Day 6 – Hiroshima; A day to reflect

23 September

Today we needed to do a site switch; traveling to the peace museum first and then onto the island of Miyajima. Tomorrow we will explore the island a little more before departing for a long trip out to the sister school.

 Bundling onto the Shinkansen from Kyoto, then off onto a busy tram saw our students arrive at the Atomic dome. Students were lead by Daniel B in a thoughtful and heartfelt prayer for all those lost and the suffering of all people during wars. At the Eternal Flame, our youngest student member Ami L B and oldest student Emily Rutter placed flowers in remembrance of the lives lost on August 6 1945.  

Our students impressed all the leaders by the level of respect and time they took to view and understand what had happen on the fateful day.
Though often emotional and even upsetting visiting the Peace Museum it is a valuable chance to reflect on the value of human life as the Hiroshima Peace Museum asks us to consider the terrible costs of war for ourselves, as well as for innocent children.

We all had time to reflect about the morning as we travelled over to Miyajima by ferry for the evening stay at our first Ryokan.

Walking along the foreshore to view the Grand Floating Torii gate and the Itsukushima shrine gave us all a sense of calm. Enjoying ice cream as we walked helped as well.

Bring chased by the deer not so much…

We were treated to an amazing multi course dinner and the students did so well trying so many different foods; tofu jelly, pickled fish, mountain yam dumplings, sesame pudding!

Some students tried the osen bath house….and fully enjoyed it and then encouraged all the others to go which they did! 

Tonight is their first night on tatami and sleeping on futons! Hoping for a restful night.