Hiroshima, Japan

Today’s port was Hiroshima, Japan, a city name I’m sure we all recognize.

Our first stop was Miyajima Island, a short drive and then a ferry ride away from the ship. I have to say that it was a spectacular early fall day here, which made this tour all the more special.

We visited a shrine that dates back to 1168 and is “Shinto”. Shinto is the traditional Japanese religion which is considered a Nature Religion.
It believes that spirituality is embodied in the environment and in nature. Obviously, there is a lot more to it, but that sums it up in a nutshell. It is a lovely shrine that feels very peaceful.

They eat a lot of eel here as well as oysters, but none of those seemed too appealing, even though we were feeling peckish. However, they are quite famous for their waffle-like pastry, shaped like a maple leaf and filled. The first one we tasted was filled with bean curd, and it doesn’t take long to tire of that. But, we found some filled with custard and caramel and we definitely struck gold. It was delicious!
The other special thing about this shine and Torii Gate is that it has a different character when the tide is in or out. There are times it appears to be floating.

On August 6th, 1945, the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Between August 6th and December 2nd 140,000 people died here. If they didn’t die instantly, they died of their burns or radiation sickness in the following days. The museum is quite well done and shows the complete devastation just after the bomb was dropped. I’ve included a picture of one of the only buildings left standing - it was ground zero.
Everything else in this lovely city was built after 1945.

In addition to the museum, there is a beautiful park-like setting that includes some meaningful sculptures as well as an eternal flame. The park occupies the large open space that the bomb created. It is considered a peace park and emphasizes Japan’s desire to advocate for peace in the world as well as to memorialize the victims of this horrific event in our history.

It certainly causes a great deal of reflection after spending the day in this city.Lue lisää