【A Journey Through Hiroshima, Kure, and Miyajima】A Trip to Learn About Japan's "Peace, Industry, and Faith" All at Once【Liberal Arts for Hiroshima Travel】
In the "Overview Map of Liberal Arts," this article covers content spanningChapter 1: Learning History and Chapter 2: Learning Philosophy and Culture.
When you visit Hiroshima, you can encounter a wide range of liberal arts in a single region, from the history of the atomic bomb and war, to the modern industry that built the battleship Yamato, the faith of the World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine, and even Japan's representative food culture.
This time, I traveled from Tokyo to Hiroshima, Kure, and Miyajima over two days. Rather than just sightseeing, I would like to look back on it from the perspective of a "journey to understand the country of Japan."
From Tokyo to Hiroshima—A journey of approximately 900 km
I used the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen "Nozomi" for this trip.
Since it was during the Obon holiday period, all seats were reserved, but because I was able to stand in the deck area, I intentionally spent about 5 hours traveling as if I were in a non-reserved seat.
I thought it was an experience I could only have while I was young, so I took on the challenge, but surprisingly, the time flew by while I was reading.
The Shinkansen heads to Hiroshima via Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Okayama.
While looking at the scenery around Okayama on the way, I realized once again that "Japan is truly a long country from east to west."
The first thing you should taste is Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki
When it comes to Hiroshima, it has to be Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki.
While Osaka-style okonomiyaki is a "mixed grill" where ingredients are mixed together and cooked, Hiroshima-style is characterized by "layered cooking," where ingredients are stacked in layers.
Cabbage, noodles, pork, and eggs are layered, making even a single serving quite filling.
This time, I also visited the popular restaurant "Nagataya."
Because it is near the Atomic Bomb Dome, many tourists were lined up, but it was a dish worth the wait.
Hiroshima's food culture is deeply connected not only to tourism but also to the history of the region.
The fact that "war was not history, but reality" felt at the Atomic Bomb Dome
What left the biggest impression on me this time was the Atomic Bomb Dome.
I had seen it many times in photos and videos, but standing in front of it in person is overwhelming.
The Atomic Bomb Dome is located extremely close to the hypocenter, about 160 meters away (horizontal distance), and the city was destroyed in an instant by the atomic bomb at 8:15 AM on August 6, 1945.
It is believed that many people inside the building died instantly.
Although it is now preserved as a World Heritage site, that building is not a "relic of the past," but rather evidence itself that nuclear weapons were actually used.
Next, I walked through the Peace Memorial Park and also visited the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims as well.
Here, rather than flashy exhibits, a quiet space dedicated to "mourning each individual who passed away" spreads out.
On the other hand, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was extremely crowded due to the summer vacation period, so I made a reservation and entered the following day.
There were also many visitors from overseas, and I realized that people from all over the world, not just Japan, are visiting Hiroshima.
Learning the origins of "Monozukuri (Japanese craftsmanship)" in Kure
Another purpose of my Hiroshima trip was Kure.
Kure is known as a naval city.
And it is known as a shipbuilding city that built the battleship Yamato.
On the way, there was a small mishap where I took the wrong train, passed Saijo, and ended up going as far as Nishitakaya.
The scenery in front of the local station featured a quintessential Japanese landscape, similar to the area around Yoshinogari in Saga Prefecture that I had visited before.
At night, I went to the Yamato Museum, which was open until 9:00 PM for summer hours.
When you enter the building, the first thing that catches your eye is a 1/10 scale model of the battleship Yamato, which spans approximately 26 meters in length.
I couldn't help but stop in my tracks at its sheer impact.
The exhibits introduce topics such as:
the construction history of the battleships Yamato and Musashi
the history of the Kure Naval Arsenal
shipbuilding technology of the time
huge propellers and engine parts
mechanical engineering design philosophy
making it a very interesting experience not only for history buffs but also for those studying engineering.
Outside the building, a full-scale model of the Yamato's 46cm main gun is also on display.
The barrel is approximately 21 meters long.
The maximum range is approximately 42 km.
Looking at the numbers alone, it doesn't feel real, but seeing the full-scale model allows you to physically grasp its enormity.
At night, I visited the Yamato Museum, which was open until 9:00 PM for summer hours.
When you enter the building, the first thing that catches your eye is a 1/10 scale model of the battleship Yamato, which spans approximately 26 meters in length.
I couldn't help but stop in my tracks at its sheer impact.
