Autumn in Japan: Four Days in Hiroshima + Miyajima, Mitaki-dera and Iwakuni, Episode 4 | Travel Vlog

Autumn in Japan: Four Days in Hiroshima + Miyajima, Mitaki-dera and Iwakuni, Episode 4 | Travel Vlog

[Music] Hey everyone and welcome back. After a jam-packed 4 days of touring in Osaka, Nara, Himeji, and the Mount Shosha Temple complex, Paulo and I made our way south. We took Japan’s fastest and speediest bullet train, the Nomi, to spend 4 days in Hiroshima. The city is a unique tourist destination as being the site of the first ever atomic bombing on a civilian population. This tragic event has profoundly and uniquely influenced its present standing, shaping its identity as the city of peace. Close to Hiroshima is Miaima Island, also known as Itsukushima, where we visited the iconic site of Itsukushima Shrine and the floating Tori Gate. We also rented a car for the day and drove to Mitakera Temple located on a hill at the base of Mount Mitaki. The autumn foliage provided a stunning backdrop as we walked along the path. Then we drove outside the city to Iwauni to walk along its famous landmark, the Kintako Bridge, an elegant wooden arch bridge spanning the Nishiki River with five graceful arches. On our final day, we visited the Peace Memorial Museum and Park. A somber day to reflect on the catastrophic event that caused unimaginable suffering. But before we get any further, if you haven’t yet seen the first three episodes of the Autumn in Japan series, I’ll add the links in the description box. I began my first week in the Hokuriku region of Japan followed by a stay in Kyoto where Paulo joined me. After Kyoto, we then stayed in Osaka with day trips to Nara, Himi, and Mount Shosha. Now onto Hiroshima. We got to Shin Osaka station well ahead of our scheduled departure. They have a big delays on the trains 10 cents for the trains and they were about an hour and 10 minutes behind schedule with all the trains. A delay on the Sano line caused a domino effect impacting all Shinkans and trains arriving at and departing from Shin Osaka station. We waited for almost 2 hours along with all the other affected passengers. Eventually, the problem got sorted out and the delayed shin trains arrived to pick up or drop off passengers. Then it was our turn and we finally boarded the train bound for Hiroshima. [Music] At Hiroshima station, we boarded the sightseeing loop bus free for JR regional passh holders. It dropped us by the Peace Memorial Park where we stopped to check out the atomic bomb dome. This is the most famous and evocative structure in the park. It was the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and was one of the very few buildings to remain standing after the bombing on August 6, 1945. The dome is located just 160 m southeast of the blast center. The blast came from almost directly above, causing the building to collapse vertically while leaving its central steel skeleton intact. [Music] Before our 5-day Cana Hiroshima pass expired, we took the JR Samuel line from Hiroshima station to Miaima Guuchi station and from there we boarded the JR ferry to Miaima Island. The pass is also valid for the JR ferry to Miaima Island. The only thing that we paid for was a visitor tax of 100 yen per person. Oh, the visitors tax. [Music] [Music] Miaima, officially known as Itsukishima, is just off the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture. [Music] Due to its unique scenic beauty, the large Brazilian great to standing in the sea against a backdrop of deeply forested Mount Reed forms a magnificent landscape. After getting off the ferry, we strolled along Omite Sando’s shopping street, a lively pedestrianfriendly area packed with shops, restaurants, and food stalls. Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who like street foods. Like in Nara, deers roam freely in Miaima. [Music] To warm ourselves up, we purchased oyster chowder soups and savory buns. You like it? Oyster. We continued along the Omoando shopping street. Then we saw our first view of the Great Tory Gate at low tide. After taking the required photo opportunity with the Tory gate in the background, we continued along. Above us were the striking sight of Miaima’s fives five-story pagod and next to it Sanjjo Kaku pavilion. [Music] As we wandered along the colors of autumn were in full bloom. We made our way to Daisho in temple founded in 86 AD located at the base of Mount Nissen. As we walked up along the stairs along the banisters are spinning many prayer wheels inscribed with the sutras. Spinning the wheels as you walk up is believed to bestow the same blessings as reading the sutras themselves. After that first set of stairs, there are 500 Rakhan statues of Buddha’s disciples. [Music] The sprawling complex features a variety of halls, statutes, and gardens. From up here, there is a view of the Stoi and Hiroshima’s prefecture. Beyond within the grounds is the Henjokusu Cave. The cave is a homage to the famous Shikoku pilgrimage, a journey to 88 sacred temples on the island of Shikoku. There are 88 Buddhist icons and sand from each of the temples on the Shikoku route is buried in front of them. [Music] After finishing at the temple, we took a route along a wooded trail where deers gathered. The striking red of the Japanese maples was especially brilliant against the deep green of the forest. [Music] This route took us to the Itsukushima Shrine. The shrine’s history dates back to the late 6th century, but the current buildings were constructed in 1168 AD. The shrine is dedicated to the three goddesses of the sea and storms. Because the entire island was considered a sacred object, commoners were historically not allowed to set foot on it. Instead, they had to approach the shrine by boat through the Tory gate. There was a line of people waiting to get their selfie picture taken with the great Tory gate and a lantern in the background. It was too long of a line, so we skipped it. The entire complex, including the main halls and corridors, is built on stilts over the tidal flat. This unique design was intended to create the illusion that the shrine is floating on the sea at high tide. As we left the shrine, we saw the great Tori gate one last time with the water level considerably higher than in the morning. It is considered one of Japan’s three great views. right hand driving. Yeah, I don’t have a a door for my left arm. It was a day of first Paulo’s first time driving a righthand drive car and navigating on the left side of the road. He was understandably nervous. I go up this way. Continue for 2 km. Okay. Should I have gone that way? Maybe. Slight left onto the ramp. Oh, no. Forgot to ask about the in 400 m. Turn right. I forgot to ask about the uh tolls. [Music] Feel like a potato or something. We rented a car to drive to Mitakera Temple, founded in 809 AD, tucked away on the base of Mount Mitaki, located northwest of Hiroshima. Where did you bring me to? Known for its three waterfalls, Mitakera is situated in a forested slope with Japanese maple trees ablaze in full colors. Autumn was certainly the best time to visit the temple. The site was chosen for its spiritual significance and for its three distinct waterfalls which give the temple its name. The main path to the temple itself is a winding stone path that followed the contours of a hill. It is lined with traditional stone lanterns, Buddhist statues, and tall trees creating a serene almost mystical feeling. