Home time

Our tour of Japan is complete, for now.

More markets and more people

This time in Osaka.

Dotombori

spot the Ferris wheel

OMG

I am not participating in Pokemon shopping no matter how important it is to Toby!

OMG

I am not participating in Pokemon shopping no matter how important it is to Toby!

Shinkansen Time Again

This time bound for our final city, Osaka.

Dinner

OKONOMIYAKE for dinner this time. Yummy.

Orizuru II

Back to Orizuru for night shots.

Day

Night

Pretty

Japanese Maritime Self Defence Force Museum

After WWII the US agreed to a JMSDF which initially focussed on mine sweeping to clean up thousands of old mines at sea from WWII and Korean War. Then the US agreed to a submarine programme for coastal protection.

get to g to Kure required another 45 mins train ride.

2IC to lady behind camera

another 20,000 step day, getting home from Hiroshima station.

Technically a Castle

Not a temple or a shrine.

This was the headquarters for the dominant families who ruled the area before areas were amalgamated under central Japanese rule (Shoguns).

Slide

And once you are done you slide out of the building!

Origami Cranes

Make your own and let it fly to remember Sadako and the children.

Marie not keen on glass floor, but need to be there to drop crane down glass shute.

Then check from outside to 560,000 accumulated!

Orizuru Tower

We found a cool place atop the Orizuru Tower, built by Mr Matsuda (aka Mr Mazda). The top two floors are assigned to the theme of peace. You get the views and to make your own origami cranes.

Views first.

The dome

The Hiroshima Peace Dome was previously an industrial promotions hall. Locals were split over destruction or memorial until the government supported the latter making it a protected site.

The bomb exploded roughly in the top right corner of this image (600m up).

Peace Park

Childrens Peace memorial built after kids lobbied to remember a charismatic girl (Sadako) who died from leukaemia 10 years after surviving the bomb blast. The origami crane became a symbol of peace (millions delivered every year apparently) because Sadako made them constantly as she hoped to get well.

ok the Hiroshima you expected

The museum delivers it's sombre message with a variety of evidence and survivor commentaries.

Protest clock that displays days since 6 August 1945 bomb and then days since the last nuclear bomb test on earth. There's a photo of 200,000 sitting in front of the museum to protest lack of progress on reducing these weapons globally.

Hiroshima

Not what you expected!

Light show on Peace Boulevard in front of our hotel.

not a Shinkansen.

Toby at 270 km/h

GST

I suspect GST will be part of the saving of the heavily indebted Japanese government but we kept forgetting over here you add it to the advertised price, unlike home.

heading to Hiroshima tomorrow, Hikari line, 8.23am at 270 km/h.

shopping

Shopping in the antique stores is more fun and teaches more about Japan than the generic 'same same but different' shops.

and these are donuts!

Even though we felt under-dressed for eating them.

we love the volume of youngsters who enjoy getting dressed up.