The exhibits introduce topics such as:
the construction history of the battleships Yamato and Musashi
the history of the Kure Naval Arsenal
shipbuilding technology of the time
Huge propellers and engine parts
Mechanical engineering design philosophies
and other items were introduced, making it very interesting content not only for history buffs but also for those studying engineering.
Outside the museum, a full-scale model of the Yamato's 46cm main gun is also on display.
The barrel is approximately 21 meters long.
The maximum range is approximately 42 km.
Looking at the numbers alone, it doesn't feel real, but seeing the full-scale model allows you to physically grasp its sheer size.
Rather than glorifying war itself, I felt it was worth learning about as modern industrial history, showing that "Japan at the time possessed such advanced shipbuilding and mechanical technology."
The "Japanese Faith" I felt in Miyajima
I stayed at a hostel near Miyajima.
There were many backpackers from overseas, and it was a very simple accommodation in a mixed-gender dormitory style.
It had a sense of travel that is different from a hotel, and this style of accommodation was also a good experience.
Late at night, it was difficult to catch a taxi, so I used a ride-hailing app.
It was a moment where I once again realized the convenience of ride-hailing apps in regional cities.
The next morning, I took a ferry to Miyajima.
The Great Torii gate, which appears to float on the sea, is truly more beautiful than any photograph.
At Itsukushima Shrine,
the main hall
the worship hall
The corridors
and many other structures are designated as National Treasures.
Furthermore, I visited the Miyajima History and Folklore Museum.
Here, I learned that
Taira no Kiyomori had a deep faith in Itsukushima Shrine and developed the magnificent shrine buildings that exist today, and that Miyajima has long held a culture of syncretism between Shinto and Buddhism, deeply connected to temple culture, including the Shingon sect.
Walking through the shrine after learning its history makes the scenery look completely different.
Miyajima is a famous production area for "oysters" and "conger eel"
As you walk around Miyajima, you see shops selling oysters and conger eel everywhere.
This is not just a local specialty, but a food culture created by the natural environment of the Seto Inland Sea.
Oysters, because the waves of the Seto Inland Sea are calm and abundant nutrients flow in from the rivers, are extremely well-suited for aquaculture. Hiroshima Prefecture is one of the leading oyster production areas in the country, and many tourists enjoy grilled oysters and fried oysters not only in winter but throughout the year.
On the other hand, conger eel is known for being raised in the fast currents around Miyajima, resulting in high-quality, firm, and fatty fish. It has long been loved as a Miyajima specialty, and "anago-meshi" (conger eel rice) in particular is one of Hiroshima's representative local dishes.
By tasting oysters and conger eel after visiting Itsukushima Shrine, you can learn not only about history but also about the local nature and food culture together.
Re-learning the reality of the atomic bomb at the Peace Memorial Museum
The next day, I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum that I had reserved.
As it was during the summer vacation period, there were many tourists from overseas, and I realized that Hiroshima has become a "place to learn about peace" for people from all over the world.
Inside the museum, many photographs of Hiroshima immediately after the bombing, scorched belongings, and testimonies from survivors are on display.
Even though I thought I knew about it from videos and photos, seeing the actual exhibits in front of me, the devastation was far beyond what I had imagined.
I have visited the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum before, but each has a different approach to its exhibits.
In Nagasaki, the reality of the atomic bombing and the message for the abolition of nuclear weapons left a strong impression on me. On the other hand, in Hiroshima, the state of the city before and after the bombing, the lives of its citizens, and the path to reconstruction are systematically displayed, allowing me to learn more deeply about the history of how a city was lost and rose again.
Also, a short walk from the Atomic Bomb Dome, there is a marker indicating the hypocenter quietly installed.
It is not a flashy monument, but it is a place that shows the fact that "this was where it all began," and it was a space where I felt like quietly putting my hands together in prayer rather than a tourist spot.
I felt once again that learning about war is not just about knowing the past, but also an opportunity to think about what peace really is.
Hiroshima was like a "textbook for learning about Japan"
What I felt again during this trip is that Hiroshima is a place that cannot be described by just one theme.
The Atomic Bomb Dome to think about peace
Kure to learn about Japan's modern industry
Faith culture represented by the World Heritage site Itsukushima Shrine
Food culture known as Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki
These are all condensed within a radius of several dozen kilometers.
I believe that travel should not just be about "making memories," but an investment in broadening one's own education.
Knowledge gained from books and videos is important, but there are lessons that can only be learned by actually walking the land, feeling the air, and seeing the lives of the people.
Hiroshima was truly like a "textbook for learning about the country of Japan," where you can experience Japan's modern history, religion, industry, peace, and food culture all at once.