Tokyo -> Hiroshima, Hiroshima -> Osaka

A special 2 for one

Going to cram 2 days in here since I fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow the night before. The overview is we spent time in Hiroshima across two days and ended in Osaka.

To travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima we took the Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train. We traveled approximatly 900 km in around 3 hours, so this thing was moving.

Why can't planes have this kind of leg room?

Charcoal grilled beef, pickled veggies, egg, and potato... stuff

Hiroshima has a lot to recommend it but unfortunately nowadays it's probably most famous for being one of the two sites on which the US dropped the atomic bomb. Today it's a vibrant, bustling city that's rebuilt itself after that horrific event.

Memorial exterior

The day before offered some lighter fare in Hiroshima. We went to Miyajima Island. It's known for its iconic gate, landscape said to look like the profile of a goddess and... oysters.

Said to look like the face of a goddess. Do you see it?

The island also features a Shinto Shrine and a Buddhist temple. The goddess of the island, with the rise of Buddhism, developed a new aspect as a female Buddha. This idea, that the syncretic nature of the Shinto religion allowed it to absorb and adapt Buddhist ideas in interesting ways was stressed repeatedly by our guide, and is somewhat embodied in the island itself.

Shrine

Temple

Temple interior, just because.

Oh, and the Miyajima deer. Can't forget those deer.

These lovable, de-antlered dorks were all over. Pestering people and shop owners alike

We left around sunset.

Last Miyajima bit, just because I thought it was funny.

What won't they put in a vending machine?

We took the Shinkansen again to Osaka. So far we've visited the Abeno Harukas, one of the tallest buildings in Japan, and a nice restaurant. More to come tomorrow!

A picture from the 60th floor

Squid and Abelone

This was... alot. Deep fried sweet potato, seafood medley. Sweet nuts.

I added the leftmost dent before remembering to take a picture. That look like anything to you? A peach. It's supposed to be a peach.

That's all for today It's 1:04 AM and I'm beat. See ya!