day trip to Hiroshima

We did a day tour to visit Hiroshima to learn more about the events surrounding the atomic bomb that took place in 1945. We knew it was going to be an emotional trip, but one must learn about the past to appreciate the present and hope for a better future.

The first thing that greeted us when we got off the city tram was the Genbaku Dome (atomic dome). It was a surreal feeling to witness this burnt-out structure with many modern tall buildings around. It felt out of place in such a modern city. There were many school kids on field trip here. There were also a number of foreign tourists as well.

Genbaku Dome & Peace Memorial

The Peace Memorial provided detailed exhibits about the atomic bomb and an overview of the second world war. Among the exhibits, I was surprised to find a paragraph describing the Nanjing Massacre in China. There are other exhibits explaining why the atomic bomb was dropped in Japan and why Hiroshima and Nagasaki were chosen. I learned that initially Kyoto was on the list of cities to drop the a-bomb. Can you imagine all the temples and shrines becoming ashes?

After the overwhelming experience at the Peace Memorial, we went into the city for a change of scene - the modern Hiroshima. In the city, we could not feel any remnants reminding us of the a-bomb event. It was a thriving city, full of shops and restaurants. We had okinomiyaki for lunch - a Hiroshima specialty. Very interesting to see the chef piling the ingredients in layers, like making a sandwich. We also took a stroll to the Hiroshima castle before heading back to the train station for our bullet train ride back to Kyoto.

It was a fulfilling day - a bit rushed but worth the effort.

Okinomiyaki

guidon (beef on rice)

Hiroshima castle

Katy and the capsule toy machines