We took the train from Osaka to Hiroshima in the morning, and went directly to the island of Miyajima (also known as Itsukushima), in the bay of Hiroshima, with our bags in tow. The ferry was very nice, and not more than 20-30 minutes. The luggage lockers on the island worked out well for us.
Most of the sites on the island are walkable from the ferry. There are deer throughout the island and they mingle with the people in all of the open areas. The island is most famous for an enormous red gate in the water. But there are also many dozens of beautiful old shrines and other religious buildings, many of which are still in operation.
We got back to Hiroshima a bit late and were wandering in the city a bit, trying to find a good spot to sample Okonomiyaki, a savory style noodle pancake that is famous in this area. There may have been some grumbling along the way. We finally found an ideal spot, only to be told that they were too busy to accommodate us. We set up on the sidewalk to regroup and despair a bit, and the host came running around the corner to tell us that he had a spot for us after all. The Okonomiyaki were delicious! And we decided to leave our mark on the place.
We ended the night with a walk from the restaurant to our airbnb in the middle of the city, a short walk from Peace Memorial Park.
