HIROSHIMA AND MIYAJIMA IN ONE DAY

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Day 8: KYOTO - OKAYAMA - HIROSHIMA - MIYAJIMA

Friday, December 27, 2013

Today the alarm rings at 4.15 in the morning. But what is this? We weren't on vacation? Yes, but today is a very special day, we will go to Okayama and then enjoy Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day.
Our train from Kyoto to Okayama leaves at 6.09 in the morning from the Kyoto Station, stopping first in Shin-Osaka, by local train and then from there, we will take a shinkansen that will take us to Okayama.
So even at dawn, we prepare our little backpacks for these days, we have breakfast for the last time in our hotel in Kyoto, the Citadines Kyoto Karasuma-Gojo, and as good “vacationers” at 5.40 in the morning we left on the way to the Kyoto Station.

In the path of hotel in Kyoto until Kyoto Station, we can see that life in Japan begins well before it does in Spain.
Here bars, restaurants and cafes are already open and there are many people on the street ... It is clear that we are not the only ones we have risen early!
We arrived 15 minutes before the train leaves for the Kyoto Station and we say goodbye to Kyoto, a city that has shown us the best of it in the days we have spent in Kyoto.
If you only have one day, a good option to learn more about the history of Hiroshima and visit the island of Miyajima is to book this guided tour in Spanish.
We show again our 14-day JRP and go directly to platform number 9, from where our JR Kyoto Line Rapid train leaves.

Kyoto Station before leaving for Hiroshima and Miyajima

The Kyoto Station It is a good place to see people get off the arriving trains and run like possessed by the stairs. Punctuality is not played and in Japan This is so true, that for them a minute means losing a train.
Our train from Kyoto to Shin Osaka It arrives on time and full of people, so since we have no seat, it is time to take the time to review the planning of today that is very complete.
In 30 minutes nailed, the train leaves us at platform number 17 of Shin Osaka.
Here we have 11 minutes to change to platform 22, which is where our first shinkansen will come from Trip to Japan, this time bound Okayama, where we will stop before going to Hiroshima and Miyajima, a city known for having one of the Japan's most impressive gardens.
In the ticket offices to go to the platforms from where the shinkansen leave, the tickets of the reservations that we have on the day we took them in Kyoto do not serve, but we have to re-teach the JRP of 14 days by the side ticket offices and from there already We pass directly to the platform grounds.
Our shinkansen arrives a few minutes before the departure time and we pass directly to the seats that we have reserved and that are perfectly marked both on the platform and in the wagons.

Shinkansen from Kyoto to Okayama

Interior of the Shinkansen from Kyoto to Okayama

With the early bird that we have given ourselves, the logical thing would have been to fall asleep as soon as we sat down, but the landscape can be more than the early morning and we make the journey of Shin Osaka to Okayama stuck to the window.
We arrived at 7.41 in the morning at Okayama and as soon as we leave the station, we cross the road and see the tram stop.

Okayama

The distance between the station Okayama and the garden or the castle is not too much, but we, who today have a very tight day, prefer to opt for the tram and thus earn those minutes to the clock to try to make all the visits of today in the most relaxed way.
We take the tram that takes us to the castle stop, which is the Shirosita, for 100 yen per person.
To who Okayama The day is quite cold, although at the moment there are no signs of rain, so we are happy and lively with the day before us.
The train from Okayama to Hiroshima departs from the station Okayama at 10.11 in the morning, so visit the Okayama Gardens It will be brief, although from what we have read, enough to see the most important.
Just get off the tram, we have to follow the street and right in front we see the famous Okayama Castle and just across the bridge we have the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama.

Okayama Castle

We decided to enter through the South Gate of Koraku-en Garden of Okayama and thus make the journey more logical with our time and exit at the end by Main Entrance.
As we headed to the entrance of the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama, we took a couple of coffees from a vending machine, to finish toning the morning ... although once we touch the can we see that they are cold!

Detail of a cartel in Okayama

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This is where we realize that the blue labels on the vending machines indicate that the drinks are cold and that the red ones indicate that they are hot!

Beverage vending machines in Okayama

So with our cold coffee, we continue until we reach the south gate of the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama.

