Hiroshima and Miyajima

After Osaka we went to Hiroshima, I was very keen to see the city and go to Miyajima as a lot of people had said this was one of the highlights of trips in Japan. I was interested in Hiroshima from a historical point of view but also as I heard that the people from Hiroshima were very pleasant and kind. This was definitely what I found, the people we met were some of the nicest I have met in my life.

When we arrived we walked to the Peace Park and A-Bomb Dome, it is crazy to think that after the bomb this was the the only thing standing. It is a little eerie to stand in front it.

We walked across the bridge and went to the Children's Peace Memorial to remember the children who died due to the bomb. It was commissioned after the classmates of Sadako Sasaki, who died from radiation-induced Leukemia, began to raise money to commemorate children who died due to the A-Bomb. Sadako is immortalized at the top holding a crane in the hope for world peace.

One thousand cranes are made and sent by children from all around the world in the hope for peace and nuclear disarmament.

The Memorial Cenotaph holds the names of all those who died and is protected by the arch.

We then went to the museum at the center of the park. It was very interesting but there was a lot of information to read. It was very informative and was a little scary as they highlight the amount of Atomic Bombs that different countries possess. Especially when you see the huge affect that one had. It was exceptional to see how much the Hiroshima has grown and that it had rebuilt itself so well. Its a testimony to the spirit of the people of Hiroshima.

The next day we went to Miyajima Island to see the different Shrines and Temples. This is my mum (wearing the blue scarf) and aunt at the Itsukushima Shrine 厳島神社.

We then went to the 5-story Pagoda and the Senjokaku Hall. The views from the Hall were lovely and the paints inside were very powerful, mostly depicting samurai battles.

Afterwards, we walked up to Daisho-in Temple and important Shingon Buddhist Temple. There are a lot of different parts and shrines to the temple.

On the walk up to the Temple, there are spinning metal wheels which are inscribed with sutra, Buddhist scriptures. Turning these as you walk past are said to have the same effect as saying the prayers.

There were many charms and Buddhist statues around the gardens.

One of my favourite things at the Temple was the sand mandala made by visiting Tibetan monks. At first I didn't realise it was sand, it looks like fabric, however when you look closer you can see that its sand. The colours are so beautiful and vibrant.

I was also very excited to try the grilled oyster, this was my first time to eat oyster but it was very delicious.