Atomic Bomb Dome (原爆ドーム)
After a tiresome 1 hour ride, we stopped by Gembaku Dome Station (原爆ドーム駅) or A-Bomb Dome Station. For a typical Japanese, they would say that the Gembaku Dome was the evidence of man’s destruction. But for me, it was a significant symbol of Japan’s lust for power. We took enormous photos. While carefully observing the site, it felt like Japan deserved this. As a Filipino, where my grandmother used to talk about her experiences as a cigarette vendor during the occupation of Japan, she said that it was a very hard time for them. So it was like Japan finally met its match with this Genbaku Dome. Well, enough of reminiscing. The A-Bomb Dome area had this big stone which engraved a kanji (慰霊) irei, which means, “comfort the spirit.”
Eerie isn’t it? Imagine how many souls in Hiroshima are still roaming around up to this day. I wish to hear ghost sightings in Hiroshima but up to now, I haven’t heard any of it. The A-Bomb Dome site was the former Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Hall. 
The A-Bomb was detonated 600 meters above it and 200,000 people within the 2 kilometer radius died and the whole radius turned to ashes. The river beside and the small ferries that ply routes within the area are picturesque. Hiroshima was beautifully re-designed and there are parks everywhere. People keep on having drinking spree and hanami (花見) or cherry blossom parties under sakura trees. The A-Bomb Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sidetrips
We dropped by the old Hiroshima Baseball Stadium as the new Hiroshima Baseball Arena was recently opened near the Sanyo Mainline. It was my 2nd time to see a huge stadium after the Seibu Lion’s Dome in Tokorozawa. The Japanese are really serious about baseball. Numerous parks can be found within the area. Children’s Peace, and Peace Memorial Monuments.
Hiroshima Castle (広島城)
The castle was around 20 minutes walk from the A-Bomb Dome. The Hiroshima Castle is the 2nd castle visited in Japan next to Gyoda City Castle in Saitama Prefecture. The castle is surrounded by heavily fortified walls around a water canal which sits at the center of the city. Along the way, you can see several survivors to the wrath of the A-Bomb. I saw two of them. A eucalyptus tree and willow tree. Amazingly, how could these trees have survived?
And does that mean that they are still a bit radioactive? Perhaps not. Along the way, a huge sakura with pink flowers are in bloom already. We took several pictures, again. Ascending to the nth floor of the castle costed us 400 yen. I only viewed one video about the history of the castle. As with the history of other castles in Japan, it was a stronghold for most rulers to keep their protected lands away from nearby invaders. 
The history and the people behind this castle were also foretold in the video presentation. One name caught my attention; it was again the famous Hideyoshi, an Edo Period Samurai. Arriving at the summit, the scene was breathtaking. There were several tall buildings in Hiroshima but since the castle was a bit far away from tall structures, you could visibly see the entire land and mountain stretch. Parks were already filled with blooming sakura. One thing caught my attention was the pollution in the horizon. Since Hiroshima is not really like Tokyo that is filled with so many trains and subways, visibility was a bit clouded with smoke.
Lost in Hiroshima
Upon retreating for home, we forgot that Hiroshima is made up of 6 major rivers. What I only remember was that to follow the river from the station. We were a bit confused only to find out we are following the wrong river on the wrong side of the map. The map was not even drawn to scale so we even got lost further. As we kept on walking we passed by the night district. Ooopppss! Filipino Bars! Feels like Tokyo especially in Roppongi again. What I really hate from these bar owners is their display of the Philippine Flag in front of the bar. I hope this practice ends. The names of APRITADA (should be F instead of P) and Mestiza are some of the clubs we took note of.
Finally, we reached home, tired, and exhausted. We drank the beer that we bought and planned for our trip to Himeji. The following early morning, we rode the first trip of JR from Hiroshima to Maibara and Maibara to Himeji. It was a very tiring 5 hour journey. Slept the entire time and did not care at all of if I snored loudly. All I cared was for me to gain much energy since our trip to Himeji will be endless walking again.
