Japan 2016 Part 3: Hiroshima City
June 28, 2016
Before I start telling stories about our Hiroshima City and Miyajima Island adventure, I would just like to mention that THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR WHOLE TRIP. These historical and cultural places were the reason why we bought the JR passes, why we woke up at such ungodly hours and why we basically just travelled for a total of ~10 hours to and from Tokyo to reach these destinations. DEFINITELY WORTH IT, THOUGH. Without a doubt.
Alright.
DAY 3 (March 11, 2016) | Hiroshima City
Our 3rd day in Japan started by waking up at 3am (!!! yes, 2am in the Philippines!) and leaving the hotel before 5am to catch the 5:06am train to Higashi-Kanagawa Station. From Higashi-Kanagawa Station, we took a 9min train ride to Shin Yokohama Station and from there, we rode the Hikari 493 Shinkansen to Hiroshima Station. The Shinkansen ride lasted for around 4 hours so that meant ~sleep time~ for us. It was also a good thing that we reserved seats beforehand, thus, getting seats beside each other and ultimately, being able to sleep freely and with #noshame. Yes, that was supposed to be a run-on sentence.
Our 3rd day in Japan started by waking up at 3am (!!! yes, 2am in the Philippines!) and leaving the hotel before 5am to catch the 5:06am train to Higashi-Kanagawa Station. From Higashi-Kanagawa Station, we took a 9min train ride to Shin Yokohama Station and from there, we rode the Hikari 493 Shinkansen to Hiroshima Station. The Shinkansen ride lasted for around 4 hours so that meant ~sleep time~ for us. It was also a good thing that we reserved seats beforehand, thus, getting seats beside each other and ultimately, being able to sleep freely and with #noshame. Yes, that was supposed to be a run-on sentence.
I used Hyperdia to "review" the actual route we took on our way to Hiroshima Station. There was no way I would have remembered those details. Besides, Hyperdia is awesome. It saved our butts from getting lost when we were in Japan.
Nica and I's sleep deprived faces! I didn't even bother fixing my shawl-turned-weirdishlylongscarf! Also, look at the station sign behind us. We rode that 5:06 train ride and we were already in the station at around 4:50AM. Early birds!
We actually checked out from our hotel before leaving for Hiroshima because we would be checking in to a new hotel once we get back from the sacred island. We also stayed for a night in Miyajima so we were all carrying our overnight clothes/essentials in our backpacks. If you're wondering where our luggage are, we had them shipped to our new hotel the night before. The staff of Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kyobashi were really accommodating in helping us ship our luggage to Sunshine City Prince Hotel -- the other hotel we would be staying in. Isn't it amazing how they have this luggage delivery system in the hotel? I heard that it's pretty common in Japan so the hotel staff are already used to helping guests with such procedures. You can also track the shipping number of your luggage online if ever you're bothered by the safety of your valuables. Amazing!
In the bullet train, ready to go to dreamland zzz~
When we arrived in Hiroshima Station, the first thing we did was look for lockers. We planned to leave our heavy backpacks there so we could explore Hiroshima in a more comfortable manner. After dropping off our heavy bags, we went ahead and looked for the exit. We actually got lost and wouldn't have found the right exit if not for the friendly tourist guide who was roaming around the station and giving out maps. The tourist guide (unfortunately, I forgot his name) is fluent in English and explained how his group is actively promoting Hiroshima as a tourism spot. He led us to the exit where the Hiroshima sightseeing loop bus was parked and even gave us a map of the places we could stop over! If ever you'll go to Hiroshima, look for these people in red shirts and you'll find your way in no time!
Almost 11am and all aboard the sightseeing loop bus! You'll be given the route map of the bus so you know when/where you'll get off the bus. Oh and we didn't pay anything for the bus because of our JR passes! COOL!
Okonomimura
Time constraints forced us to not eat anything before our 5 hour trip, thus, our famished selves when we entered the loop bus. With our stomachs grumbling, we decided to stop over at Okonomimura first! Okonomimura is a quaint building filled with eateries that sell okonomiyaki -- the city's specialty!
This was the place were we had our brunch. They have an English menu as well! Nica, Jj and I ordered different types of okonomiyaki. I think I ordered the one on the upper right??
The okonomiyaki will be cooked in front of you. How awesome! You also get to choose which kind of noodles you prefer: soba or udon? Jj and I got soba while Nica picked udon!
