Hiroshima: City of Memories

            I wasn’t too confident in the choice of my next destination. I knew Hiroshima was where we dropped the Atomic Bomb at the end of WWII so I thought it would be important to visit. I didn’t know if I would need as much time as I scheduled there. I was worried that I was going to get bored. I was so wrong. I made so many great memories in this city. I loved my time here.

            I was staying in a J-Hoppers hostel, which is the same brand as the hostel I stayed at in Kyoto. I love everything about J-hoppers. They are always so clean, have the friendliest staff, and are always located in good places in the city.

            Hiroshima is a relatively small city compared to Osaka and Tokyo. The best way to get around is to take a tram. It was a fun experience and easily got me to the hostel. After unpacking I had some energy in me so I decided to go explore. A few blocks away from the hostel was the site where the bomb was dropped.

Peace Memorial Park

            Located at ground zero is Peace Memorial Park. The park is very well designed and huge. Throughout the park are different monuments honoring different people and advocating peace. I went inside the National Peace Memorial Hall. It was quiet and I was one of the very few inside. As you walked down a spiral walkway the walls got higher. It made you feel more and more small. At the bottom was a circular room. As you turned around you could see a panorama of all the buildings that were in the area before the bomb dropped.

Upstairs they had a book of stories about the aftermath of the bomb. I spent a lot of time reading about a school that was turned into an orphanage. They had accounts of children coming and not having clothes or food. Sometimes parents would show up to claim a child, but most were dead. They went to the neighborhoods of the children and they would find their parents’ bones in the remains of their house. The people that ran the school needed to scrounge for food. Most children were malnutritioned.

By the A-Bomb Dome

            Visiting and learning more about the effect of the bomb was a sad, but good experience. It was a moment for me to reflect on the value of life. After the bomb hit the area was flattened and became nothing; today the city is vibrant and so alive. I think this says something about the people. Their ability to rebuild shows hope. The last thing I did at the park was visit the A-bomb Dome. This building was located right by ground zero. Although much of the building was ruined, it remained standing.

The day really touched me emotionally. I decided to unwind by going to the hostel lounge to work on my blog post about Osaka. I didn’t get very far when a group of guys came down to the lounge. They were having a few drinks and wanted to play cards. I had my deck of cards in my purse so I offered it to them on the terms that I would be allowed to play as well.

The guys were great. They were from different parts of the world and had met along the way. They were from New Zealand, Scotland, Australia, and a few places in the U.S. Some were traveling because they just finished their undergraduates, others were traveling on vacation.

We were starting to get loud so we decided to go out and find a bar. The only problem was that it was a Sunday. We eventually found a place but didn’t stay long. The group was hilarious and accepting. By the end of the night they had nicknamed me Sarah Palin because of the way I talked.

When we arrived back to the hostel we decided to go to the roof. We listened to music and talked. I learned so much about these people and had a really great time. We were forced to go to bed when the owner of the hostel came upstairs and told us we weren’t supposed to be on the roof at this hour. Luckily he wasn’t too upset.

Itsukushima Shrine

Deer Everywhere!

The next day I took a ferry to Miyajima Island. The Island is a World Heritage site that is especially known for Itsukushima Shrine. It is known as the “floating shrine” because when the tide is high the ocean surrounds it. When the tide is low you are able to walk under the shrine and get good luck. I was able to see the shrine when the water was high and walk under it when it was low. The city is also known for the tame deer. Walking around the city are all sorts of little deer that aren't afraid of people.

The trail up Mt Misen

On the island there is Mt. Misen, the sacred mountain. It is the tallest mountain on the island and gods are believed to reside there. To get to the top of the mountain you are able to ride a ropeway. Due to the fact that they were building an observatory on top of the mountain, the ropeway was closed. The only way to get to the top was to climb. I took the trail and was surprised at what I found. The rock steps were uneven and tall. As you climbed you passed small shrines. The trail cut through the primeval forest that has been kept intact to its fullest. A waterfall runs next to the path. It is beautiful and serene. As you climb you are left with your thought and with the peaceful nature surrounding you.

Whew! At the top

It was a gorgeous day with the sun out which made climbing even better. I didn’t realize how long it would take to get to the top. I sweat like crazy. Once I made it to the top it was so worth it. The peak was made of rock and you could look out across the island. On my trip there were moments when I would round a corner and see the scenery and let out a gasp because it was so beautiful. When I made it to the top I celebrated and threw my fist into the air as though I was in some cheesy movie. I wanted to yell, “I did it! I climbed the mountain!” I felt so accomplished. It was one of the greatest moments I have had in Japan so far.

Kintai Bridge

The next day I woke up and found that my friends had left. This put me in a sad mood all day. I took the train to Iwakuni city nearby. This area is famous for the Kintai Bridge. It is made out of five arches. On the other side of the bridge is Kikko Park. The area used to belong to the Kikkawa Clan. Today park is full of gardens. There is a garden of Irises and a garden of Peonies. You can ride a ropeway to the top of a hill there where Ikakuni Castle is located. In the park there is also a shrine, museum, and rare white snakes. It was a relaxing trip.

Hiroshima and the surrounding area was just what I needed after Osaka. I was able to relax, be thoughtful, be a little zen, and meet some great people. I will always have such wonderful memories of my time here.