Tokyo: Bullet Train to Hiroshima

15:06.01 - Tuesday 7th October 2008   (Link to This Entry)

After ten days of hiking around various areas of Tokyo we decided to give our feet a bit of a change of pace and go somewhere that wouldn't require as much walking. A decision was made to hop on the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) and visit somewhere, but where to go? Deciding to wing it a little, we noted that the next train was to Hiroshma, and so it was that we found ourselves on the Nozomi Shinkansen to the visit the first city ever to be hit by an atomic bomb.

Buying the tickets was fairly straightforward even for someone of my limited Japanese. The words 'Nozomi', 'Hiroshima' and two politely raised fingers sent the desk clerk into a frenzy of activity that resulted in two sets of return tickets (total cost, a frightening £175 each) for unreserved seating cars on the 700-series train.

The trip there is much like flying by aeroplane, but with bigger windows and seats and more leg room and no seat belts. The train whizzes along rather quietly (we were in the first car, close to the front) on a smooth, tilting track. Staff are exceptionally polite, bowing to the passengers when they enter or leave a car. Prices for food and drink are roughly double vending machine or kiosk prices.



Our trip took four hours including stops. Hiroshima station helpfully has large, obvious instructions to help you find your way to the A-Bomb Dome which is the main focus of the memorial. Emerge from the station, take Street Car 2 or 6 as far as Genbaku Dome-mae (approx 15 mins), and pay ¥150 when you get off. To get back to the station, simply take the same Street Car back again.

There are several art installations and statues in the area to the South of the A-Bomb Dome which make up the memorial area, and the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall is the main focus of the park. In there, you'll find the awe-inspiring Hall of Remembrance comprising a 360-degree mosaic made from 140,000 tiles representing the estimated number of victims, a central time sculpture depicting 8:15 - the time of the explosion - and a severely hushed atmosphere. Flash photography is forbidden but you can take photos. Everything about the park was tranquil and conducive to reflection on the events of 1945, from the eternal flame near to the dome, to the water feature clock at the entrance to the Hall of Remembrance in memory of those who died begging for water. The hall itself contains a searchable database of the names of the known dead, as well as transcriptions of letters and memories of survivors of the events.

After a couple of hours, during which we took some great photos, we left to catch the Street Car back to the station and caught the Bullet Train back to Tokyo. We both agreed that the visit to Hiroshima had been a once-in-a-lifetime thing and were very pleased that we'd decided to visit.