Kate’s Quests

DJ got home late Friday night and we spent Saturday relaxing and playing with the kitties. Then very early Sunday we got ready and ran to the train station (well…we walked VERY quickly so as not to be late). We had to catch the Shinkansen (bullet train) out of Shinagawa at 7:06am, which meant we had to be at our station in Zushi by 5:47am. With three minutes to spare we settled in on the local train for the hour ride. Everything went smoothly and at 7:06 we were pulling away from Shinagawa. After four hours we pulled into Hiroshima. We found our hotel and not being able to check in until after 2pm we dropped our bags at the desk and went out exploring.

We weren’t in the city for five minutes when a woman greeted us right outside our hotel and asked if we were traveling. We said that we were and she seemed so happy about that. She asked if we were going to the peace memorial and dome. We said that we were and she agreed that, yes, it was a good idea. So, our first stop was the A-Bomb dome. You walk through the city and it’s all new big buildings until you get here.

It was quite disturbing to stumble upon it and think about what had happened there. The dome definitely brings it home. The metal is twisted, the stone is melted, and the ground is covered in ruins.

Then we wandered over to the peace memorial and walked through the museum. We got the audio tour in English and I snapped a couple of photos. The red ball represents the bomb. But, you can see how everything in the 3km area is just gone.

I wasn’t feeling very good after the lunch we had at an Italian restaurant, so for dinner we just got (I’m so ashamed to admit this in public) McDonald’s and take away sushi. The guy at the sushi place was really cute. He asked DJ a couple of questions in English and he replied with a couple of Japanese phrases like, “Hei! and Ni!” (yes and two). The guy tells DJ that he speaks Japanese very well, at which we both crack up. But, then he says that he read a book in Japanese that he really liked and has a copy in English that he would like to give us. So with sushi and a book and McDonald’s we headed back to the hotel to relax.

Monday it rained. It wasn’t supposed to until late in the evening, but we woke up to rain. We went to Miyajima Island and to the Itsukushima shrine.

The island has many wild deer that roam around. Considering the amount of people in Japan – they’re quite used to us. One decided to take a taste of my jacket.

The shrine would have been much more beautiful to photograph if the tide had been in, but alas, it was low tide.

That’s my – I think you’re taking a picture of me, but I can’t really tell so I’ll smile a little just in case – smile. After the shrine we took the cable car to the top of the mountain. There were many islands to photograph on a clear day. Instead, all we could see were clouds and fog. To get to the ropeway, we had to walk 10 minutes or 7 if we ran a little.

However, there was no running to be had on our trek. Especially since after the long walk to the train station and having walked around a lot the previous day – both our shins and feet were a bit sore.

But the pathway to the ropeway was quite beautiful, if a bit wet.

Then as we’re coming to the end of the trail, we find that the ropeway is just up ahead and its “wonderful scenery is seen by least.” You can tell by DJ’s expression that we’re not quite sure what they mean.

However, once we reach the top, we find more deer and now monkeys! But, the monkeys have rules.

The top sign says, “We do not like to be stared at our eyes. If you do so, we are not responsible for what will happen.” The sign on the left says, “We do not hope to be such a monkey. Please, refrain from feeding us.” And the sign on the right hand side says, “You had better deposit your baggage into the charge free lockers or it will be ours. But we are not interested in your camera.” They weren’t really interested in anything but grooming, feeding and pooing.

After coming back down the mountain we had dinner at a place on the island. We had the local specialty – anago (or eel) on a bed of rice. Very yummy. They are also known for their oysters and so I had some of those too.

The next day, our train didn’t leave until 4pm, so after we checked out, we left our bags again and went to the Hiroshima Prefectual Museum and the Shukkei-en Gardens. The museum was ok, but the gardens were beautiful.

He came over to say hello.

We were photo clicking fools.

Then we went to the castle. There was a giant group of kids on a field trip visiting the castle so we decided not to go inside. Just too many kids.

It was pretty cool standing outside of the castle though, because they had speakers set up in the bushes and were playing very traditional Japanese music. Very surreal.

Then we headed back to the hotel and got our stuff. We went to the station and got some lunch at an Okonomiyaki place. We were sitting at the counter happy eating when I happened to look behind me. And sitting on the table was a mouse. I got DJ’s attention and pointed to it. He shouted urgently to the wait staff and they hurried over wondering what was wrong. Thinking quicker than me he said and pointed, “Mickey mouse!” They knew what that was! And they saw him trying to scurry off, but kitchen tongs proved hard to escape from. We then all had a good laugh about Mr. Mickey.

The train got us home Tuesday around 9pm. We immediately gave the kitties some bonito flakes (their favorite!) and fell into bed.