Experiences in Hiroshima!

Hiroshima was somehow just exactly what I expected and completely exciting at the same time, and I’m pretty sure it’s going to be one of my favorite places I’ve been to in Japan.

 

After arriving at 6 AM from our luxury night bus, (completely with mini chandeliers and red velvet curtains – well worth the extra 500 yen) we took a while to find our bearings, and then hopped on a tram car, which was basically a train that went on the road as well as on tracks. From there, we went straight to the Peace Museum area, which was the main reason for coming to Hiroshima and our first stop for the day.

The Atomic Bomb dome, which is one of the only buildings left standing from when the bomb was dropped.

Because we had gotten there so early in the morning, barely anyone was there when we got off of our tram in front of the Atomic Bomb Dome, which made it both very solemn and eerie at the same time. It was almost scary to see such a modern looking building in ruins like that, flanked on all sides by a huge bustling city.

After that, we wandered around the Peace park, which was also pretty empty, and eventually arrived at the Peace Museum just as it was opening. Surprisingly, admission was only 50 yen, which would be about 50 cents in dollars, which shocked us, as we were used to (and willing most of the time) to pay as much as 600 for a normal temple.

A memorial for peace, with an external flame and the Atomic Bomb Dome in the background

The museum was just as depressing and shocking as I expected it to be, but I was surprised at a lack of blame. It really took an objective approach, and did not seem to censor any facts from any side. And while it was focused on Hiroshima, it really was a peace museum, and that was definitely the message that I got out of it. So while the mood coming out was somber, it was definitely a really important experience.

That much too up pretty much the whole morning, so it was pretty late by the time we were heading out to explore the rest of Hiroshima. When Japanese people hear the word Hiroshima, they think of the special okonomiyaki, which is a type of meat pancake with lettuce and eggs and all sorts of delicious things. That being one of my favorite foods, I was pretty excited to find the 4 floor okonomiyaki-only mall, which was literally four floors of just okonomiyaki restaurants. It still took a long time to find our seats, but once we got our food, it was well worth the weight. (not to mention big – we were set for the rest of the night)

Mr Okonomiyaki, making us our delicious meat pancakes

So that was our first day spent in Hiroshima! After the all night bus ride and the morning at the Peace Museum, I wasn’t the most cheerful tourist, but it was definitely an experience I’m glad I did. The rest of the trip is going to be in other posts – I’m incoherent enough as it is, and it was a pretty long trip. Next time: Miyajima and beyond!

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