Another day, another shinkansen... Today we made it to Hiroshima where the tourist loop bus was not necessarily the most efficiently routed option, but it was the easiest. Our first stop was predictably the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. The Park features a cenotaph, a Flame of Peace, a Peace Pond, many statues and memorials, the Children's Peace Memorial, and thousands of 'Sadako' cranes from around the world. I found the visit very moving, particularly seeing children visiting the site on a fieldtrip and learning about its significance and history. |
After visiting Peace Memorial Park, our next priority was seeing Miyajima while the tide was high. We took the bus back to the train station, the train to the ferry, and the ferry to the island. Miyajima is thought to be one of the most beautiful sites in all of Japan, and the attention is focused upon the O.torii, the gate emerging from the water. Itsukushima-jinga appears to float over the water just 175 yards from the gate and Omotesando-dori is lined with tourist shops and restaurants. The island is backed by Mount Misen and lined with beaches. Finally, it also has deer. |