Day 1
We take the shinkansen from Kyoto Station around 8:30, and I finish my night’s sleep during the ride. I get mixed up with the timetable and we miss our stop… We get off at Shin-Yamaguchi Station and catch another train back in the opposite direction. We finally arrive in Hiroshima around noon instead of 10:30. The day’s schedule is fairly light, so no worries.
We walk around Hiroshima Castle before lunch. Then we stroll around the Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima dome and the adjacent park. Finally, we visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. On the way out, we make a quick stop at the hotel before enjoying okonomiyaki at one of the neighborhood restaurants.
Day 2
We head back to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. From the quay below, we board a boat at 9:30 that takes us straight to Miyajima. We follow the coast and quickly pass Itsukushima Shrine and the groups of visitors already queueing there. We continue towards Daishō-in, leaving it on our right as we take the trail up Mount Misen.
The trail is in fact one long staircase, fairly steady and well maintained. Through the trees, we occasionally catch sight of the shrine and its famous torii. Once at the observatory, we have a picnic on a nicely sunlit rock and take some time to look around. Hiroshima stretches out on one side. On the other, the bay opens up with its many islands. We descend the other side to the ropeway station. Back at the bottom, we cross Momijidani Park and visit Itsukushima Shrine. There are still plenty of people, but fewer than this morning.
We spend a little time on the sand in front of the torii before the rising tide cuts off access. We head back to the pier shortly before 5:30, passing through the island’s shopping street, then sail back to Hiroshima and another okonomiyaki restaurant.
Day 3
Back to the station to catch the shinkansen east. We stop in Himeji to visit Himeji Castle. Cherry trees are everywhere, but none are in bloom yet. Lunch nearby before heading back to Kyoto.
