Hiroshima

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In 2006 I visited Hiroshima for the first time. After only a couple of days there the city had left enough of an impression on me that it was one of the two places in Japan I requested to live. I didn’t get to live there, but I was lucky enough to visit again with more time to spare. This time I was able to check out the downtown, Hiroshima Castle and the Peace Museum, all of which I missed before.

I love Hiroshima. The city is aesthetically pleasing to me and I have always found the people to be upbeat, friendly and helpful. It is almost unbelievable that the city was obliterated a little over 60 years ago. Hiroshima Castle was the first stop on the list this time. My friend and I went straight there from the station. The castle has beautiful grounds and the distinction of being one of the few black castles in Japan. It is often referred to as Carp Castle. The current structure was built in 1958 since the previous castle had been completely destroyed in the atomic bombing. After the castle we headed to the Peace Park and Museum. Hiroshima Peace Memorial, A-Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dome always temporarily stuns me when I see it. One of the few, and definitely the most distinct, remains of the bombing in Hiroshima. It is a visually shunning and gut wrenching site. On the other side of the Peace Park there is the Peace Museum. Going into that museum and completing the tour will have a profound effect on any human being. When the atomic bomb detonated over Hiroshima it was a tragedy so profound that I cannot fully fathom it. A burning flash, incredible heat, human beings instantly incinerated only leaving a shadow behind, fires ravishing the remains, people drowning themselves in the river to escape the pain, radioactive black rain, years of illness, cancer caused by the blast…. Developing the atomic bomb and other weapons of mass destruction was a foolhardy thing to do, but now that Pandora’s Box has been opened how can we stop the spread of these weapons and their use?

A virtual tour of the museum….
http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/virtual/index.html

After an incredibly sobering and life altering experience we checked in at the super friendly Business Ryokan Sansui and headed back out for some Hiroshima style Okonomiyaki at Okonomura located in the heart of downtown. Okonomura is a building crammed with booths serving Okonomiyaki. We settled down at a friendly one just outside the elevator on the fourth floor. It was a mouthwatering experience.

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Photos

Carp streamers
May 5th in Japan is Children's day and carp flyers are a symbol for that day that is supposed to be a good blessing for Children.

Yummy!
The main difference between Hiroshima and Osaka okonomiyaki is that Hiroshima's is layered and Osaka's is all mixed together.

Comments

[Victor]

Another great entry. Genbaku Dome looks eerie. Were you able to walk any closer to it? Love the wide sidewalks.