Waiting to enter the Koraku-en Garden, in front of Okayama Castle

And surprise! They open at 8.30 in the morning and not at 8 as indicated in the guide.
But we see through the bars that there are already people inside, so we deduce that at the main entrance of the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama The entrance time is at 8 in the morning.
We plan to go around, but there are only 15 minutes left until they open, so we prefer to wait for them to open this entrance.
We have to wait a few minutes, luckily the Japanese punctuality is perfect and at 8.30 o'clock we are accessing the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama.
We pay 400 yen per person and just set foot on the premises, we see what awaits us.

Koraku-en garden in Okayama

Is awesome! And that we thought that at this time of year perhaps it would not be the most appropriate "to lose these hours" by visiting it.
Luckily that at the last minute, we decided that being so close, it would be a sin not to come at least to take a walk to get to know it and be able to say if it was worth it or not to visit it in winter.

Walking through the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama

Built by the feudal lord Ikeda Tsunemasa and completed in 1700, the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama, is considered one of the three most beautiful Japanese gardens in Japan.

Corners of the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama

The initial impression can be somewhat disappointing, since it is covered, almost entirely by grass, however, the multitude of ponds and structures that appear to us, sauteed, far exceed this first impression.

Strolling through the Koraku-en Garden with Okayama Castle in the background

Koraku-en garden in Okayama

Being here we understand why they say that the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama is one of the three best gardens in Japan.

Koraku-en garden in Okayama

Although it is not the best time, we advise you to make a stop at the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama if you go from Kyoto to Hiroshima.

Enjoying the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama

It does not take too long to travel, about an hour and it is totally rewarding.

Koraku-en garden in Okayama

We meet many Japanese with professional cameras and bird hunting objectives ... something we see in the cartels of the Koraku-en Garden of Okayama It is very common.

"Cabins" in the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama

Around 9.30 in the morning we leave by Main Gate, way back to JR station Okayama, to catch the next shinkansen of the day, which will take us from Okayama to Hiroshima.

Main Gate of the Koraku-en Garden in Okayama

We return to take the tram for 100 yen per person, although the journey is 1 kilometer and a half or so, but in the end we have not left the backpacks at the ticket office of the station and we prefer not to get tired much;).

Views of Okayama leaving the Koraku-en Garden

Detail of the trees that we can see in the Japanese houses ...

Okayama tram tracks

Okayama Tram

We arrived 15 minutes before our shinkansen leaves the station and after teaching the JRs again, we go directly to platform 22 from where Sakura 549 leaves at 10.11 a.m. with arrival at Hiroshima at 10.50 a.m.
In the stations you will see the signs that indicate "Shinkansen" and you have to follow the arrows to reach the platforms from which these trains depart, since they are not the same from which the conventional trains depart.

Okayama train station

On the platforms of the platforms already put the wagons that go without reservation and are in which you can go if you have not reserved a seat.
The truth is that once you have done a couple of journeys it is a very simple procedure, but at first it seems impossible to guess how to go from one place to another or at least we found it difficult!
Although like everything, with practice everything is learned.
The train from Okayama to Hiroshima It leaves on time as usual and we arrive in Hiroshima at 10.50 a.m. With these schedules and this punctuality, it is possible to visit Okayama, Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day.
This time we do not want to carry the backpacks, so as soon as we leave we look for the ticket offices and pay 400 yen for one, where they fit both.

Lockers at Hiroshima station.

How could it be otherwise, there I am to “put the shrimp”, so after putting the money and putting the backpacks I open the box office again to test if it opens and closes correctly and there my mistake !! The ticket office does not close again and asks us to put the money again ...
We explain it to the girl at the box office and she seems not to understand us too much, so call for the walkie-talkie and in less than two minutes comes the person in charge of the area.
The girl at the end understands us and died of laughter for what has happened to us, take out the money and put it back, returning the key to the box office.
So you know, at the ticket offices of the stations, never open them again ... because they won't let you close them again!
In the same area of the ticket office we have a change machine where we take the opportunity to exchange some 500 yen coins for 100 yen coins to bring more change for any unforeseen event.
We left through the south gate of the Hiroshima Station and we take tram number 6 (also number 2 goes) that we have right in front, until the Bomb Dome for 150 yen per person.

Indications of places of interest at Hiroshima Station.

The tram leaves us right in front of this image that we all know and we see the first proof of what happened here.

First vision we have of the Dome of the Bomb in Hiroshima.

The Bomb Dome it is the symbol of the destruction inflicted on Hiroshima.

