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| Hiroshima.August 1945. |
Believe me,it is a very safe place to go…But I am getting ahead of myself...
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| Peace Crane |
The Shinkansen took us from Kyoto to Hiroshima in an hour and forty five minutes that Sunday morning.By 10 AM we were walking to the tourist Info booth.We had to reach our hotel and dump our bags first.We knew it was not very far and we were prepared to walk.There was this Info volunteer waiting to help. "Irasshaimase"(Welcome)....she said and began explaining the route but quickly changed her mind and said she will escort us from the station to a bridge some distance away and from where we can navigate safely and reach our hotel. She was even prepared to handle one of the strolleys!Another instance of politeness and service in Japan.She presented us with a couple of Origami "peace cranes".She explained all about transportation in the city to make our day easier. |
| Hiroshima skyline |
We took the red loop bus that runs every 15 minutes from the station to major tourist spots in the city including Peace Memorial Park,museums and the town centre. Being JR pass holders our ride was free and within 20 min we were at the Memorial park.
One of the most prominent features of the city is the Peace Memorial Park;the park encompasses more than 120,000 square meters.Before the blast,the area was the political and commercial heart of the city;main reason it was chosen as a target by USA.A -Bomb Dome: (shown in 1945 above,when it was a product display centre)
This was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945.Through the efforts of many people,including the military and the citizens of the city,it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing.Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind but also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.I post the pic of the bomb dome as it appears today.There was this Jap guy with a lot of documents,pictures and photos all giving graphic details of the bombing and the after effects.He was explaining to people on a need to know basis.Background info that lead to the bombing etc etc were all spread out for tourists to see and browse through.He refused to be photographed but requested that the "peace message" be passed along in our part of the word.I asked him whether the Japs hate the Americans for the disaster the bomb wrought on Hiro and Naga.He replied in English"The Japanese don't "hate" the USA in the way you'd think.Reason?we want to move past the whole era. Any revisiting of blame and begging of apologies would open a wound that has more or less healed. Blame could even be directed towards Japan for their role in WWII. Japan and her people rightly know that it's best to accept that the whole Pacific War as a horrible experience and the best medicine is to learn its lesson,become peaceful and move on" Great wor
The heart of this park is the Cenotaph.Not only is it dedicated to all the victims of the bombing,but an Icon to the hope that Hiroshima will forever stand as a symbol of peace.The stone chamber under the arch contains the register of the deceased and an epitaph:Please rest in peace for we shall not repeat the error.It was a great experience to roam the park that was all concrete rubble and dead bodies in those fateful times.At 8.15 each morning the clock chimes as a reminder for the need to be persistent in our efforts to push the worlds governments for the safe destruction of all nuclear weapons.We walked on and approached the Childrens Peace Monument. Some history.......Sadako Sasaki was only two years old in August 1945 when the first nuclear bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.As a result of exposure she contracted leukemia and died 10 years later.
Through the commitment of her grieving classmates and with support from over 3,000 other schools in Japan and around the world this monument was built in 1958 to mourn all the children who died from the atomic bomb.At the top of the three legged pedestal is the bronze figure of a girl holding a gold origami crane high over her head.At the ground level there are glass cases displaying 1000’s of paper cranes made from schools all around the world.
We heard a bell toll and walked in that direction.Amidst a leafy area inside a shrubbery sits the heavy Peace Bell.It weighs more than a tonne and is set under an unusual dome structure representing the universe.Visitors are invited to ring the bell as part of their own prayer for peace.We had a go and then walked towards the Peace memorial museum,which we did not enter for paucity of time.We saw this engaging sculpture titled "mother and child in the storm" depicting a mother's grief while enduring suffering and then overcoming grief.
One of the most shocking elements of the atomic bomb in 1945 was how well it was planned.There was a formal process to select which cities would be bombed.H and N were selected over other cities like Yokohama or Kyoto because the former had escaped much of the bombing during the Second World War. Therefore the full effects of the nuclear bomb could be “tested” here.
