Japan Trip 2016, Day 5: Hiroshima

 Today was our last day in Hiroshima, but we spent most of our day touring there. It started bright and early at the Hiroshima Atomic Dome and Peace Memorial. Americans know Hiroshima as the first location where an atomic bomb was deployed in WWII. We know that it was a terrible blast but it was a tactic of war that we had decided to make to show the nation we meant business and we weren't to be messed with. We learned that it was terrible, but the Hiroshima Peace Memorial is here to assure its visitors know just HOW horrible it was, and that it will never happen again to anyone, no matter what the nationality. The park surrounding the Atomic Dome is beautiful, with wonderful art installments and memorials remembering those who lost their life in the bombing, and to bring hope to a more peaceful future without atomic weaponry. If you need convincing about the horrors of an atomic blast, visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum where there are plenty of examples. Roof tiles that melted, bubbled, and rebaked. Entire cases of glass bottles that fused together.  Shadows burnt into the sides of buildings. Tattered and bloody clothing showing the dark patterns of the cloth burned clean away.  A sandal with the shadow of a girl's left foot still visibly burned into it. The hair that fell off a girl's head when her mother tried to brush it. Fingernails and skin that sloughed off a young boy as he died in his mother's arms. The lunchbox of a boy who didn't make it back to his parents in time and whose remains were too minuscule to be buried. Many, many examples of those who suffered from an atomic blast used in a war that they had no part of and were busy living their own lives.

ANYWAY, after all that and walking around the park, it became time for lunch. This of course was again a stop at Family Mart for more of their fried chicken. Unfortunately, they had their signs mixed up and we accidentally got their spicy chicken which wasn't as good. We had luckily picked up some rice balls and a potato salad too, so that was good enough. We ate in a park right outside the Hiroshima Public Library (but we didn't go in) and watched their book sale through the windows.

Just across the street was Hiroshima Castle, a small cousin to the two we've seen this trip. We didn't go inside this one, but we did walk around the grounds and visit the local shrine. They had a beautiful chrysanthemum display going on and there were tons of kids there. They were all wearing cute kimonos, so I'm convinced that you are able to visit a temple earlier than November 15 for Shichi Go San.

It was after noon and we had a few hours before our Shinkansen to Kyoto, so we picked up our luggage and made our way back to the station. There I found and bought a Hiroshima Carps Jersey, as well as a few souvenirs.  A girl came up and asked about my owl purse (seriously Mom, we have to learn to make these, I have had girls commenting on it even here in Japan) and we struck up a conversation about why we were here. Her name was Yukiko and her English was good. I told her I was here with my husband (who was off buying ice cream) and when he returned she made him feed me some of his ice cream! XD  That is considered a cute display of love here in Japan when a guy feeds a girl or vice versa, showing we can take care of the other. I guess that's what she was after? Who knows! Our shinkansen was about to arrive so we said goodbye to Yukiko and disembarked for Kyoto.

We're back in the Kyoto Khaosan Hostel and our tickets and a special gift from Hiroko was there waiting for us at the front desk. We'll have to share that gift with you later! ;) Alas, our room here at Kyoto is... not great. The bed last time felt like a box spring. I thought it was a mistake, but no, it is once again a lumpy, awful (even for a Japanese mattress) box spring, and the walls are paper thin and I can here the Chinese people next door sharing Youtube videos. And there's SOMETHING on the other side of the walls and/or behind the hostel that has the loudest plumbing I've ever heard. For the first time in my life, I may request a room change.  I suppose we'll see how tired I am tomorrow. More tired = more angry.

Oh! That's right, we found out that the new Pokemon Center here in Kyoto is only a 5 minute walk from the hostel! I bought the Pikachu in a kimono that I've been wanting, and a Christmas Pokemon mug! It's very interesting that this one and the Hiroshima center were both in the children's section of a department store, and not a store of its own. Hmmm....

Oh well, wish me well and that I get some sleep. Ta!

The Hiroshima Atomic Dome

The Children's Peace Monument

Looking toward the past, hoping for a peaceful future.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Peace Park made of chrysanthemums!

Adorable girl decked out for Shichi Go San.

I really felt like a creeper taking pictures of other people's kids, but they were so cute!

Jeff contemplates the deliciousness of his ice cream.

Kyoto Pokemon Center seemed to have a large Mario influence...

Oooh, just found out that Kyoto is Nintendo's home town!

And Ho-Oh, Kyoto's Pokemon mascot.