Bullet Train

August 1, 2017

Tokyo to Hiroshima

August already! I think the summer is flying by but we have been in summer since February so I have lost all concept of the seasons. The boys are counting sleeps until we are home. Me, I am looking forward to going home but enjoying being back in Japan. The boys think my Japanese is amazing. What they don't know is how broken and basic it is. I am happy to be able to read a few signs and recognize some of the symbols.

We left Tokyo station on the Shinkansen for Hiroshima.  Japan is so organized and orderly. No wondering when/if the train will come. The stations are so clean and peaceful. Announcements made ask people to turn their phones to silent mode and refrain from speaking on them. We can't get over the change from SE Asia.

Queue here for car #7. It will arrive and leave exactly on time.

Kiosks every 200 meters. Another icon of Japan.

The smoothness, and speed of between 270 - 300 km/hour makes for a short travel day.

Smoking rooms are small, sealed capsules off the entrance to each car.
The leg room and comfort of the seats is great.

Hiroshima is even more clean and quiet than Tokyo. Our apartment, across the street from the Hiroshima Peace Park, is up some steep steps, but so clean and spacious for Japanese standards. Well organized airbnb. Quite a change from the Tokyo one.

Grocery shopping in a large supermarket provides so many options of which my knowledge and preparation abilities seem limited. I feel illiterate.

We did not opt for the octopus, but did go for a veggie stir fry.

It took a bit to figure out how to work the cook top. Cooking on full blast is not always the best.

I like that our apartment has many traditional Japanese features. Luke lounging on a futon in the tatami room. There is an alcove to showcase ikebana or Japanese scrolls. Our shrine alcove however, is being used as a linen closet. The toilet is high tech with more button than we need.

A-Dome across the street will be explored tomorrow.