Visiting Hiroshima and Miyajima: my Japan trip

The last stop on my trip to Japan was an immersion in world history and the sacredness of its privileged island

In Hiroshima, I found not only a city to explore, but mainly an important history lesson of Japan and humanity to discover. What struck me most was how this deep wound of war was transformed into a powerful symbol of peace. It was exciting to immerse myself in this place and confront its story of resilience and hope. Hiroshima city is dilapidated. It is standing still in the years immediately after reconstruction but there is a sacredness in the air and a deep respect for history.

From Osaka we took a Shinkansen (2h) and arrived at Hiroshima Station. From Hiroshima Station by Tram (Enkobashicho) in 25 minutes we arrived at Fukuromachi and in 8 minutes we were at the Museo della Pace and visited the whole complex including the Park

In my column "A portata di Manu" I offer you ideas and itineraries or suggestions of things to do if you come to these parts. Write to us atapugliesearoundthewolrd@gmail.com 

I left as coordinator of World Travel Adventures, and have been coordinating Japan Short Discovery.  8 participants including myself from north to south of the boot.

WHERE IT IS.

Located in the southern part of Japan's main island, Honshu, Hiroshima can be reached by bullet train. Sadly known to the world for the atomic bombing on August 6, 1945, which brought total destruction and immense tragedy, Hiroshima today is a city surrounded by greenery, with a confident and cheerful population of more than one million.

HIROSHIMA PEACE MEMORIAL

L’Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, is open from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from March to November. Walking through the park, the first building that catches the eye is the A-bomb Dome (where the A stands for Atomic), one of the very few buildings to remain standing following the atomic bomb explosion (it was only 160 meters away from the epicenter of the blast), becoming one of the symbols of the city. An international symbol for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for lasting world peace.

Also a short distance away is the Flame of Peace, a flame that has been burning continuously since it was lit on August 1, 1964, symbolizing the commitment of the anti-nuclear activists to “keep the flame burning until the day when all nuclear weapons are gone from the Earth,” and the monument statue of Sadako Sasaki holding a golden crane, in honor of a little girl who died of leukemia as a result of radiation released by the atomic bomb. We visit the Peace Museum, which traces, through original documents, the history of the atomic attack and its effects on the population with 3-D videos and historical artifacts.

To avoid lines, purchase tickets online.

A DAY ON THE ISLAND OF MIYAJIMA

After visiting the Peace Museum in the afternoon, we take the BUS to Hiroshima Harbor towards Miyajima Station.(30 minutes) and take streetcar line number 2 at a cost of 270 yen. Miyajima Island (or Itsukushima) can be easily reached from Hiroshima city via train and ferry, or with a direct connection from downtown Hiroshima via ship to the ferry port, Miyajima-guchi..

Upon arriving at the port of Miyajima-guchi, called Miyajimaguchi Station, it remains to take a short 10-minute ferry (ferry) ride. There are two companies available, JR (qui l’orario delle partenze) e la Matsudai Ferries (qui la timetable). Altogether they make about 6-8 departures in an hour and both cost 170 yen for a one-way trip. So take the one that leaves earlier, unless you have the Japan Rail Pass with which you can take JR ferries for free.

We arrive at 6 p.m. and everything was now almost closed. We check in right away. For one night we stayed at Miyajima Hotel Makoto a very nice hotel. 80s but courteous staff. In the room we find the yukata and everything we need for the stay.

There is also the Onsen and we immediately take advantage of it.

Immediately afterwards we set out to find a place to have dinner.

Everything here really closes very early, at 8:30 p.m. We went to the only open restaurant in the street near the harbor for dinner. We were hungry and wanted to try the famous giant oysters famous throughout Japan. We find out that you can only pay in cash and revise our order. We did not have much cash at the end of the vacation. An unfortunate evening for the caterer but cmq we manage to eat the oysters. We had a wonderful oyster dinner. The island is famous for oysters among the largest oyster farmers in the whole of Japan, which can be enjoyed grilled, boiled or fried. Or with rice. Oyster production is a real local economic resource and accounts for 60-70% of the total oyster production in the country

Immediately after dinner we appreciate with a walk the quietness of the island that is completely deserted but has a magical atmosphere

The following day we wake up very early and set off to explore the island. We breathe spirituality (on one side) great tourist and trade skills (on the other). Miyajima Island is one of the most visited places in Japan, and the GIANT Torii in the center of the island's bay that seems to float on the sea is one of the most iconic images of the Land of the Rising Sun.

It is an island in Hiroshima Bay famous worldwide for its shrine and especially for the red Torii placed in the sea. It is a very popular tourist destination, and if you are planning your first trip to Japan it is very likely that it will be a stop you visit. The vast majority of visitors who come to Miyajima choose to visit the island in a day, but we decided to stay at least one night so that we could see a different, certainly more intimate aspect of this beautiful island.

The Big red Torii

Miyajima's best known and most photographed icon ever. The large floating portal in front of the shrine that ideally separates the human world from the spirit world. It can already be glimpsed from the ferry and can be reached by a 10-minute walk from the harbor. If you want to better plan your visit, check the tide times of Miyajima in advance. It is in fact only at high tide that you will see the Torii floating on the water. This usually happens in the morning. While in the afternoon the low tide comes in and the spectacle is different: you will have a chance to walk on the seabed until you touch the portal but the scenic effect will be slightly less.

Itsukushima Shrine

It is a gateway into the sea is part of the Itsukushima Shrine, one of the oldest in the region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a mandatory passage. You pay a Ticket of 100 yen to cross it and go to the other side of the island where you can lie on the beach and go to some bar or restaurant to eat.

A sacred place of Shintoism from the earliest times. The first shrine buildings here were probably erected in the 6th century. The present shrine dates from the 12th century, and the harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill. The shrine plays on the contrasts of color and form between sea and mountain and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, combining nature and human creativity.

Omotesando Street

This is the main street. It is filled with gift stores, restaurants, cafes, ice cream stores, candy stores, art and souvenir stores. It is a forced passage to reach the shrine from the harbor. We had breakfast at 11 a.m. with fried oysters and potatoes. Then coffee at Starbucks. You definitely lose a lot of time entertaining yourself in the little local stores and buying souvenirs.

Salire sul monte Misen

Several of us have climbed this mountain by Funicular and I STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU DO IT. At 535 meters high, Mount Misen is the highest mountain on the island. From the top you can enjoy a beautiful view of the islands in the bay . You can go up and down either on foot (2H) or by cable car (1010 yen one way, 1840 yen round trip) . There are three different hiking trails that can be taken on this island: the Momijidani trail, the Daisho-in trail, and the Omoto trail. Each of the trails reaches Mount Misen and takes about two hours. If you take the cable car, be aware that from the arrival station and the summit there is still about twenty minutes of ascent. Along the forest trails you may occasionally encounter monkeys or deer.