Day 4 - Bye Kyoto, Hello Hiroshima

Time to take the fast Shinkansen bullit train to Hiroshima. I activated my JapanRail-pass for one week, which is a very good deal if you plan to visit Tokyo later on in the trip as well. Seat reservation is free and can be done at the ticket office. It has been a fun experience to travel with these trains. They must be the cleanest trains in the world and incredibly punctual. It reaches speeds up to 300 km/h. I felt safe while traveling and also enjoyed the green mountain views outside.

JR-pass

On my last day in Kyoto I picked up my JR-rail pass at the train station. The JR-pass is a great way to save money in public transport. With this pass you can travel unlimited with all JR-line trains and metro’s and some ferries including the Shinkansen trains (except the fastest Nozomi trains). There are 7, 14 and 21-day passes available. A 7-day pass was perfect for my itinerary and costed 220 euros at my local travel shop. This is same price for a return ticket of Kyoto-Tokyo alone. The pass is for tourists only. The voucher can only be bought in your home country before your departure.

At 8:15 a.m. on 6 August 1945, Little Boy — the first atomic bomb to be used in war — was dropped above Hiroshima. One of the few buildings that resisted the blast is now known as The Hiroshima Peace Memorial or Atomic bomb dome. The explosion was almost directly overhead. That is why the building was able to retain its shape. The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal diseases from the radiation. The nearby museum displays some shocking exhibitions. Impressive story came with the 1000 Origami crane birds folded by Sadako Sasaki. A young Japanese girl, who suffered from leucemia who believed in a Japanese legend which promises that anyone who folds one thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish... No more nuclear bomb should be made or used for war.

The Delicious Food in Hiroshima

One of the most delicious foods, I have tasted in Japan is the Hiroshima Okonomiyaki. A mix between savory pancake, veggie omelette and fluffy pizza. The restaurant that I've visited for dinner, has a great atmosphere, you can sit at a counter in front of a huge teppan where the chef makes the Okonomiyaki right in front of you. There are many version, but mine had bacon, shrimps and different cabbages. Topped with the Okonomiyaki sauce it tastes so great!