More Monkey Business?
On returning from Tokyo I still had a couple of free days before I needed to be back at work and the JR seishun kippu (cheap tickets) were available so I headed for Hiroshima and Miajima. The trip there took longer than I had expected, mostly because the change over stations were different to what I had found on the net so as soon as I arrived I headed for the A-Bomb Dome and Peace Park.
The A-Bomb Dome really needs no introduction but I have to say I found it a little less imposing than I had expected. I think whenever it is photographed the perspective used gives it a stronger impact than what it has in real life. Of course when the bomb was first detonated it was one of the only buildings left standing in the city so naturally it would have really stuck out. Now it is surrounded by much larger buildings so appears a little insignificant and really just like any other derelict building. Knowing the history makes all the difference in how you perceive it.
I had to hurry a little through the park as it was getting late and I wanted to visit the peace museum but I did stop to look at the children's monument, with all its paper cranes, and the eternal flame.
The museum was really fascinating as well as a bit disturbing. In particular the displays of the victims relics and the survivor accounts.
The next day was a lot more cheerful as I visited Miajima, the gate below has to be one of the most photographed sites in all of Japan.
The Island has a whole lot of wild deer around the ferry landing, somewhat less pushy than the ones I saw in Nara. The island has a cable car to the top of its main mountain, Misen. At the top there are supposed to be monkeys but they were all hiding that day. The walk down was very peaceful and picturesque and there were lots of little shrines and temples scattered around the place.
The A-Bomb Dome really needs no introduction but I have to say I found it a little less imposing than I had expected. I think whenever it is photographed the perspective used gives it a stronger impact than what it has in real life. Of course when the bomb was first detonated it was one of the only buildings left standing in the city so naturally it would have really stuck out. Now it is surrounded by much larger buildings so appears a little insignificant and really just like any other derelict building. Knowing the history makes all the difference in how you perceive it.
I had to hurry a little through the park as it was getting late and I wanted to visit the peace museum but I did stop to look at the children's monument, with all its paper cranes, and the eternal flame.
The museum was really fascinating as well as a bit disturbing. In particular the displays of the victims relics and the survivor accounts.
The next day was a lot more cheerful as I visited Miajima, the gate below has to be one of the most photographed sites in all of Japan.
The Island has a whole lot of wild deer around the ferry landing, somewhat less pushy than the ones I saw in Nara. The island has a cable car to the top of its main mountain, Misen. At the top there are supposed to be monkeys but they were all hiding that day. The walk down was very peaceful and picturesque and there were lots of little shrines and temples scattered around the place.
posted by nokillingkenny at 11:27 pm
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