Visiting Miyajima and Hiroshima was one of the highlights of my trip to Japan. This tour was completely out of the way and most definitely was what made the entire trip much more expensive. But despite that, the experience I gained here was worth a lot more than what I paid for.
After the 2 hour bullet train ride from Kyoto to Hiroshima, we boarded a boat for a 10 minute ride to the island of Miyajima, one of Japan's 3 most scenic spots. It is just off the coast of Hiroshima and surrounded by the Seto Inland Sea. It is famous for the world renowned Itsukushima Shrine. The torii gate which is the most noted symbol welcomes visitors to the island.
Like Nara, deer also roam freely in Miyajima. The entire island is considered sacred so nobody is allowed to be born or die there. In my opinion, something like this can only be possible in a place where transportation is extremely reliable. Ferry service to and from Miyajima is frequent and always on time. Surprisingly, the boats are very comfortable and have tons of seats. Although if somebody is going into labor or about to croak, that may just be up for discussion.
Standing in the sea, Itsukushima Shrine is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was first built in the latter half of the 6th century and remodeled to its present structure in 1168.
Towards the east of the shrine and a 10 minute walk from the pier of Miyajima is the 5 story pagoda built in 1407.
I found that one of the best ways to enjoy this beautiful island is walking along the paths in Momijidani Park located at the foot of Mt. Misen (the highest point on the island rising 535 meters or 1,755 feet above sea level). Momijidani is the Japanese translation of "Maple Valley". Below are pictures of my stroll through Maple Valley.
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| Maple Valley |
After our stroll through Maple Valley, we did a little shopping in Omotesando Shopping Arcade. We got some really cool stuff which I'll post pictures of later on. We got a little hungry and purchased a very pretty maple leaf looking thing without knowing what it was. It turned out to be a fish cake with cheese sauce and tasted horrible!!!!
Afterwards, we returned to the mainland and visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and surrounding areas.
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| Peace Memorial Monument |
The dropping of the atomic bomb occurred on August 6, 1945 around 8:15 am. The bomb exploded 600 meters (1,968 feet) above Shima Hospital. The heat rays were between 3,000 to 4,000 celsius (5,400 to 7,200 fahrenheit). Keep in mind that iron melts at 1,500 celsius (2,700 fahrenheit). Thousands of lives were lost and many of those who managed to survive until this day have suffered irreparable damage.
The most famous site in Hiroshima is the Atomic Bomb Dome. It was one of the few buildings left standing within 2 kilometers of the explosion. Over the years, the building has deteriorated so steel girders were fitted in to prevent it from collapsing.
On May 5, 1958, the Children's Peace Monument and Paper Cranes was unveiled. It was built to comfort the soul of Sadako Sasaki, who died of leukemia 10 years after the bombing. The monument was supported by students from more than 3,200 schools in Japan and 9 other countries who raised money. Sadako manually folded 1,300 paper cranes before dying. Paper cranes are a symbol of longevity and said to help recover those from suffering illness or injury. Each year, around 10,000,000 paper cranes are placed on the monument - thats about 10 tons of paper! If you look closely at the picture below, you will see that paper cranes that have been donated from around the world surrounds the monument.
Transplanted in 1973, the tree below was exposed to the atomic bomb radiation. Half its trunk was burnt to a hallow. Miraculously, it still continues to grow.
Below are a couple pictures of present day Hiroshima. It's definitely come a long way since the A-Bomb.
Seeing all the destruction the A-Bomb caused was heart breaking. Seeing how the people of Hiroshima rebuilt their city was nothing short of remarkable.
A very special and heartfelt thank you to our amazing guide Naoko for showing us such a special place. I am truly grateful to you for sharing your knowledge with us. It is something that I will always remember.
