Hiroshima

August 2 & 3, 2017

Hiroshima, Japan

The smell of tatami welcomes us into the apartment when we enter. That is a smell unique to Japan. The boys continue to wrestle and scrap in these tiny, delicate places. The dividers to make the rooms are not permanent walls, but thin sliding doors. They can not take the abuse of boys! Trying to maintain my good rating of damage free on airbnb seems like a challenge. Just over a week to go.

Being across the street from the Peace Park, we can easily walk and enjoy it any time. This evening (to remove the wrestling from the apartment) we spent an hour watching the fish jump in the river while sitting across from the A-Bomb Dome.

The preparations are underway to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima on August 6. Daily we see the park transform to accommodate the mass numbers of people that will attend.

Yesterday a guide took us through the Peace Memorial Museum. This is in my top five museums that should be visited in the world. My fourth time here, I notice the changes made by renovations. Some realia that stands out is the watch that was found, stopped at the exact time the bomb hit.

Sadako's cranes she made from the paper on her medicine bottles.

Our guide came with us to tour the grounds in the Peace Park. The cranes that are deposited daily in cabinets replace older ones. The older cranes are sent to recycle depots and made into graduation diplomas. Neat idea!

A tree that survived the bomb.

We left Kio after touring the park knowing we would see her again on August 12 on the flight to Vancouver. Turns out she is going to visit her son the same day we leave. Coincidence.

Hiroshima is famous for one food in particular, Okonomiyaki. Although it can be found throughout Japan, it was invented here after WW2. It is an 11 layer pancake consisting of a thin crepe, fish powder, cabbage, tempera crisps, green onions, bean sprouts, bacon, noodles, egg, okonomiyaki sauce, and sprinkled with seaweed on top.

I am proud how my boys have tried every food we have thrown at them. This one was entertaining to watch being made on griddle in front of us.

We all agreed it was delicious, but would prefer less fish powder and seaweed.

Last night we watched a Kagura performance. We couldn't get tickets to watch the Carps play so thought we do something more cultural.

Two - 45 minute plays. We read the synopsis before watching; the story line was of Japanese fables, performed in Japanese so we did our best and used our imagination to try and follow along. The costumes were amazing.

Miyajima island took our day today. This touristy island has the famous photographed Torii Gate.

When the tide is in it looks like it is floating.

These deer are in the town and along the pathways. A nice change from monkeys!

 Bean paste cakes are mass produced on Miyajima. Although a well loved favourite by the Japanese,  I don't blame the boys for their reaction. How can beans possibly be considered dessert, even if sweetened. I lived here for a year and never looked forward to eating them.

The temperature is high everyday so Kaki Gori (shaved ice with flavouring) was much more appreciated than bean paste cakes.