Well, we all woke up about 2am Kyoto time. Who needs sleep anyway, right? Well, let's just wake up and get ready and head to the breakfast buffet. Then board the Shinkansen to Miyajimaguchi. This is the port. From here we took a ferry across to Miyajima Island. We were off to see the Torii Gate (the red item in the water) and the Itsukushima Shrine (also lots of red paint and in the water along the shore).
First, views from the ferry to Miyajima Island. Being from Kentucky, we are familiar with horse race tracks. This big building along shore is for racing, but not horses. It is for racing speed boats.
In the water were lots of platforms. I was told these are where they are raising seaweed.
This is the Torii Gate. The red building behind built in the water along the shore is the Itsukushima Shrine. When the tide goes out, the Torii gate in not in the water. When the tide is in, the Torii gate is in the water and boats with tourist are rowed through it.
We had our first encounter with the little deer. When we went to Nara we would also see many, many of this little deer. These deer are protected. It is believed the gods came on them so they are sacred and protected. They have food you can buy and feed them. They will eat any paper item you have in your hand. They assume it one of the things of food and just go for it. These are elementary school age children. You can tell by their hats.
We caught lovely glimpses of this beautiful structure as we wandered through the Itsukushima Shrine and then the community that lives on the island.
This is a boat you can buy passage on and they will pole and row you through the Torii Gate.
This stone gate is like the Torii Gate, except stone. In front and on either side is a statue on a pedestal. The difference in the statues is the shape of the mouth. The one on the right has its mouth open as if to say Ahhhh. That is the first letter of their alphabet and represents the beginning. The statue on the left has its mouth closed as if to say Mmmmm. That is the last letter of their alphabet and represents the end.
This is a groom and his bride who were just married at the shrine. They are being carried away in a rickshaw. And they just came through the stone gate between the beginning and the end.
Well, we just had to have a picture of us in front of the Torii Gate.
This is a view of the Itsukushima Shrine as we walked from the ferry boat to the shrine.
Here is Claude taking a moment to ponder the magnificence of this adventure. Take it in Big Guy, take it in.
When you enter a shrine there is always a place with running clear clean water. There is always a cup or ladle of some kind to dip the water out and rinse your hands and, if you so desire, have a little drink.
These pictures are a few of the many taken of the Itsukushima Shrine and Torii Gate.
In the water at the Itsukushima Shrine, is a No Theater. This is used for a particular type of Japanese play. The theater sits in the water. When the tide is out, then you can find the stone steps to get to the theater. The tide when out as we were touring and we were able to see the steps.
These barrel looking things are all Sake barrels and are presented as a gift to the gods.
The people receive a fortune written on pieces of paper. If it is a good one and you want it to come true, you tie it to this line inside the shrine.
When the tied was out, it left behind little crabs. Got a video clip of them scurrying around. Cute little things.
Just a very pretty bridge.
People do live on the island. We walked past some of their homes. The ditch is stone lined. There was a pretty crane in the water of the ditch.
Another view of the pretty building.
I was fascinated by the line and construction of this roof. It looks almost like a thatched roof in Ireland.
I cannot remember what these were for. But they were very cute.
I read a book about Japanese tales. It had a section about cats, ground hogs and fox. Each of these animals is thought to have magical powers. Sometimes they transform themselves into things or people. The badger is kind of a naughty character according to this book.
And this picture is the Miyajima rice scoop. The story goes that a Buddhist monk had a dream. In this dream he saw the goddess of good fortune. She was carrying a lute. The monk traced the shape of the lute and made a rice scoop. It was a very handy tool and from Miyajima Island the use of this tool spread across Japan. It is thought to be a lucky ornament and scoops happiness, good fortune and victory.
While on the island, we found a place to eat. It only had a Japanese style toilet. No men's or women's restroom. Just one bathroom with a Japanese style toilet. The old version is simply a hole in the ground. The newer version is a ceramic thing that is long and narrow and flat to the ground. I went to the bathroom and could not figure how to use this facility. It became our quest to look for signs that said "western toilet". Those we all knew how to use.
After lunch we took the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi Port and caught the Shinkansen on to Hiroshima.
In 2005, Claude and toured Israel. One of the sites we visited was Yad Vashim. This is the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. It was a most sobering experience. I shall never forget the feelings that came over me as we went through this thoughtful tribute and remembrance. When we walked up to the A-bomb Dome, I immediately felt that same feeling. What mankind can do to mankind is staggering.
This is the A-bomb Dome. It has been shored up so the remains can stay as a reminder of this event. Masterfully done and very moving.
The Peace Gardens carry this same feeling. We walked along the river, over a bridge and found the monument to the children. A young girl, Sadako, was injured by the blast. She began folding paper cranes to help her heal and bring peace. She eventually died. The cranes are now a symbol of peace. This monument features Sadako on the top with a crane. There are glass cases all around one side of this sculpture filled with folded paper cranes made into chains and pictures.
From this monument, you cross the highway and walk down a path on either side of flowing water. There is a big sculpture that is stylized hand with the inside of the wrist touching and the palms up and tips of the fingers curled upward. Down from that is an arch that looks in shape like the canvas cover of a Conestoga wagon. This is a shrine at which people place flowers and say prayers. When you look back you can see all the way to the A-bomb Dome.
There is an expanse of grass before you get to the buildings that house the actual museum. I mentioned to Claude that, in a country with lands that is carefully filled with homes, farms, businesses, etc., you know how important the people feel something is when they dedicate open grassy areas to it. This is the museum.
A lot of the museum is under renovation. But we did see a portion of it. I honestly didn't take lots of pictures in the museum, even though we were allowed that privilege. These two I will share. The picture of the cloud that rose after the bomb was dropped. And the diorama of how the bomb was dropped and actually exploded over the city. We were told that Tokyo was trying to get a report of what had happened. They were told the city was no more. It just disappeared.
One final view from inside the museum of the Peace Gardens.
As we walked to find a bus or taxi, we passed these unique items. The first is a mail box. The second is a telephone booth.
We would have dinner in Hiroshima. A true unique Japanese experience. The dish is called Okonomimura. It was described as a crepe like pancake and you choose what you want on it. Let's just say that the man and lady preparing this dish just kept adding to the top, incorporating an egg in the middle, turning it and flipping it as it cooked. It was amazing to watch. The two children at the end of the counter are the daughters of the two cooks. To get to this restaurant we went down an alley I would not have traveled had Kelly not said it was perfectly fine. Then up a little elevator to the floor where all these little grill areas were designated by walls and curtains. We found one that all of us could sit at and had a really good meal. Honestly, Claude and I could have shared one there was so much food in this dish. It was great fun and we are very happy we got this uniquely Japanese experience.
What a day! What a day! Back to Kyoto and try to rest to prepare for our next day.
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