I didn't actually spend as much time in Hiroshima proper as I thought I might. This trip was an experiment in winging it. If you ever plan a trip to Japan, I have some pointers on the train system. The rail pass that you can only get outside of Japan, is magical with the bullet trains. "Shinkansen". I went from Tokyo to Hiroshima in a little over four hours. About 500 miles. I didn't even have a reservation. Just walked into the station... ok, "walked into the station" really means walking into a station the size of a small city with subways, buses, multiple train systems all passing through. It takes some getting used to and some visual filtering to begin to see the route to the train lines you're aiming for. Go out the wrong exit of a station and you might find yourself a mile in the wrong direction.
So I got up Tuesday morning with the intent to go to Hiroshima, took the local line to the Tokyo loop (The Yamanote Line), to Shinagawa Station, made my way to the Shinkansen section of the station, found the train going to Osaka and within ten minutes was on board with snacks and coffee. The vending machines here have hot, canned coffee that would make my baristas cringe, but isn't half bad in a pinch. Snacks: I've become very fond of Onigiri... basically prewrapped triangular rice cakes with various fillings inside. Cheap and filling and they travel well.
Anyway, train travel here is easy, once you can decipher the system.
At the station in Hiroshima, "Hiroshima Eki" I found the information desk and they, in the incredible service tradition of this country, whipped out a hotel list, asked my budget and made six phone calls to find me a room.
Two hours later I was standing at the spot over which the Atomic Bomb detonated, 1000 feet above. A few hundred feet away is the well known, A Bomb Dome, the shell of one of the few buildings left standing, preserved as a monument. It was pouring rain, night and no one was there. Didn't know what to expect, and was very moved.
The monument is the only evidence of the bombing.
The next morning, I went to the small Miyajima Island to the south, where the famous Torii Gate is, in the water. It's kind of a shrine Disneyland. Took the cable car to the top, then hiked higher. Amazing views of the inland sea and Hiroshima. I ended up staying up there for three hours taking it all in. And drinking more canned coffee. Those vending machines are everywhere.
This is the view of Hirsohima. Big thriving city.
