To Hiroshima - The Last Stop

November 17, 2025 - off to my last stop of Hiroshima. From the itinerary: check out from Ryokan Kurashiki and take the train to Hiroshima. Have a private half day tour of Hiroshima, beginning with a local Okonomiyaki lunch, followed by a tour of the Hiroshima Peach Memorial Park. Tavel outside Hirosima to Sikitei ryokan on the slopes of Miyahama Onsen. This hotel is known for its Japanese Garden, hot springs, and dining.

Today’s train journey followed yesterday, so nothing to report of interest, other than the train was packed - even in the green car. We passed a catholic church along the way and I felt like I was in Spain again.

I picked up some local doughnuts which were great.

At Hiroshima I met Hiro, my guide.  She is one year older than I and lives with her 92 year old mother.  She was born in Hiroshima and moved away to Tokyo and a 20+ year career as a flight attendant with KLM, returning to Hiroshima after retirement.

This afternoon’s tour started with lunch and trying the local favorite called okonomiyaki.  This is a layered sort of pancake. I had mine with cheese on top, but I have to say it wasn’t my favorite.  This food was introduced after the war when the Americans introduced wheat into the local diet. The pancakes include layers of noodles, vegetables, pork, sauce, and toppings.

The afternoon was a tour of the Peace Monuments and Peace Park.  It was a sad place and I’ll leave it at that.  Thankfully the weather was beautiful and I did really enjoy the Peace Bell. 

The epicenter was also a place to give pause to think.  I also got a shot of the iconic ruin

I was rather disappointed not to see the castle.  It was destroyed during the bombing, but I would have liked to see the outside and didn’t think to ask.

Afterwards it was another 30 minute train ride to my ryokan which is near Miyajama Island.  Amazingly here the old houses still exist and it is a peaceful area next to the inland sea.  Oyster beds are visible from my window.

I had a sake tasting in the lounge combined with a small beer.  I was surprised this wasn’t a more lethal combination.

Dinner was a multi-course meal of local specialties in my room. My favorite meal is still the one I had in Kyoto, but this was quite good.  

The bed was made up after dinner and it looked lovely and soft.  I felt like princess and the pea.

But before bed I had to see the garden and public onsen which are well known for being quite nice. They were and the koi were humongous.