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] As we walked up the path, we could hear the sounds of running water. These waterfalls were visible along the trail. [Music] It was a quiet morning with only a few people on the path, which gave the moment a really peaceful vibe under the autumn sun and the radiant fall color foliage. [Music] The main path eventually gave way to a network of smaller trails and stone stairs that led to the various temple buildings and monuments. [Music] A steep path led to the Mount Mitakei trail head where you could see a sweeping vista of Hiroshima, though it was partially blocked by trees. [Music] After descending from the trail head, we made our way to the main hall. A strange wooden statue stands at the entrance of the main hall. A frightful character is holding a child above its head in a throwing gesture while standing on a figure. Despite its demon-like appearance, it represents a deity that protects from evil spirits. [Music] The two-story Tahoto Pagod was framed beautifully by the sun rays and the full foliage under a blue sky. In 1951, this pagod originally from a shrine in Wakayyama Prefecture was dismantled and reassembled at Mitaki Dera. This pagod was rededicated as a memorial to the victims of the atomic bombing. To this day, the water from the three waterfalls at Mitakera is used in the annual Hiroshima peace memorial ceremony where it is offered to the spirits of the victims. [Music] After the Mitaki Dera Temple tour, we set the GPS for the city of Iwauni, hoping the driving directions would be easy to follow. It is approximately 42 kilometers southwest of Hiroshima and takes about 1 hour by car. It is most famous for its stunning Kintai Bridge, a magnificent fivearch wooden structure that spans the Nishiki River. [Music] The wooden boats you see on the Nishiki River are part of a traditional local experience, offering scenic cruises and a view of the Kentai Bridge from the river. They are particularly popular during the cherry blossom season when the cherry trees along the river banks would be in full bloom. [Music] The Kintai Bridge has a remarkable history of resilience against natural forces. First constructed in 1673 after many previous bridges were destroyed by floods, its unique five arch wooden design proved effective for centuries. It famously stood for an incredible 276 years through countless floods thanks to a system of periodic rebuilding. The bridge was finally destroyed by a typhoon in 1950 after decades of neglect, but the local town’s people quickly rebuilt it to its exact original design, especially how the bridge rests on a series of stone peers. The reconstruction was completed in 1953 and thus preserving the magnificent bridge we see today. [Music] We walked across the bridge to reach the other side. [Music] We strolled around the area. We were also looking for a restaurant, but we didn’t find that many, and the ones that were there were already full or closed. We ended up here, a food stall on the river’s dry bed, and ordered a quick snack here. We paid a fee to walk on the bridge for a roundtrip crossing. The fee is charged for maintenance of the historic wooden structure. We returned to the other side. It was more touristy with souvenir shops and ice cream parlors. We bought ice cream and sat in Kiko Park and looking up to Iwauni Castle located on Mount Shiroyama. After a refreshing break, we headed to the car and make our way back to Hiroshima forest. The bamboo forest. Look how thick it is. You can’t see anything through it, right? It’s dark. Dark. 1150. This was our second interaction with a toll booth. The first time didn’t go as well, but here it went relatively smooth. I think we’re getting the hang of driving in Japan. Receipts. No receipts. I guess press that button. Okay. Okay. Successful this time. No, nobody behind me. [Music] [Music] [Music] It felt symbolic that on the day we toured the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park, the rain came down. Its somber tone fitting the mood of the day. A single atomic bomb indiscriminately killed tens of thousands of people, profoundly disrupting and altering the lives of the survivors. through belongings left by the victims, a bomb artifacts, testimonies of A-bomb survivors, and related materials. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum conveys to the world the horrors and the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons and spread the message of no more Hiroshimos. [Music] The museum was packed with visitors, but given the theme of the exhibits, people were generally quiet and respectful. During our visit, it seemed that the majority of visitors were students from school groups visiting the museum as a fundamental part of peace education, making it a living classroom for young people. [Music] For firsttime visitors to Japan, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is an incredible, important, and deeply moving stop, powerfully showing how it is always civilians who bear the brunt of war. It helps you grasp a tragic yet vital part of history and reminds you why working for peace is so essential in today’s world. After the museum, we walked over to the Hiroshima victims memorial cenotab designed in 1952 inscribed with the names of victims of the 1945 atomic bomb. If you stand at the monument, you can see the flame of peace and the Abomb dome perfectly framed through its arch. [Music] That day was a pretty intense and serious experience walking through the museum and the park. It really made us think about the atomic bombing and how incredibly tough the people were who survived it. The stories inside the museum just hit us, showing the massive cost of human lives lost and the resiliency of survivors. [Music] On our final night, we tried the famous dish from Hiroshima, the Hiroshima style, okonomiyaki. There is a popular building in downtown Hiroshima located in the Shinteni area called Okonom Mimi Mura packed with small individual booths where chefs cook the famous layered pancakes right in front of us on a large iron griddle. [Music] The building is considered the heart of Hiroshima’s Okonomo Miyaki scene. It is a savory pancake often referred to as a Japanese pizza or Japanese crepe. Unlike other versions where ingredients are mixed, Hiroshima style is layered. typically includes batter, cabbage, pork and noodles, all topped with a fried egg, and a generous amount of sauce. Following the atomic bombing, a thin pancake topped with green onions and bonito flakes or shrimp that had gained popularity in Hiroshima prior to the war became a cheap way for the surviving residents to have food to eat. The Shinteni area became a place where many of these shops began going beyond the original ingredients to what is now currently being offered. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. [Music] [Music] [Music] Sweet. [Music] you. Trying local cuisine is a big part of traveling. Sometimes a dish will surprise you in the best way, while other times it might be the opposite. You never know until you try it. Thank you for watching. I hope you’re enjoying our Japan travel stories. Stay tuned for more. Please subscribe so you’ll know when the next video of our Japan trip is released.

