A day of canals and rainstorms, floating shrines, grilled oysters, and a powerful walk through Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.
Today we left Okayama and travelled towards Hiroshima, with stops in Kurashiki and Miyajima along the way. The coach set off early, and our guide outlined the day: explore Kurashiki, cross to Miyajima by ferry, and finish at Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park.
Kurashiki
Kurashiki is a charming city known for its preserved historical district and picturesque canals. The coach dropped us about ten minutes from the centre, and our guide led us along the canal, pointing out various landmarks before giving us 40 minutes to explore.
I wandered into an alleyway filled with colourful street art in the Bikan Historical Quarter, then visited an old textile mill that once produced denim and now houses an artisan market. With such limited time, I had to hurry back through the narrow streets, stopping only for a few photos. Just as I reached the canal again, the sky opened, and heavy rain poured down.
I made it back to the coach, soaked but on time, and soon everyone else returned. We left Kurashiki behind and continued towards Hiroshima Bay.
Miyajima
Our next stop was Miyajima, also known as Itsukushima, a small island famous for its natural beauty and cultural heritage. The rain stopped as we walked to the ferry terminal. As I boarded, a ferry employee directed me to a warm room reserved for disabled passengers. Comfortable seats and large picture windows made the short crossing very pleasant. I had a clear view of the Itsukushima Shrine as we passed.
Once on the island, our guide led us to a shrine that, unfortunately, was closed to the public. We were given 40 minutes to explore on our own. I slowly made my way back towards the ferry port, stopping to admire stone shrines and traditional buildings along the way.
I took photos of Itsukushima Shrine, said to “float” on the water. Today, the tide and lighting made the wooden supports clearly visible, but I could imagine how magical it must look under the right conditions.
A food stall selling oysters caught my eye, so I stopped and tried two large grilled oysters, which were delicious, and I wished I had time for more. After a final wander, I returned to the ferry terminal and waited for the group. Once again, I sat downstairs on the return crossing while the guide took the others upstairs.
Hiroshima
Back on the mainland, we walked to the coach and continued to Hiroshima. Hiroshima is known worldwide as the first city to experience the devastation of an atomic bomb. Today it stands as a symbol of peace, remembrance and resilience.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum
We were dropped off at the Peace Memorial Park and taken straight into the museum. Unfortunately, several large groups of schoolchildren arrived at the same time. They weren’t particularly interested in the exhibits, making it difficult to move through the displays.
Some exhibits were excellent, especially the visual mapping of the bomb’s detonation and the expanding shockwave. Others were familiar from documentaries and exhibitions I’d seen elsewhere, but the crowds made it hard to appreciate them fully.
After finishing the museum, I waited outside and unexpectedly met someone I’d travelled with earlier in the tour who had since joined a different group. When our guide reappeared, he led us into the Peace Memorial Park.
Peace Memorial Park
Near the centre of the park stands the Memorial Cenotaph, a concrete, saddle‑shaped monument that shelters a stone chest containing the names of all who died as a result of the bombing. The arch is aligned so that, when viewed from the front, it frames both the Peace Flame and the A‑Bomb Dome.
The Peace Flame has burned continuously since 1964 and will remain lit until all nuclear weapons are eliminated. Many visitors, including myself, queued patiently to take photos and reflect at the cenotaph.
We continued to the Peace Bells. The most well‑known bell stands near the Children’s Peace Monument, and visitors are encouraged to ring it for world peace. Its deep, resonant sound echoes across the park.
The Children’s Peace Monument is dedicated to the memory of the children who died as a result of the bombing. The statue depicts a young girl holding a paper crane, inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, who folded over a thousand cranes while suffering from radiation‑related illness. People from around the world still send folded cranes, which are displayed around the monument. Our guide was visibly moved while telling the story, and many of us left our own cranes there.
A‑Bomb Dome
Our final stop in the park was the A‑Bomb Dome, the preserved remains of the building closest to the hypocentre that survived the blast. Visiting this site was one of the main reasons I wanted to come to Japan.
Although I had hoped for more time there, I was grateful to see it at dusk. The lighting cast eerie shadows across the skeletal dome, and dark storm clouds overhead added to the atmosphere. Standing there, knowing what had happened on that spot, was profoundly moving.
As the adrenaline faded, the pain in my legs returned sharply after a week of walking and climbing stairs. My walking stick kept me steady as I followed the guide back to the coach. As usual, he didn’t look back to check on anyone, but I managed to keep up.
Hotel
We drove through the city before arriving at our hotel for the night. I took a shower and collapsed onto the bed, exhausted from a long, emotional day. My hotel tonight was the Hilton Hiroshima Hotel.
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