After a tiresome 1 hour ride, we stopped by Gembaku Dome Station (原爆ドーム駅) or A-Bomb Dome Station. For a typical Japanese, they would say that the Gembaku Dome was the evidence of man’s destruction. But for me, it was a significant symbol of Japan’s lust for power. We took enormous photos. While carefully observing the site, it felt like Japan deserved this. As a Filipino, where my grandmother used to talk about her experiences as a cigarette vendor during the occupation of Japan, she said that it was a very hard time for them. So it was like Japan finally met its match with this Genbaku Dome. Well, enough of reminiscing. The A-Bomb Dome area had this big stone which engraved a kanji (慰霊) irei, which means, “comfort the spirit.”
Eerie isn’t it? Imagine how many souls in Hiroshima are still roaming around up to this day. I wish to hear ghost sightings in Hiroshima but up to now, I haven’t heard any of it. The A-Bomb Dome site was the former Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Hall. 
The A-Bomb was detonated 600 meters above it and 200,000 people within the 2 kilometer radius died and the whole radius turned to ashes. The river beside and the small ferries that ply routes within the area are picturesque. Hiroshima was beautifully re-designed and there are parks everywhere. People keep on having drinking spree and hanami (花見) or cherry blossom parties under sakura trees. The A-Bomb Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Sidetrips
We dropped by the old Hiroshima Baseball Stadium as the new Hiroshima Baseball Arena was recently opened near the Sanyo Mainline. It was my 2nd time to see a huge stadium after the Seibu Lion’s Dome in Tokorozawa. The Japanese are really serious about baseball. Numerous parks can be found within the area. Children’s Peace, and Peace Memorial Monuments.
Hiroshima Castle (広島城)
The castle was around 20 minutes walk from the A-Bomb Dome. The Hiroshima Castle is the 2nd castle visited in Japan next to Gyoda City Castle in Saitama Prefecture. The castle is surrounded by heavily fortified walls around a water canal which sits at the center of the city. Along the way, you can see several survivors to the wrath of the A-Bomb. I saw two of them. A eucalyptus tree and willow tree. Amazingly, how could these trees have survived?
And does that mean that they are still a bit radioactive? Perhaps not. Along the way, a huge sakura with pink flowers are in bloom already. We took several pictures, again. Ascending to the nth floor of the castle costed us 400 yen. I only viewed one video about the history of the castle. As with the history of other castles in Japan, it was a stronghold for most rulers to keep their protected lands away from nearby invaders. 
The history and the people behind this castle were also foretold in the video presentation. One name caught my attention; it was again the famous Hideyoshi, an Edo Period Samurai. Arriving at the summit, the scene was breathtaking. There were several tall buildings in Hiroshima but since the castle was a bit far away from tall structures, you could visibly see the entire land and mountain stretch. Parks were already filled with blooming sakura. One thing caught my attention was the pollution in the horizon. Since Hiroshima is not really like Tokyo that is filled with so many trains and subways, visibility was a bit clouded with smoke.
Lost in Hiroshima
Upon retreating for home, we forgot that Hiroshima is made up of 6 major rivers. What I only remember was that to follow the river from the station. We were a bit confused only to find out we are following the wrong river on the wrong side of the map. The map was not even drawn to scale so we even got lost further. As we kept on walking we passed by the night district. Ooopppss! Filipino Bars! Feels like Tokyo especially in Roppongi again. What I really hate from these bar owners is their display of the Philippine Flag in front of the bar. I hope this practice ends. The names of APRITADA (should be F instead of P) and Mestiza are some of the clubs we took note of.
Finally, we reached home, tired, and exhausted. We drank the beer that we bought and planned for our trip to Himeji. The following early morning, we rode the first trip of JR from Hiroshima to Maibara and Maibara to Himeji. It was a very tiring 5 hour journey. Slept the entire time and did not care at all of if I snored loudly. All I cared was for me to gain much energy since our trip to Himeji will be endless walking again.
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