Episode 4: Autumn in Japan: Four Days in Hiroshima + Miyajima, Mitaki-dera and Iwakuni — We took Japan’s fastest, speediest bullet train, the Nozomi, to spend 4 days in Hiroshima.
#travel #4k #Japan #travelvlog #autumn #hiroshima #miyajima #iwakuni #mitakidera

Autumn in Japan Series:
Episode 1: My Hokuriku Arch Pass Experience – https://youtu.be/pW98Cxlue5Y
Episode 2: Four Days in Kyoto – https://youtu.be/Fob9RNjkoc4
Episode 3: Autumn in Japan: Osaka, Nara, Himeji and Mount Shosha Engyo-ji Temple Complex – https://youtu.be/c779z-Mf8uc
Episode 4: Four Days in Hiroshima + Miyajima, Mitaki-dera and Iwakuni – https://youtu.be/z_d-N7p1K8U

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:17 Day 1 Now, Onto Hiroshima
04:48 Day 2 Miyajima Island
08:21 Daisho-in Temple and the Henjokutsu Cave
10:16 Itsukushima Shrine and the Great Torii Gate
11:47 Day 3 Mitaki-dera Temple and Iwakuni
17:20 Driving to Iwakuni
18:05 Kintai Bridge Over the Nishiki River
22:46 Day 4 Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Park
25:47 Okonomimura in the Shintenchi Area for Okonomiyaki

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