Japan 2015 - Day 11 Hiroshima - Tokyo

After staying 2 nights at Urbain Central Hiroshima it was time for us to leave this city for Tokyo.

Our plan was to visit the places we missed out the day before at the Memorial Park before we say goodbye to Hiroshima.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (広島平和記念公園) is a memorial park in the center of Hiroshima. It is dedicated to the legacy of Hiroshima as the first city in the world to suffer a nuclear attack, and to the memories of the bomb's direct and indirect victims (of whom there may have been as many as 140,000). The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was planed and designed by the Japanese Architect Kenzō Tange at Tange Lab.

The location of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was once the city’s busiest downtown commercial and residential district. The park was built on an open field that was created by the explosion.

Bye bye Hiroshima. May Peace prevails on earth.

Our fares from Hiroshima to Tokyo of 18,040yen per person and it was the most costly of all our train fares we had in this entire trip which is about less than RM600.00. By the way the journey took about 4hours 10minutes with 9 stops.

Non reserved seats are normally found at car 1,2 &3 which are at the far end of the train.

Our lunch on the train.

Finally we reached our last base on the 11th day and our last city to explore. The last time I visited Tokyo was 32 years ago and that was a long time.

From Tokyo Station we took Yamanote line for Ueno Station. We managed to carry our bagged brommies in and out off the train without much difficulties which at time the commuter train were packed with people.

As we travelled we learn their system and slowly we could move around in the station without much hassle.

Ueno Station (上野駅) is a major railway station in Tokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo University of the Arts and other famous cultural facilities.

A major commuter hub, it is also the traditional terminals for long-distance trains from northern Japan, although with the extension of the Shinkansen lines to Tokyo Station this role has diminished in recent years.

Going through the busy roads as we moved towards Oak Hotel.

The sky was getting dark when we found Oak Hotel, a budget hotel that is old but clean as in most hotels found in this country.

The room is really small and compact but livable.

Tokyo is the capital of Japan. The Greater Tokyo Area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world. It is the seat of the Emperor of Japan and the Japanese government. Tokyo is in the Kantō region on the south eastern side of the main island Honshu and includes the Izu Islands and Ogasawara Islands. It officially became the capital after Emperor Meiji moved his seat to the city from the old capital of Kyoto in 1868; at that time Edo was renamed Tokyo. Tokyo Metropolis was formed in 1943 from the merger of the former Tokyo Prefecture (東京府) and the city of Tokyo (東京市).

We found a eating corner near Oak Hotel and decided to have a simple meal for the day.

Another simple meal before we go back and rest ourselves.

Good Night Tokyo!

Japan 2015 Day 10 - Hiroshima - Miyajima the Orange Torri Gate

Hiroshima is a busy city the people is moving around so fast, the cyclists were fast and skillful as we were closing into Hiroshima Station for our visit to Miyajima Island.

The fare from Hiroshima to Miyajima Station

A local train before our JR ride to Miyajima Station.

Getting to the jetty for a short boat ride to the island.

This way please, arigato gozaimasu.

We were slowly approaching to one of the top three scenic spots in Japan i.e. Miyajima Island.

It is an Island of Gods on the beautiful Seto Inland Sea. 

Our bagged Brommies properly secured as we were ferried to the island.

It was peak season the crowd slowly move out of the boat into the island.

Our bikes unfolded and ready to see the beautiful scene of Miyajima.

Oh deer, Jo being officially welcomed into the island.

This is not in Canada it's in Japan. This park is full of Momiji maple leaf trees- especially beautiful in fall when the leaves burst with color or in Spring when the park is light pink with cherry blossoms.

It is a romantic and historical island where Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage site, is located, along with the Virgin Forest of Mt. Misen, and numerous preserved shrines, temples and historical monuments.

The huge red Tori gate in the water in front of Itsukushima. The Tori and floating shrine as well as many of the other temples, shrines and pagodas on the island are said to be in their original state from the Heian period. 

Some information of the many deer found on the island. They are really greedy animals watch out for your sweet corns.

Since the Kamakura period, the community of Miyajima has been gradually developing, and there is an atmosphere of subtle simplicity in daily life unique to Miyajima. 

Roaming around these places with our Bromptons was so cool and we get to see many corners of the area.

A well maintained stream with crystal water water flowing down.

And a colour bridge over the stream.

There are excellent old fashioned techniques used in the building structures, unheard of historical monuments and legends, and a touch of the islander’s lives on the island. 

I really enjoyed exploring this part of the old Japanese community and I love to imagine myself moving through this surroundings back in the olden days.

A stop and rest to have a drink and watch the crowd slowly changing. It's in deed a popular tourist spot.

It was time to tickle our taste buds with some local street foods.

A duel between a pork and beef yakitori.

Now for another popular savoury in Miyajima and it's oyster time.

BBQ-ing some fresh oysters, the sight of it can make you drool... 

Big and succulent oysters really for you to taste it.....mmmmm so yummy.

The Five Story Pagoda is a stunning vermilion masterpiece. Built in 1407, the pagoda reflects construction techniques typically associated with Zen Buddhism. Located to the left of the giant torii gate and atop a hill, the pagoda soars high into the sky.

The water has slow receded and people can actually walk to the iconic gate. 

We have to say good bye to this heritage site and it has been a satisfying visit and a great experience for us. Sayorana.

A view through the driver compartment of a local train.

In the morning we were in a calm and relax atmosphere and now we were into another world of a rush community, welcome back to Hiroshima.

I always admire these fashionable ladies on two wheels they are fast and skillful. This is part and parcel of their daily life.

Hiroshima (広島市) is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It is best known as the first city in history to be targeted by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 a.m. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. The city's name, 広島, means "Wide Island" in Japanese.

We spent some time at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (広島平和記念碑), commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dōmu (A-Bomb Dome), in Hiroshima, Japan, is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

 Hiroshima Peace Memorial was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation.[1]

I pedalled all the way to Mazda Plant thinking that I can visit Mazda Museum but were unable to do it for two reasons one it was late and two one needs to register before going there. Maybe a next time.

Another night in Hiroshima, time flies and a new encounter awaits tomorrow.