The before and after of my meal. We honestly had a hard time finishing our orders because the serving was so huge! Jj and Nica actually weren't able to finish their meals.
We also ordered these oysters, another Hiroshima specialty!
Enjoying our big plates of okonomiyaki! Our grumbling stomachs were beyond satisfied!
That filling lunch prepared us for all the (unexpected) walking ahead. We looked for the bus stop for the loop bus so we could go to our next and last stop: the Atomic Bomb Dome and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. These two places present the reason why we were in Hiroshima in the first place: to see the historic city with our own eyes. We literally went out of our way to go to Hiroshima because of its history and its importance, especially with regard to World War II. We are history nerds like that, plus, if you must know, Jj is the king of anything World War II related!
We were literally walking around in circles this time, trying to look for the loop bus/bus stop, but eventually deciding to walk to the Atomic Dome/Peace Park instead!
So why exactly did we walk? Well, we couldn't find the bus stop for the loop bus that's why! The language barrier also made it difficult to ask for directions. Good thing we have our trusty GPS app (+ pocket wifi!) and a handy dandy map! We managed to reach the Atomic Dome after around an hour of walking. Passing by Hondori Shopping Arcade and exploring various sights of the city definitely made the walking around less tiring!
Atomic Bomb Dome/Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Atomic Bomb Dome/Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
Dark skies over the Atomic Bomb Dome, it actually rained for a while when we were there. Good thing it was not that strong because we left our umbrellas in the locker.
This is the ruin of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotional Hall. It is located a few meters away from where the atomic bomb was dropped. This is now a UNESCO Heritage Site, symbolizing peace, hoping to stop the use of nuclear weapons against human beings.
Nica, Jj and me! We don't look like we just walked for around an hour, right? lol
The surroundings of the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park. Spotlessly clean!
The landscape of the park is calming... sets the mood for what inspired its creation: PEACE.
Inside the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, a place dedicated for the estimated 140,000+ atomic bomb victims.
The Children's Peace Monument was built to remember the children who were victims of the atomic bombing. The girl in the middle is Sadako Sasaki, who died due to leukumia caused by the radiation of the atomic bomb.
Behind us is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum which showcased Hiroshima City before the bombing and the damages caused by the atomic bomb. We didn't take photos inside the museum... I'm actually not sure if it's because taking photos is NOT allowed OR if we were too stunned to even think of doing so.
The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was the last spot we went to before leaving the Peace Park and making it the last one was apt. Inside the museum, we read the memoirs of the victims /victims' loved ones and we saw what these victims left as "remembrance" of the devastating event. From watches that stopped when the bomb was dropped to metal lunch boxes owned by student victims -- these items helped the victims' relatives identify that the victim was their loved one/s. People died because of burns, dehydration, or sickness/disease caused by radiation (the symptoms of which appeared a few years after). I couldn't imagine how the victims and the victims' loved ones felt during this disastrous event. I couldn't help but to empathize with the victims and imagine myself in their situation.
Being there and seeing all these up close was overwhelming and I just felt so thankful for the peace that we are all experiencing right now. The peace we shouldn't take for granted.
Forgive me for the sudden blabbing. Reminiscing this part of my Japan trip just made me remember everything I saw in the Peace Park, all the feelings I felt when I was there. It's like a flashback of sorts. That is how big of an impact this visit did to me.
The place is too pretty that I couldn't help but have my photo taken... It's such a lovely place to commemorate such a horrid event, a symbol of hope and peace for what's ahead.
The Peace Park is definitely one of the most memorable places in my Japan trip. Stepping on the ground of such a historic city just gave me an assortment of feelings -- sad, shocked, nostalgic, grateful, hopeful. I felt too attached.
It also amazed me how the Japanese restored this once fallen city. It is urbanized, clean... and peaceful. You wouldn't see a semblance of its dark history if you go there and have zero knowledge of its past. Well, that is what the Peace Park is for anyway: to remember.
It must also be said how it was interesting to see the Hiroshima bombing/a portion of the World War II in the Japanese' eyes and how restoring and retaining PEACE was the key message I got from it. ☮
What an amazing and unforgettable experience. This will most likely be my last thought before I fall asleep tonight.
P.S. I decided to separate the Hiroshima City and Miyajima blog entries. They both deserve their own blog post hehe. Miyajima blog post next, stick with me please! :)
1 comments
Keep posting! I really look forward to reading your well put blogs! I love you!
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