Day 8 - Hiroshima

Shinkansen (Bullet Train)

Again we had breakfast in the room, a combination of Japanese & Western foods. Today wecaught the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Hiroshima, a 2 hour 40 minute trip, or over 4 and a half hours by car. Our initial impressions were of a typical modern city, and with an overcast sky and drizzling rain, looked a bit depressing.

View of the railway station complex
from the Kawashima Hotel

We had lunch at the station and then booked into the nearby Kawashima Hotel.

The building at "Ground Zero' above
which the bomb exploded

Our first experience of the aftermath of the atom bomb blast was at the Atomic Bomb Centre. It provided a pretty eye-opening experience of what it was like, not only the effect of the bomb itself, but the lingering aftermath. One can understand why Hiroshima is at the forefront of the peace movement and banning of atomic weapons.

Monument to the people who
died in the atomic bomb blast

Detail of the paper cranes on the
monument left by visitors

Plaque on the site of the
Hiroshima Branch of the
Teikoku Bank, 360 metres
from the hypocentre

A 'selfie' on the water taxi

Because the city's on a river delta, we caught a water taxi for a ride along the river to get a better view of the city. It was a good way to see the city form a different viewpoint, and especially some of the important sites related to the impact of the bomb.

Frances, Yuko and Gorou at the baseball

We had an early dinner at a 711 store because later we were to watch a baseball game with Yuko at Gorou. Yuko had stayed with Frances for a couple of years more than 10 years ago, and had met Gorou in Sydney. They returned to Japan, married and had a daughter, but had always kept in touch. It was great to catch up with them again, and to watch their team, the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, take on the visitors. There was huge and enthusiastic crowd and balloons seemed to be a big part of the team support.