Dome of the Bomb in Hiroshima.

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Declared World Heritage by UNESCO in December 1996, the building was the Industrial Promotion Hall until the bomb almost exploded on it.

Black and white Dome of the Bomb in Hiroshima.

Its propped ruins, illuminated at nightfall, remain as an eternal reminder of the tragedy.
Standing in front of the Bomb Dome, a sensation of cold and shudder invades us, but above all of silence.
Like a place in a bubble, where life is still around but inside it has stopped.
It is difficult to explain, but without a doubt it is another one of those places that give off an energy that invades everything that surrounds it.
From the Bomb Dome you have to cross the road and you enter directly into the Peace Memorial Park, dotted with allusive monuments, such as the cenotaph with the names of all known victims of the bomb and the Flame of Peace, which will only be extinguished when the last nuclear weapon on the planet has been destroyed.

Peace Memorial Park

Llama de la Paz, where you can see, as inside, perfectly "fits" the Dome of the Bomb ...

After a brief walk in the area, we go to the Children's Peace Monument, inspired by the victim of leukemia Sadako Sasaki.

Children's Peace Monument

When Sadako became ill with leukemia at age 10 he decided to make 1000 paper cranes, an ancient Japanese custom according to which it is believed that a person's wishes come true.
The crane is a symbol of longevity and happiness in Japan and she was convinced that she would recover if she fulfilled her goal. He passed away before reaching it, but his classmates finished the rest.
History led the whole country to make paper cranes, a habit still in force.
A good option to learn about the tragic history of this city is to book this private tour with a guide in Spanish.

Details of the Children's Peace Monument

Overwhelming place without a doubt.
With the shrunken soul, we turn to Peace Memorial Museum, which will be today's last visit in Hiroshima.

Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

Entrance to the Peace Memorial Museum

The Peace Memorial Museum narrates what happened before, during and after the bomb Hiroshima of August 6, 1945.

Overwhelming details at the Peace Memorial Museum

The most bitter place of Trip to Japan but without a doubt, a place to know and an experience to live.

Peace Memorial Museum

It is difficult to explain the sensations we have experienced. We find it a bit "indecent" to put pictures of the things we saw and lived, but we understand that perhaps, it is the most appropriate, since at this time, the only thing left is words.

We try that this “bittersweet” feeling that we have at this moment does not condition what we have left of the day and although it is difficult we begin to talk about the next destination of the day and the place where we want to go to eat. Today is a day more than complete, Hiroshima and Miyajima in one day.

“Spanish” restaurant in Hiroshima

We go straight to the well-known Nagataya, where they say they make some of the best Okonomiyaki from Hiroshima, but it is full and even outside stand in line.
We value the situation and being almost two in the afternoon, we decided that it is best to take the tram again and go to the station area, eat something fast and take advantage of the time, leaving Hiroshima to Miyajima as soon as possible.
Today is a full day of visits and we still have many things to live.

From Hiroshima to Miyashima

We hurry the mealtime and arrive in time to catch the train from Hiroshima to Miyajima from 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon, which leaves from platform number 1 and arrives in Miyajimaguchi 26 minutes later.
One of the things that we highlight is that the station in which you have to stop with the train from Hiroshima to Miyajima It is Miyajimaguchi station.
Sometimes the names are not as intuitive as we think and this can lead us to mistake the season and have to waste an essential time, at least for us, which especially today, we do not have enough left over.
The train from Hiroshima to Miyajima It is local, so we do not have a reservation and it is quite full, so we have to make the journey of almost half an hour on foot, near one of the doors, without losing the landscape that surrounds us for a minute.
With the "rattle" sure that we lower the food, that we will not go bad at this time that we have opted for "fast-food".
We arrive at Miyajimaguchi station a few minutes before 3 pm and the first thing we do is go to the Ferry, which enters with the JR, to take us to Miyajima That is the last stop of the day and the place where we will stay tonight.
We leave the station, cross the street and through an underpass that crosses the main street, we reach the area of the Ferry to Miyajima.

Miyajima Ferry Road

Ferry schedules to Miyajima

Just when we arrive one is about to leave, so we get in line and start the 10 minutes that take us directly to another of the “sour cherries”: Miyajima!

Ferry to Miyajima

As we approach Miyajima we see how we are approaching one of the most famous images of Japan and we are once again deeply grateful to be able to do what we really like.

