Japan Trip 2024
This year’s trip to Japan was a quick two weeks (usually like to go at least three) due to work schedules. Still thankful my wife Ayumu and I were able to go and see lots of family and introduce our son to everyone. We were able to squeeze in an overnight trip to Hiroshima Prefecture and stay at a nice hotel (a birthday gift for my father-in-law), visited the Atomic Dome+Peace Memorial Museum, and explored Mt. Yashima in Kagawa Prefecture.
Ryokan - Japanese Style Inn
From Wikipedia: “A ryokan is a type of traditional Japanese inn that typically features tatami-matted rooms, communal baths, and other public areas where visitors may wear nemaki and talk with the owner.” Although the place we stayed at was a bit bigger and more of a hotel, they did have communal baths and rooms with private open air baths and traditional Japanese-style rooms/decor. When we went to the dining area to eat, we had a private room to eat and they were very baby-friendly (first time having to think about that!).
Our rooms were simplistic but looked really nice
We had an amazing ocean view that filled our room with sunlight
Had amazing food, definitely tried a lot of new things here
Another view from our window (a bit zoomed in), lots of local fisherman
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Atomic Dome
Seeing the memorial park, the Atomic Dome, and going to the museum was such an intense experience. The museum had photos of people with severe injuries, deformities, and all the destruction from the atomic bombing. There were also exhibits of remnants left behind from the bombing like stretchers, bloody clothes, and even a shadow outline of a person that was left stained on a piece of concrete that resulted from the impact.
The Atomic Dome was also incredible to see as the last building still standing today. From UNESCO: “The Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome) was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded on 6 August 1945. Through the efforts of many people, including those of the city of Hiroshima, it has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. Not only is it a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by humankind; it also expresses the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons.”
Abuto-Kannon Temple - Fukuyama, Hiroshima
Visited Abuto-Kannon Temple in Fukuyama, Hiroshima. It was super windy and freezing cold but worth the hike up and down the steps. We had like a literal 5 minutes since it was a last minute stop and everyone was freezing cold but I managed so take a couple of shots. From Visit Tomonoura: ““Bandaiji-Kannon Temple”, commonly known as “Abuto-Kannon Temple” is built on the edge of Abuto cape, which is located 4 km west of Tomonoura, and is designated as Japan’s Important Cultural Property.”
Yashima Temple - Takamatsu, Kagawa
Went exploring with a friend who took me to a mountain in Kagawa Prefecture called Mt. Yashima. There was the Yashima Temple with several structures, shrines, and small raccoon figures (tanuki) which have an interesting backstory and meaning. From Japan Experience: “Yashima-ji Temple is a branch of Ninna-ji Temple in western Kyoto and is temple No. 84 on the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage. Yashima-ji is believed to have been founded by the Chinese monk, Ganjin in 754 during the Nara Period of Japan.”
Yashima Sanjo Eki - Takamatsu, Japan
While visiting the Yashima Temple at the top of Mt. Yashima, we also hiked to the other side of the mountain to see a defunct cable car station that’s been left for nature to take over with weeds and plants everywhere. There was also a surprise Bansky piece (Flower Thrower) which caught me off guard. From All Yashima: “The Yashima Tozan Railway operated a cable car service between the base and summit of Yashima. Service was suspended in 2004 and officially ended in 2005. The old-fashioned summit station building which remains was built in 1929 and designated a piece of Japan’s Heritage of Industrial Modernization by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in 2009. It was used for a work of art in the 2013 Setouchi Triennale.”
Can’t wait to go back again! I hope to return in the winter during the holidays, but Ayumu wants to go back in the summer when it’s hottest (don’t think I’d survive lol). We’ll see!
