BLOSSOMING CHERRIES AND TRAUMATIC HIROSHIMA!

[DAY 6 and 7]

April 2026

Sixth day of our Japan tour was very eventful with visits to Daigoji and Kinkoji temples, the much acclaimed tea ceremony and Arashiyama bamboo garden.

Daigoji temple situated in Kyoto is a Buddhist temple with a statue of Yakushi Nyorai. Daigo depicts ghee, which is the purest form of milk and hence represents very pure thoughts. It is present on mount Daigo, preserving cultural national precious articles. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. It has a Japanese design of wood architecture and gardens.

Kinkoji golden temple is a beautiful Zen budhhist temple in Kyoto. It attracts worldwide tourists. It is a world heritage site. Its top two floors coated in thin gold film. It was destroyed but rebuilt in 1955. Gold is supposed to keep away pollution and negative thoughts. It is situated on the banks of a pond and sunlight reflects on it, creating a beautiful impression.

Traditional Japanese outfits!

We attended the Traditional Tea Ceremony at Kyoto, which was held on wooden floors. The hosts gave us typical sweets along with bowls of Matcha powdered green tea powder, stirrers and bowls and we were instructed how to make the tea and the manner of drinking it! It is a spiritual experience which also marks their style, grace and hospitality. It was one distinctively wonderful experience.

Arashiyama Bamboo garden is a trvellers must see sight with very tall bamboo trees and thick bamboo forest. It has many types of rides, carrying people throughout the garden. The grove is a visual delight with many sites for photography.

The last day of our tour dawned. We were excited about seeing and riding the famous bullet train of Japan, which was scheduled on the seventh day of our Japan tour. We had to take one to go from Osaka to Hiroshima, infamous for the nuclear bomb blast.

Japan is world famous for its most advanced railway systems. Trains are safe, punctual with almost zero accident rate. We travelled by the Shinkansen high speed train with a speed of 300 km / hr. They are very comfortable, smooth and classic. They have cushioned comfortable seats, with comfortable headrests and lot of leg space. Wi-Fi connection, reading lights, spic and span washrooms are quality benchmarks.

Bullet train station

We enjoyed the ride and reached Seto bay. It is a creek which has ferries taking travellers to Miyajima island.

Miyajima or Itsukushima island is a small, sacred island in Hiroshima Bay known for "floating" vermilion torii gate, which appears to float on sea waters during high tide. It is a beautiful and scenic spot, with a spread of natural beauty, ancient temples and freely roaming deer.

Itchkushima Shrine is a UNESCO World Heritage site having wooden infrastructure connected by piers, which seem to be floating in sea waters. The famous floating Torii gate is built in sea waters which can be accessed on foot, during low tide. in the sea that can be reached on foot during low tide.

A short but enjoyable ferry ride took us to our last spot from Miyajima Port to Hiroshima.

We visited the A - building where the bomb was dropped from the top, which allowed a part of it to remain intact. A T shaped bridge was targeted, which we saw later on. Statues in memories of students died on that day stands at a distance. A memorial with names of victims etched on rock slabs is erected in the park. A bell, in memory, is erected on a tower which has special significance.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum is located in Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima. It documents the atomic bombing of Hiroshima during World War II. Established in August 1955, it is one of the most visited sites by the travellers. It exhibits belongings of the blast victims, photos and many more things which depict the horror of the blast.

One can imagine how the beautiful day of 6th August 1945 which started normally must have transformed instantly at 8.15 am, after the LITTLE BOY descended!

Hiroshima before the blast and after the bombing, plight of survivors and their future generations, current status of the nuclear age indicate the pain and sorrow experienced by the natives on that day. After the A-bomb calamity, government aims at banning all nuclear weapons and bringing a peaceful international community in existence!

The East Wing is dedicated to the history of Hiroshima City before the bomb, the manner of dropping the bomb, the devastated life after bombing, nuclear age and striving towards efforts for international peace. A model shows the devastated city. Clothing, personal belongings, bags, watches, hair of the victims, damage done to bridges, iron, wood, stones, glass, metals, flesh and effects on human health has also been shown. It definitely sets one into depression. Video interviewing survivors of the blast, their physical and mental status is played in a hall which helps one in realizing the deep impact then and even now!

On the next day, we took a flight back from Kansai airport, which is the only airport in the world, built on reclaimed island in Japanese sea waters.

There are some points which I haven't mentioned in my blog as yet!

Japan is a fusion of tradition and modernity!

All highways in Japan are made sound proof, in the sense, they have put up sound barriers on all highways so that the residents around, do not get exposed to high decibel level sound of the vehicles passing by!

Keeping environment concern in mind, senseless horns are not allowed!

There are escalators every where, making it convenient for citizens of all age groups!

Very clean washrooms are available everywhere at zero cost!

There are no dust bins in the cities, one is supposed to carry trash and put it in the trash can at home or hotel, which is later carried off.

Shopping at mega Don Quijote mall was a different experience!

Though roads and public places are crowded, queues are maintained.

Silence is maintained, wherever required!

Tourists are respected. Bullet train entry is a disciplined entry where no crowding is required. Your compartment numbers, seat numbers, entry points are pre-decided so as to execute everything smoothly.

No one touches the blooming flowers on the roads or in the gardens.

All malls are designed in such a way as to help disciplined entry and exit.

As per my observation, I haven't seen any members of young generation loitering around, occupying benches on the roads, whiling away time in public places and so on!

Rarely did I see any beggars!

There may be many more points which I may have missed but overall Japan has created a lasting impression on my mind!

Once again I realized that the world is a book and if we do not travel, we read only one page, but if we travel, we become richer and wiser every day!

We bid a farewell to Japan but the memories linger on! I will not say goodbye, instead I would prefer to meet again! If it be thus, a short SAYONARA!