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Published: July 26th 2006
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My First Bullet Train
Leaving Tokyo Central Station. Konnichi wa!
I am writing to you from a hot, humid, and (for the first time) sunny day in Tokyo. Life continues to be great on this island nation. The people are friendly, the sights are amazing, and I’m even beginning to like the food! Let me tell you a little bit about my first trip last week . . .
Monday morning I got up early and met Mike Thornton at the local train station. Mike is the son of the people who run things here at ASIJ and after growing up in Tokyo, Mike knows his way around really well. Thankfully he is willing to take the time to show people like me around who otherwise would never be able to navigate the transportation system here. Anyway, Mike and I left Tama (the train station down the street from our apartment) to hop on a connecting train at Musashi Shakai. From there, we rode into Tokyo Central Station. Mike got me onto a bullet train that took me to Shin-Osaka. At that point, I was totally on my own. I was able to find my next bullet train that took me all the way south to Hiroshima. Between the
On The Trolley
This guy told me exactly when to get off, and if he hadn't I would probably still be circling the city. speed of the “bullet” trains and knowing that I had to find my way around the station alone and get on the next train, I was more than a little nauseas by the time I got off. But, everything went great and I got there no problem.
From Hiroshima station I got onto a local trolley that took me right to the hotel I was staying at. I checked in with the very smiley and English-speaking front desk staff and threw my stuff in my room. It was little, but a nice place. Very comfy bed and a the traditional Japanese toilet with seat-warmer and all the other bells and whistles included.
My hotel was just across the street from the Peace Park. It’s a huge piece of land right in the middle of the city that was set aside to be a memorial after the devastation of the atomic blast during WWII. The park is a mix of large green fields, fountains, bridges, and memorials. The site is also home to the museum that details the history of the city from hundreds of years ago to modern day. To read the details of what happened to the city and
Hotel Bathroom
Everything touched everything else. the people who lived there as a result of the A-Bomb is chilling. No matter where you are from you can’t help but get choked up while looking at the images of children dead in their mothers’ arms. On top of that, to be an American standing in a city that was destroyed by your country 60 years earlier and to now be greeted happily by the locals as a guest is beyond description.
By no means should the idea you have a Hiroshima be a city that spends all its time mourning. The rest of the downtown is an incredibly modern and fast-paced place. The skyscrapers rival Chicago or New York and everywhere you go is packed with people shopping, eating, and having fun. After eating and laying-low at the hotel for a while I hit the streets to see the city at night. The Peace Park is lit-up and beautiful, the shopping districts are bustling with activity, and every two minutes a trolley stops in front of you willing to take you to whatever you want to see next.
The next morning I got up and continued to check things off my sight-seeing list. First stop was Hiroshima
Intersection
The area right outside my hotel. Castle. It was built in 1589 but was of course leveled by the A-Bomb. In 1958 the reconstructed castle opened and is an exact replica of the original on the outside and the interior is now a museum. From there, a 10 minute walk put me at Shukkeien Garden. It’s a beautiful area in the city that was inspired by the Chinese and was originally built in the early 1600s. Rebuilt after WWII, the park is now full of ponds, bridges, and wildlife. It is an amazingly peaceful spot in the big city.
All-in-all Hiroshima is an incredibly impressive city that only becomes more amazing when you think about its history. I’m so glad I made it there and will never forget the lessons you can learn from visiting such a place.
That’s all for now. Soon I’ll tell you about Kyoto and how I gave the locals there a whole new reason to stare at me.
Until then,
PEACE
Travel Tip For The Complete Dumbass #2
“While colors may be universal regardless of language, the names of colors are not.” So, if you are trying to get on the Orange Line Trolley, saying ‘ORANGE! ORANGE!’ again and again
Peace Museum
The museum is actually a series of buildings connected by skywalk. to someone will mean nothing to them if their word for ‘Orange’ is actually ‘Mikan.’ Instead of using your non-existent foreign language skills, try pointing instead.
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Mom
non-member comment
fun
Great update although it was no phone call!!! I'm glad the two cute girls were of help to you. Love ya Me