Views of Miyajima from the Ferry

Miyajima from the Ferry

Details of the Tori de Miyajima from the Ferry

Our ryokan in MiyajimaRyoso Kawaguchi is 5 minutes away from the ferry stop, so the first thing we do is go there, even if we want to travel Miyajima at this time.

Miyajima Ferry

Since we decided to do this Trip to Japan we were very clear that at least one night we wanted stay in a ryokan and what better place to do it than in Miyajima?
So in the end, counting on that we made the reservation with a lot of time and that with the current change the prices were not too exorbitant, we decided on one of the best known of Miyajima.

Ryokan in Miyajima

As soon as we enter the Ryoso Kawaguchi, they explain the whole ryokan procedure in the best way we have ever seen. This is customer service.
Our room is spectacular and the onsen of the amazing ryokan.

Our room at the Ryokan in Miyajima

Details of the room at the Ryokan in Miyajima

Seen the seen has been worth it without a doubt having chosen to stay in a ryokan in Miyajima.
But knowing that we will have the night to enjoy the ryokan in Miyajima, we leave, when it is a little after 4 p.m., to take a walk around Miyajima.

One of the best known images of Miyajima, leaving our ryokan ...

Roger first buys a pair of oysters for 400 yen, which he tastes without even sitting down.

Oyster stand in Miyajima

Oysters in Miyajima

Streets of Miyajima

Time flies through the streets of Miyajima, so controlling that at 5 in the afternoon it starts to get dark, we go to the area of Itsukushima Shrine where when we arrive, a few minutes begins to sparkle.

Miyajima

So watching the panorama and being at the door of the Itsukushima Shrine We pay 300 yen each to enter and thus make the visit and to protect ourselves from the rain.

Itsukushima Shrine

The Itsukushima Shrine which gives the island its authentic name dates back to the 16th century. Its construction in the form of a jetty is a consequence of the sacred character of the island: the commoners were not allowed to step on it and had to access the sanctuary by boat, entering through the floating torii.

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine Details

On one side of the sanctuary there is a floating stage of nö, built by a Mr. Móri.

Itsukushima Shrine Details

Less than 5 minutes pass and we see that what was once a fine rain has turned into small snowflakes. We look at each other and a smile is drawn on our faces.

Miyajima

Not only are we in Miyajima, if not that with a little luck, the forecasts of the weather we saw this morning and with which we did not want to get too many illusions, maybe they will be fulfilled and we can enjoy Miyajima snowy!

Itsukushima Shrine Details

With this smile we travel the Itsukushima Shrine With the peace of mind that lets us know that tomorrow we have part of the morning to visit again.

Views from Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

This is one of the things we also decided to take a ryokan in Miyajima, to be able to enjoy the afternoon in which we arrived with total tranquility, knowing that the next day in the morning, we could enjoy the place again.
About 30 minutes pass and while we continue enjoying the Itsukushima Shrine, we see that it stops snowing and we take the opportunity to go out and do the photo session of the day ...
We cannot avoid saying again that we have succeeded fully staying here one night. First by the magic of Miyajima and then for the possibility of staying in a ryokan.
No doubt this is going to be an experience we will never forget.
To be able to enjoy Itsukushima Shrine and surroundings when night falls, it's simply amazing.

Better than words ... images ...

Itsukushima Shrine Surroundings

Night falls at Itsukushima Shrine

When it is already 7 pm we will have dinner at a place next to our ryokan in Miyajima, recommended by the owner of Ryoso Kawaguchi.
As soon as we arrive we see that it is not a place where there are tourists, since apart from the fact that they have left with the last ferries, the place does not “invite” precisely to enter.
Maybe that is one of the reasons we like the most and why we decided to have dinner here ...
We are surrounded by neighbors of Miyajima They wait for their turn to take the food while we wait, talking to them by signs, at the bar that our turn comes.

Okonomiyaki in Miyajima

We ordered an okonomiyaki, which are the house specialty and some soba more beer and coke for 2010 yen.

Dinner in Miyajima

Great !! Dinner in Miyajima

A spectacular dinner, in a place and with a better company if possible.
Shortly after 9 pm we return to Ryoso Kawaguchi. Today we will dream of a place with a tori on the horizon ...
A very special place, which becomes magical when night comes and you remain in absolute solitude ...