Sunday 7th April 2019

Got up early. Time to go to my next destination – Hiroshima. Wish I could have stayed in Kyoto for a tiny bit longer, but I think that might have to be another time in the future.

When I got to Kyoto Station, I couldn’t book a seat to Hiroshima – I think it was because it was a Sunday, and there were too many people coming and going. So I had to wait a long time to go from Kyoto to Shin Osaka… I don’t understand how Japanese people read their train times, so I relied on Google Maps a lot! Spotted a Ninja train in the meantime…

When I got to Shin-Osaka, I was going to get the next Sakura train to Hiroshima – but wasn’t sure if this Hello Kitty Shinkansen was going there – I decided not to get it just in case it didn’t go to Hiroshima. Think I was quite lucky to see it up close and personal… 😁

Because I couldn’t reserve a seat, and I also missed breakfast, I decided to buy my brunch sandwich. Tonkatsu sandwich. Decided to eat it at the station there and then so that I didn’t have to eat it on the train. People were kind of staring… But I think they realised what I was doing. Hahahaha.

Got on the next available Sakura train with my JR Pass in the non-reserved carriage. Quickly found a seat. Luckily it was empty because in all the next stops it was so busy, and a lot of people had to stand.

Arrived in Hiroshima… and I tried to follow Google Maps to the hotel… But it showed me a very odd way. Maybe because I was at the wrong end of the station… I followed the odd route anyway.

Google Maps showed me a very long windy way to get to the hotel… But it was worth the scenic river view… And I loved how the locals were having their spring get-togethers, singing, and having BBQ’s on this day. Hiroshima already felt like a more relaxed town compared to Kyoto and Tokyo. I think if I ever move to Japan, I would live in Hiroshima. Peaceful town!

 

After check in I went back out to find food… The back streets were really quiet, I guess the people in Hiroshima like to be quiet people during the day. Or maybe Sunday is just a day to rest for most.

 

Using Google again (it became my best friend on this entire trip) I found this ramen bar which is about a 20 minute walk from the hotel called Ramen Sen no Kaze ラメん千の風 literally meaning “ramen thousand winds”.

It’s a small decent ramen bar. There were already a few customers who had finished and were leaving… so I was practically by myself. A lot of Japanese people and tourists were queuing up for bubble tea and other foods around the area… 

Kirin beer with a small glass (I guess the owner wants people to take their time drinking) with a bowl of salad.

Added some gyoza onto my order…

Then my bowl of ramen came out with some extra chashu… Wow!! The chashu were extra thick. The soup was really creamy and a little spicy at the same time. I couldn’t leave the place without drinking the whole bowl of soup… It’s a must!

Think I spent around ¥1600 (~£11.03). Mega cheap!!

Address: 4-18 Tatemachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, 730-0032, Japan

After the ramen I went for a long walk around Hiroshima. Got to see the Atomic Bomb Building. Wow. Couldn’t believe I got to see this!

 

More walking… I was actually really tired, but I only had two days to explore the city.

 

Then I had a look at surroundings of Hiroshima Castle.

 

I looked at the castle and contemplated whether to walk up 5 floors in Hiroshima Castle. My feet were tired. After more than a week in Japan, I was already weakened with the amount of hills and long distance walking. If I knew the areas a bit more, I think I would be able to take public transport more easily. 

So I bought a ticket and went in the castle… 🙃 All the way to the top!

Then all the way back down.

I walked all the way back to the hotel… it was a long walk!!

Still full from the ramen… I went to the nearest convenience store. Bought sandwiches and a pudding for dinner. The strawberries and cream didn’t have many strawberries in the sandwich…

 

End of Day 9.