could not understand Japanese. The staff tried using a translator gadget but it didn't translate accurately what she was trying to say. Eventually, she led a China-born staff who could speak English, Mandarin and Japanese to help us solve the problem we were facing. Were we grateful for that!
After that, we were given the tram map and directed to the tram stop.
Both electric tram lines 2 and 6 go to the Atomic Bomb Dome within 15 minutes (180 yen/adult).
A group of Japanese elderly men taking photograph of themselves with the Atomic Bomb Dome
I walked around the Dome to scrutinise the structure. This was the spot where the first atomic bomb dropped and this structure, amazingly, did not collapse into smithereens like most buildings around it.
The rest of the attractions were just nearby, across the bridge.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
The Sadako Sasaki Statue where students were briefed about and proceeded to bow and ring a bell under the sculpture.
Baby had read the book 'Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes' in P2 but unfortunately she could not seem to remember much about the story. I had to refresh her memory about what it was about.
The Memorial Cenotaph directly in front of the Museum
It holds the names of the atomic bomb casualties and is purposefully aligned to frame the Peace Flame and the Atomic Bomb Dome. The arch shape represents a shelter for the souls of the victims.
We paid for the tickets to the Museum and deposited our bags in the lockers at the first floor.
In the museum were exhibits about the cause and horrific effects of atomic bombing.
I did read on the internet with similar content that the United States was in a nuclear arms race with the Soviet Union and one of the reasons the US dropped the atomic bomb was to demonstrate its military supremacy but at that moment when I was reading the same material in the Peace Memorial Museum, I suddenly wondered if I could be reading some propaganda.
A small replica of the Little Boy atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, set in perspectives of human dimensions
The Fat Man atomic bomb that was dropped on Nagasaki
The original Dome versus the Atomic Bomb Dome after the bombing
The normal roof tile (right) versus the tile exposed to the bombing (left)
A child's clothes donated by her parents after the bombing. Many were torn and tattered.
The whole museum is dimly lit to amplify the sombre and solemn atmosphere of the effects of the atomic bombings. Photo-taking without flash was allowed so just about all the pictures taken in the museum were done in low-light condition.
I had read on Tripadvisor that school children on field trips were making a lot of noise but it was the opposite of what I had experienced when I was there. There were tons of school children indeed but almost all were furiously and quietly making notes as they walked through the exhibits. None was discussing audibly. I was thoroughly impressed with the restraint and self-control they demonstrated.
Drawings to depict victims' inner world and what they saw or remembered from the atomic bombing
Many of the victims were outdoor when the bombing took place and died within a few days after
A girl who recovered from her injuries but developed cancer in her thirties, and passed away in her forties
This was definitely an educational trip for all of us. We heard and read about Hiroshima atomic bombing but the museum laid bare the horrors of the effects suffered by the ordinary people. Families were broken up, not just by deaths, but also the extended years of suffering by the victims who suffered burns on their backs and different parts of their bodies.
As much as we would love to linger in the museum to devour all the information about the atomic bombing, we had to make our way to Miyajima. This was, after all, a day trip.
At first, we boarded a tram to go to the Miyajima-Guchi Station but we realised it would indeed take a much longer time, so we alighted halfway to board the train to get to the Station. After that, we took a short 5 to 10 minutes' walk to the Miyajima-Guchi Pier and showed our JR Pass to get a free ride on one of the ferries.
There are two companies operating the ferries so if you have a JR Pass, utilise that and board the one operating using JR Pass.
Boarding the ferry
It was a quick 5 to10 minute ride to Miyajima
What I had come for, the UNESCO World Heritage floating Tori Gate - in renovation/refurbishment mode!*faint*
Read that it will only be ready in next year's June. Strangely, this information escaped me when I was doing research on Miyajima!
Well, just have to have a back view pic of the Tori Gate!
There were roaming deer on the island but notices erected advise visitors not to feed or get too close to them
William was trying to pull a plastic bag out of the deer's mouth
The beautiful Itsukushima-Jinja shrine
We were already there, so it made sense to enter the shrine (300 yen/pax).
Very spacious and airy
Then my mother and I made our way to Momijidani Park for some red-leaf pictures
A very beautiful park with lots of red and yellow-leaf trees and foliage but it was a shame we had very little time in it.
My plan was to take pictures until 5pm when the sun set and we go eat to our heart's content after that.
Horror of horrors! The shops were busy closing at 5pm! We only managed to try this tasty fried maple leaf cake from two shops.
You have to pay for the number of cakes you want at this machine first before waiting in line for your cakes
My mother and I adored the custard cakes while William ate the red-bean and Baby, cheese.
After that, we hurriedly picked up some souvenirs and boarded the ferry back to Hiroshima.
Some people have advised to stay on the Miyajima island for a day but it baffles me what there is to do after 5pm since it was dark everywhere and all the shops were closed. I am sure Miyajima would look lovely in the morning but I think I would not want to spend a boring night on Miyajima. Perhaps staying on Hiroshima for the night and returning to Miyajima in the early morning could be a better idea?
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