Blossoms, bullet train and beyond: exploring Japan by Land and Sea.

[Pushka]

We exited the main building then walked through the gardens. Fresh air after the packed museum was nice. Walked down the paths to the Atomic Dome site. Some recent Royal visitors.


And the site of the hypocenter a street away.

 

[Pushka]

The shortness of our stay at the Peace Park was disappointing and I feel like we were just a bunch of tourists ticking something off a list. Not something that should happen. Disrespectful. I'm still undecided as to the review I'm supposed to give. Maybe I'll just ignore it.

 

[drron]

A reason not to put off travel. In 1984 were able to walk through this building with a guide. And very few tourists as well.

 

[jukebox333]

The shortness of our stay at the Peace Park was disappointing and I feel like we were just a bunch of tourists ticking something off a list. Not something that should happen. Disrespectful. I'm still undecided as to the review I'm supposed to give. Maybe I'll just ignore it.

I'm sorry this didn't work out for you, Pushka.

At ¥2200, the ferry Miyaima - Peace Park is a lot more expensive than either JR train/light rail/bus options but would save time/hassle.

When I bought the kids here in 2008, we agreed they couldn't handle the main museum with respect, so Mrs Jukebox played in the park, while I rushed through. This time, we all did it at a more leisurely pace, but at least two parents bought *babies* into the huge throng shuffling past Hiroshima relics, and it really broke the serenity and respectfulness with them howling their lungs out...

 

[RooFlyer]

Originally the Guide had booked us a meal at a restaurant to which I'd already said we didn't want, who needs to eat so we could just grab a snack.

Finally an unpleasant lunch done and we had to rush to get to Peace Park. Already 1.30pm. Just 2 1/2 hours left

Has happened to me on Intrepid type tours. Visiting some fabulous historic town and tour leader declares a sit-down coffee stop. Someone in the group decides to order food as well. Everyone spreads out etc etc. Ends up being 3/4 hour.

 

[tgh]

iirc we found the peace park relatively uncrowded and quite underwhelming.
I am still not sure what I was expecting but was very disappointed (perhaps the lack of theatre which helps the 911 memorial be unforgettable)

 

[pagingjoan]

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Out of sequence. In the entrance to every Shrine / Shinto Tori there are always two animals - we've seen Foxes and Lions. One with their mouth open, the other shut. And then the Tori gate. They are usually orange and today we heard that colour was good at deterring insects?

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An authentic sake house, there were several we were keen to look at but well, things started unravelling at this point.

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So it was already 1pm and we knew we had some distance to get back to the Peace Park. Originally the Guide had booked us a meal at a restaurant to which I'd already said we didn't want, who needs to eat so we could just grab a snack. There are fabulous snack places here. But someone in the group wanted to sit down. That isn't what happens here. And then the guide said every Australian loves oysters. Ah, we don't we said (not raw anyway) but she kept on pointing out oyster shacks. We passed by a fab little place selling sushi and chicken that three of us wanted and said so but by then the guide had charged on ahead and as it was so crowded we didn't want to risk losing her. So then she said we could sit upstairs at a place, well, we didn't want to we wanted to go back to the sushi place, but would take too long to get back there so then she charged off to find a sandwhich place (seriously, a sandwhich here?) then she got lost and finally found it. By now I was in cranky mode. MrP was similar, MrUK wanted to go back to the sushi, his wife wanted to sit and the US couple were going along with it. At least someone was. Finally an unpleasant lunch done and we had to rush to get to Peace Park. Already 1.30pm. Just 2 1/2 hours left

We could have caught the direct ferry to Peace Park. That's what she said we'd do. We didn't. We caught the main ferry, got off that, onto a train, got off that, she wanted us to run down an escalator that was packed, and get onto a bus. 2.15 finally got to the Peace Park. Now everyone was a bit grim. The US guy has anxiety with buses we find out and why the hell didn't we just get a taxi FS.

We had just one hour total in the Peace Park and Grounds. It was packed. So much so we decided to wear masks. There was a very detailed special Photographic Archives of the Hiroshima bombing being held, it was difficult seeing the pictures, reading the stories and seeing the personal devastation the bomb had caused. People were respectful and silent even though a huge crowd. We did have to pass by quickly though. No one was taking photos.

Pushka,
I'm sure you made the most of the hand you were dealt.
But how disappointing for you!
Two very special places that were spoilt for you by a difficult set of circumstances.

We were in both places last September but travelling independently. We did take up a recommendation to use a guide for our full day tour of Miyajima and surrounds - but as it happened, she contributed little, if anything, to the experience. We would have done as well, if not better, without her. Perhaps you wound up with the same guide! As we were not travelling with others, we could simply do as we wished, though, which was different from your circumstances.

We also visited the Peace Park, on our own, the following day and spent at least five hours there. So much to see and read and think about, if you have the time. A truly memorable experience.

None of this is at all helpful for you, of course. But may be for others following your fabulous trip.

 

[Pushka]

iirc we found the peace park relatively uncrowded and quite underwhelming.
I am still not sure what I was expecting but was very disappointed (perhaps the lack of theatre which helps the 911 memorial be unforgettable)

I think you felt the same as the UK couple who’d just returned from NY 9/11 tribute. In fact she didn’t stop jabbering about it. I just said Japan does things differently just to keep her quiet

 

[Pushka]

Has happened to me on Intrepid type tours. Visiting some fabulous historic town and tour leader declares a sit-down coffee stop. Someone in the group decides to order food as well. Everyone spreads out etc etc. Ends up being 3/4 hour.

I get so antsy when this happens. I don’t want to eat I want to experience.

Sea Day today as we make our way to Busan. Not good close opportunities. We have no won. No train passes. No internet. So we booked an insanely expensive ship excursion to a temple that thankfully gets great reviews on TA.

Only told one man today that ‘Tongs are good, use them’ as I thrust them into his hand. He was rummaging through corn chips with hands at the buffet. I will not accept grubby actions at the buffet. Nor particular nationalities who push their way into the lifts before people can exit.

 

[love_the_life]

I am sorry that your visit to Hiroshima was truncated. Both times I have been we were there for several hours (travelling independently). The Museum was being renovated the first time and only half was open which means some important displays were not accessible unfortunately and what was open was more crowded. The UK couple sounded bad news right from the start - weren't they the ones quibbling over price/inclusions when you were organising the tour?

 

[SuePa]

Was this Sadako and her thousand paper cranes?

 

[Pushka]

I am sorry that your visit to Hiroshima was truncated. Both times I have been we were there for several hours (travelling independently). The Museum was being renovated the first time and only half was open which means some important displays were not accessible unfortunately and what was open was more crowded. The UK couple sounded bad news right from the start - weren't they the ones quibbling over price/inclusions when you were organising the tour?

Yep. They were. I did ask if they wanted to cancel with full refund before the cruise but no. The US couple were fine with the costs and easy going. Were happy to taxi from the get go.

Was this Sadako and her thousand paper cranes?

Yes but we didn't get the time to explore this further.