Day 11 of 15, Hiroshima

Initially, we planned to go to Nara, Uji or Osaka. It was fore casted to rain in Nara and Uji, we wouldn’t want to be walking in the rain all the time if it did rain. And as we were looking through the places that we want to visit in Osaka… it’s just another big city.

So… we made an impromptu decision to go to Hiroshima.

It was worth it! No regrets changing our plan.

Sat on the Shinkansen to Hiroshima.

It takes about 2 hours ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima. The advantages of having an iPhone with us… can play games while passing time. We were both trying to beat each other’s time in Sudoku.

Scenic views along the way.

When we arrived Hiroshima, we went straight to the ferry terminal to catch a ferry to Miyajima Island.

Oyster Farms along the way.

So what’s so special about Miyajima Island?

It is one of the Three Most Scenic Spots of Japan!

We came here to see the O-torii Gate (the floating torii) of Itsukushima Shrine, one of the most photographed spots in the whole of Japan, other than Mt Fuji.

I’ll show you more pictures of this floating torii later.

This is the ferry that we sat on.

Welcome to Bandaraya Miyajima.

Mat had to stop to get some green tea shaved ice.

This island is also full of deers.

Note on the map: “The deer on Miyajima are wild. They may eat paper and cloth. Please pay attention and keep an eye on your personal belongings – especially tickets and souvenirs as the deer might eat them.”

I think the word “ticket” in that note is sufficient warning to us.

Deers queuing up to buy some food

Ok… here… more pictures of the floating Torii. It’s called the floating torii because when the tide comes in, it will look as if the torii is floating on the water. But if it’s not high tide, it’s actually just surrounded with mud.

The O-torii Gate of Itsukushima Shrine is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. It’s about 16.6 meters in height and weighs about 60 tons. Its roof, thatched with Japanese cypress bark, while the four supporting pillars are made of natural cedar. The gate stands under its own weight.

We were trying to get a decent picture of ourselves with the torii, and a kind tourist offered to take our pictures for us. Mat thinks he just wants to test my camera, because that tourist was holding an older model of the camera that I have … but anyways, we’re grateful

Mat told me just to take a photo of the Itsukushima Shrine. Don’t need to go in. So ok, been there, done that.

The Itsukushima Shrine is dedicated to three goddesses, Ichikishima-hime (gods of sea), Tagitsu-hime (traffic safety), Tagori-hime (fortune and accomplishment).

The five storied pagoda, said to have been built in 1407, is 28 meters high and harmoniously combines the Japanese and Chinese styles of architecture.

Lunch time! Walked around the bandaraya like deers to find food.

Miniminimynimo… dunno how to read this restaurants name.

Food that is famous in Hiroshima is Okonomiyaki. So must try! Okonomiyaki is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi, meaning “what you like” or “what you want”, and yaki means “grilled” or “cooked”.

We chose oysters for the additional toppings, because I saw a lot of vendors selling oysters in the “bandaraya”.

YUMMYLICOUS!!!  MMMMMmmmmmm~~~~~ Everybody say aahhhh…. yum….~

After lunch, Mat wanted a little snack

We saw many shops producing this kuih.

This kuih is called Manju.

To me, it didn’t taste all that special. Just looks pretty.

We didn’t walk the whole island, because our trip to Hiroshima was just a one day trip. My main mission on this island was just to see and take a picture of this floating torii. Caught the next ferry back to mainland.

Next, we sat on a tram. Yeah, Hiroshima also have trams, didn’t know that. The trams are pretty similar to the trams in Melbourne. But the paying system is different. You pay only when you get off the tram.

THIS… is our main main main purpose of deciding to visit Hiroshima.

THE A-DOME

The A stands for Atomic if you didn’t already know.

Reading and seeing it in our school textbooks is one thing. But looking at the real thing, in person, is a another thing.

On August 6, 1945, the building was severely damaged and burnt by the first atomic bomb ever used in warfare. The Atomic Bomb Done is a symbol of Hiroshima, conveying to us the horror of nuclear weapons. In 1996, the dome was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Peace Memorial Park.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

At 8:15am, on August 6, 1945, the city of Hiroshima fell victim to the world’s first atomic bombing. The entire city was virtually leveled. This was how Hiroshima looked like after the A bomb.

Why Was the Bomb Dropped on Hiroshima? To ensure that the effects of the atomic bombing could be accurately observed, potential targets were selected from cities with an urban area at least three mils in diameter, and air raides in those cities were prohibited. An order was issued to drop the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Kokura, Niigata, OR Nagasaki. Hiroshima was thought to have been the first choice because it was the only one of the four target cities without an Allied prisoner-of-war camp.

AND… because on that day, there was not a cloud in the sky over Hiroshima … and that sealed it’s fate.

Before

After

With a blinding flash, the bomb detonated approximately 600 meters above the city center. The heat rays and blast burned and crushed nearly all buildings within 2 kilometers of the hypocenter.

At the instant of detonation, the temperature at the center exceeded a million degrees Celsius, generating an enormous fireball. Within 1 sec of detonation, it had extended to its maximum diameter of 280 meters. Temperatures on the surface reached 5000C.

The heat melted the ceramic bowls and made them stick together

Melted glass bottles

Many lives were taken from this A bomb. To me, truthfully speaking, the museum’s main intention is to promote world peace, to eliminate the world of using weapons of mass destruction. But if you think of it, if the Americans didn’t do this, a lot more lives around the world, and also including the lives of soldiers would have been taken in this war. So… whether it was a right decision or not….

… I think I’ll just leave it at that.

Oh yeah… Mat and myself couldn’t help thinking whether if there was still any radiation left, especially the items in the museum.

After the last picture I took of the Peace Memorial Park… my camera battery went flat… sigh… I seriously need to get an extra battery pack when I go for long holidays like this.

But no fear…. out comes my backup camera… my super ancient NIKON!

It still produces good pictures. But I have my reasons to get the new one

Right… let’s move along now.

Hiroshima Castle.

It was completed sometime between 1592 and 1599.

Hiroshima castle is also called “Carp Castle” and is pronounced RIJO in Japanese. Since this area where the castle was built was then called Koi-no-ura (Koi Sea Shore) and “Koi” means carp in Japanese, the castle was given the nickname “Carp Castle” in later years.

Lots of carp and turtles

On August 6 1945, the castle was destroyed by the atomic bomb last. The present tower was reconstructed in 1958 and is now used to exhibit historic artifacts.

View from the top of Hiroshima Castle.

We kept seeing this Conan pictures everywhere. So Mat made me take a photo of this poster in Hiroshima Castle. Can’t read Japanese. Maybe Conan’s next mystery is in Hiroshima?

We’re back near Hiroshima Station. Walked pass Sogo and some shopping malls.

Took the tram.

And then the bullet train. Could never get a decent image of the front of the bullet train. We were always given seats in the middle of the bullet trains. And I don’t dare to run to the front or back of the bullet train to get pictures, because I scared I can’t get back on the train in time. They always leave on the dot. Super punctual. If it’s 4.57, it’s 4.57, no earlier, no later.

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