MONDAY 15TH MAY - HIROSHIMA

Another very active day. The picture above is from our hotel room on the 14^th floor of the Hotel Granvia, again virtually part of the railway station so transport is easy.

 

This morning we headed by train and ferry to the World Heritage listed Miyajima Island where the signature attraction is the Itsukushimajinja Shinto Shrine, originally built in 593.

A particular feature is the O-Torii Gate situated out in the water The present gate, which is the eighth, was erected in 1875. Note the paddle boarders passing by.

Needless to say, the island also has its shopping area with numerous exotic food and souvenir stores. It also has a community of deer who like pinching food or, in my case, a brochure I had protruding out of my back pocket.

The island has many other temples, some of which are accessible by a ropeway which gives access to Mt. Misen, the highest mountain on the island.

It has spectacular Whitsunday like views.

 From there, we went by ferry, train and tram to Peace Park and the Peace Memorial museum – very sobering. It is estimated that 140,000 died at 8:15am on August 6 1945 or within a year thereafter.

It is also estimated that the remains of 70,000 people who could not be identified are buried under a mound within the Peace Park. Hirohima's deepest wish is the elimination of all nuclear weapons and the realization of a genuinely peaceful international community. Quite ironic really with North Korea just across the water.

We are back on the bullet train in the morning to Himeji for a tour of the Himeji Castle and Koko-en Garden then on to Kyoto for the final three nights of the tour.