Hiroshima

This morning armed with a map a vague address and some even vaguer directions I set off to find a random place where on the 3rd floor I could fulfill my ambition to try calligraphy...I inevitably got lost...Google maps had me all over Japan. A young couple I asked sent me in another direction and eventually a very smart young man I asked walked with me to the right place, going out of his way although on his way to work...
I got in a random lift ,still not sure I was in the right place and all the instructions are in Japanese of course....turns out I was in the right place..room set up for samurai sword experience ,which I'd also have done if I'd known
I had a great time..tutor barely spoke English but got really excited if I'd apparently got it right...I'd no idea what I was doing but was fun
On the way bk I had breakfast in Starbucks then saw a lovely sign that is so poignant on a street corner
On the next corner were a bunch of .Indian ladies walking round in kimonos..was hilarious and I stopped to chat and they allowed a photo.....this is what travelling is all about
Back at the hotel I collected my things and spent some time sorting accommodation and a trip for 3rd to 5th April in Tokyo plus an airport hotel stay for 5th at osaka airport
Then was time to tackle the famous Japanese rail system
My destination..hiroshima and miyajama..for the next 3days

Its really dreadful herr for lack of escalators ..no fun lifting my luggage..but my 2nd man of the day offered in passing to carry my bag down the stairs. Unlike in the uk there are loads of staff ...and I went into an office where 2 really young girls wearing wierd hats coats and masks told me I needed a ticket for the underground as my 5day pass didn't cover it....
I found the platform but no idea which direction so jumped on 1st train that came which turned out to be ok 😅...I noticed when I got off they have women only carriages
I arrived at the main station Shin -Osaka which was mental ! And massive and heaving ! A 3rd man helped with my bags.
Called in tourist information and sorted tickets for going to Tokyo and back to osaka airport .
Found the platform number 22 and witnessed the shinkasan bullet train glide in ..it was an impressive 16 carriages long and sleek ...large clear numbers on the outside...and..whn finding the platform you are sent up one escalator for carriages 1-8 and a different escalator for carriages 9-16.....no mad dash down piccadilly station here! As your ticket also tells you the carriages and the seat..
My train was also a bullet train.i have to say avanti West coast at home have nicer seats..the layout is 3 seats one side ,2 the other all facing forward..plenty of leg room...
Could I tell it was super fast ? ..some of the time yes but it was steady
Arrival at hiroshima involved putting the wrong pass in the machine and the barrier closed..but again there were helpful staff ..
A trip into the 7/11 shop dealt with food for tea.including pringles !
I got a taxi to the hotel which after the luxury room I'd just come from is shabby chic to say the least..but will do.. They offered the option to take anything i needed from a chest of drawers full of "amenities" ..soap ,moisturiser flannels...but no milk for my Yorkshire tea brew !!...yes I have brought my Yorkshire tea bags ...i intend to let Yorkshire tea know too ! Has been a challenging day but interesting experience. After the rigors of the train ,osaka and calligraphy seem a long time ago already..but as a lovely reminder following my review at the hotel ,Ken the concierge who organised the sky tower and calligraphy sent a lovely email with a photo of osaka castle as a giftLæs mere