Hikarimachi

This day we just slept without alarm to get some rest and until everyone was ready it was 12 o’clock. So we just went directly to the typical fast food chain Nakau to have a chick lunch. We all got the lunch menu consisting of a miso soup and a bowl of rice with some sauce made with soy and egg and shared some fried chicken. It’s very cool in Japan that you always get cold water and even green tea for free :-)
Today‘s plan was to walk the Futabanosato a trail through northeastern Hiroshima with 16 temples and shrines along the way. It already started quite spectacular with the big Fudō-In temple which was very peaceful with almost no people around. Since we didn’t find a real map of the path we had to plan it a little ourselves and of course soon got lost in a small forest with steep winding paths. But we also found the way out quickly and even saw some old graves inside! The path we walked was actually quite beautiful. Even though mostly through the city it went a little away from the big roads and the antithesis of the modern city buildings and the many small shrines and temples is quite impressive. So far we’re incredibly lucky with the weather and this day was again nicely sunny and warm enough for shorts :D The good weather also increases the growth of the cherry blossoms and we took a beautiful path along the river surrounded by cherry trees starting to open their buds where we also saw the first preparations for the Sakura festival!
Today in the evening Claudi’s parents were supposed to land in Osaka and we planned to take the Shinkansen - a super fast train - so that Claudi could pick them up. And of course we were running a little out of time and had to shorten the path s little by climbing the small hill on a steep path through the forest to the peace pagoda which looks like a huge metal bell and can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Up there we also had a great view on the city of Hiroshima.
On the way down we saw huge cemetery carved with steps into the mountain and found another big shrine that connects the top of the hill with a way enclosed by many many red Torii! And also the shrine with it’s wood painted in red and white and the location at the foot of the hill and its big flight of stairs with an impressive sight!
But leaving from there we really had to run for our train and our luggage which we left at the hotel.Read more