After our visit to the Peace Janma Bhumi we returned to the station and had a satisfying lunch from a busy bakery in the station..we were pressed for time and had to catch the metro which in 30 minutes brought us to Miyajimaguchi station.We walked quickly to the ferry Pier and using our JR Pass boarded Miyajima ferry for a 10 minute ride to the island.The ride provided a beautiful view of the Miyajima Island island with its hilly backdrop and as we approached we could get front views of the "Great Torii" welcoming us to the Itsukushima shrine.It is a world heritage island and one of the three most scenic spots in all of Japan
Ambling along old Machiya street,we got to see the neat row of centuries old stores and latticed town houses (Machiya).
We did not allow ourselves enough time to explore the park,take the cable car or climb the mountains.So,back to the ferry for a ride back to the Pier and the metro to get back ...an evening meal with lots of beer concluded our brief tryst with Hiroshima.We were traveling by Shinkansen towards the city of Kobe the next morning.
Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea,Kobe is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities.
A bit of history...After a long period of national isolation,Japan opened its doors to the world in 1868 through the port of Kobe.The opening of the Port allowed Kobe to develop into an international port city; many Americans and Europeans came to Kobe,establishing a Foreigners’ Settlement.Through them,western food,clothes,and entertainment found their way into Japan,making Kobe one of the first cities to be introduced to foreign culture.Kobe is also known as the birthplace of jazz and cinema in Japan.Other products developed in Kobe during this time include clothes, furniture, confectioneries and beef,which remain signature goods of Kobe to this day.
We went up the City Hall,30 stories tall,to the free observation area on the 24th floor and enjoyed panoramic views of Kobe,including the Rokko Mountain Range and the port area.Saw these cute Jap dolls on display.Next to the city hall is the famous flower clock of Kobe;the oldest flower clock in Japan.
Its design is changed once a month and is a feast for the eyes.
A bit of history...After a long period of national isolation,Japan opened its doors to the world in 1868 through the port of Kobe.The opening of the Port allowed Kobe to develop into an international port city; many Americans and Europeans came to Kobe,establishing a Foreigners’ Settlement.Through them,western food,clothes,and entertainment found their way into Japan,making Kobe one of the first cities to be introduced to foreign culture.Kobe is also known as the birthplace of jazz and cinema in Japan.Other products developed in Kobe during this time include clothes, furniture, confectioneries and beef,which remain signature goods of Kobe to this day.
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| Kobe port area and city as seen from city hall |
Kobe's relatively small size with just 1.5 million people makes it a pleasure for casual wandering.A day is all that we had allotted and to make best use of the time we opted for a tour around the city on the city loop bus.Purchasing tickets on the bus we traveled around the city and saw major tourist attractions.One loop takes about 65 minutes and we could "Hop On,Hop Off" at any of the stops.There is live commentary in English,Jap and Chinese on board.
Its design is changed once a month and is a feast for the eyes.
Kobe's chinatown,Nakinmachi,was first established as an area for settlers in 1868,when the port of Kobe was opened and later developed into Kobe's Chinatown.
While the Old Foreign Settlement that stretches along the port area became the business district of foreigners living in Kobe, the Kitano district became the residential area where foreigners lived.The foreign residents who moved to the area from the late 19th century created a truly unique atmosphere,of which much is still preserved to this day.We cooled off with Beer and snacks and headed back to our hotel taking the next loop bus.Our last day in Japan...
After a decent breakfast we take the "port liner" (train) to get to Kobe airport.From the Kobe airport we were transferred by a coach to the "ferry terminal"Here we buy our tickets to enjoy a ride on a ferry bound for Osaka Int'l airport also called Kansai I A which is built off-shore on an artificial island created in the Osaka bay!
Our journey takes 30 minutes and we are once again picked up by a coach and safely transported to the terminal building,from whence we flew via HongKong to Mumbai.It was all so easy and comfortable.
A great trip to the land of rising Sun ends.
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