This time it was time for Hiroshima and Miyajima.

6 August

Since I slept in Tokyo I had to get up early because it’s a long train ride. I woke up at 6, got on the train at 8.30 or so because the first one was sold out. When I changed trains I also had to wait for the second train because the first one was sold out…
I think I was in Hiroshima at around 13:30.

And finally! I found a town that actually hands out maps to tourists… that’s a first.

So equipped with my new map I decided to more or less climb a mountain that’s near the station to have a look at the view. Which wasn’t really my brightest idea.

It was funny though, because when I was going down I walked on this small road in the forest… and then in the middle of nowhere I actually meet 2 people, and they weren’t even traveling together…
After having a small discussion on what lays where and where we’re going, me and the woman began walking down together because we were heading the same way.

When we got down she told me that she was heading for the Atom bomb museum, so I decided to come along, I’d go there sooner or later anyway.

So we took the tram there, first we looked at the Atomic Bomb Dome, then we had a look around in the park and then we finally went to the museum.

I actually wished that I’d visited this museum by myself instead… Because, when you’re in there and afterwards… it’s almost impossible to talk. Your mind feels completely blank, it’s like you’ve forgotten how to speak, and also forgotten how to smile. It was very overpowering… a pure message for peace, in its rawest form.
The world just might be a better place if everyone visited that place.

After we were done we sat down on a bench in the park and like, stared into the air for 15min.
Then we decided to head for the river, because this was actually the same date as the bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima so they held a small ceremony for the dead. They placed small boats in the river, the boats represented the spirits of those who were killed.
After 30min or so I left though, it wasn’t that entertaining… and nor was it supposed to be either for that matter.

Since Hiroshima isn’t that big I took a walk around to see some of the nearby things.

I went to the park, then to the castle (who was sadly closed by now) and then to Shukkeien (who was also closed..).
Then I decided to find something to eat and a place to sleep. While walking to where I thought my hotel would be I stumbled upon a restaurant that seemed interesting. They made Okonomiyaki.
I can try to explain how he made it, he first made a pancake as a base, then he put noodles on that, then a lot of salad, some onion, bacon, then another pancake, then an egg, and last… a lot of sauce and spices!
It was pretty good actually!

Then I continued my journey for the sacred capsule hotel, I didn’t know where it was on the map but I had a pretty good description so I found it pretty easy on my own. Even if I nearly missed it, and its name was written in Japanese so I’m glad I know some Katakana.

The last capsule hotel that I stayed on was like first class, this one was like third…
I was really disappointed at first, but I got used to it. I only took a shower and slept there anyway.
This place wasn’t any worse than the last hostel that I used in Sweden actually, it’s just that the first capsule hotel was really really good
The first one was 3200¥(~180kr), this one was only 2300¥(~130kr).
I’d go with the expensive one if I had a choice though

When it was around 9 o’clock I felt that it was a bit too early for me to sleep so I walked to the station where I had heard that there were supposed to be 2 big Internet cafés. I found one of them quite fast, its entrance was a bit hidden but they had a big sign on the roof.

So for 540¥(~30kr) or so I could use an computer for an hour, and drink how much soda I wanted. Great deal!
I had to become a member to be able to use the computers, so 100¥ was for a one year membership

After fiddling around and drinking a lot of soda I walked home, I really wanted to take the tram but I didn’t have the proper coins, I was told that you needed the exact amount.

OMG Hidden!

7 August

I woke up at 9 by myself, checked out after brushing my teeth and went on a new adventure.
Today’s location was Miyajima, an island close to Hiroshima.

I took a small detour to Shukkeien before heading to the station, and it was well worth it. A very beautiful garden! I took a lot of pictures, you can see them in the Hiroshima gallery above.

Then I took the train to the port, then took a ferry to the island. It really wasn’t that far at all.

Luckily I found a map once I got there, me like.

I had a minor walk around to see some temples and shrines, then I decided to head for the top. 532m above the sea… and since I got here by sea I really started of at 0.

I felt that I didn’t want to climb the whole thing, so I got on a rope-way that got me a few hundred meters up at least

Once I got to the rope-way station I was told to lock up my things in one of their lockers, because otherwise monkeys might steal them…

So, after a pretty long and steep walk to the top I was finally there, and completely exhausted.
I bought an ice cream and enjoyed the view.

I noticed a Japanese man there who I had shared a cart with on the rope-way so I took a seat next to him and we had a small chat.
Then we decided to walk back to the rope-way together, I had left my bag there and he was going to take the rope-way down. I was going to walk…

So we talked about Sweden, Japan and whatnot on the way. Once we got to the station he decided to join me and walk down instead of taking the rope-way. So I had someone to talk with on the long way down.

It wasn’t that exhausting, but it was somewhat slippery sometimes and your legs had a hard time. Walking down is actually harder than you might think, you have to stop your own weight on every step, if you know what I’m trying to say… So I wasn’t that tired, but our legs started shaking after a while and we took a little rest. Today (the 8th) is actually the first day that my legs are feeling soar, and this is probably way.

When we got down we ate something cold and had a small rest. When we came back to the “village” our paths split and we said our good byes. He headed for the ferry and I thought I’d take another look around.
Which was a pretty small one, since I was pretty much too tired…

So after a while I headed for the ferry and started my long trip home.
Ferry->Train to Hiroshima->Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka->Shinkansen to Tokyo->Train to Ueno->Train to Matsudo->Walk home.

The shinkansen were once again pretty busy so I had to wait a bit longer than usual in both Hiroshima and Shin-Osaka, sadly my rail pass doesn’t work on all the trains, that’s why.

I’m not sure, but I probably left the island at around 16, and I was home at around midnight.
I don’t know how far the island was from Hiroshima but Hiroshima is around 900km from Tokyo, and just because I got back to Tokyo doesn’t mean that I’m home

So here I am, tired and glad that I made the trip…

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