Nagoya

Today we visit Nagoya where the Toyota Commemorative Museum of Industry is located.

Three generations of the Toyota family who came from a lonely village in Japan became one of the biggest conglomerates in the world.  Their start was in the loom.  Who would have known that a car company started with the loom.  Improving the mechanics of the loom, better operation led to mechanics of an automotive division.

Developing a prototype



E bikes go way back

The name changed from Toyota to Toyota in 1936 when there was a competition to develop a new logo.  It was decided that Toyota had a cleaner look and a sharper sound.

It’s come a long way!  Very interesting story.

We stop for lunch.  These eateries are located along the highway at service areas.  Great selection of food but it’s always challenging in knowing how and what to order.

This is one of the machines that you have to order from.  It’s all in Japanese.  Pictures help but it’s still rather daunting especially for Marlene as she is allergic to fish so knowing what’s in your food is extra important.  You choose your dish, put in the yen and then you get a ticket.  You give the ticket to the person at the counter and then a short time later you are called and given your food.  That way the cash doesn’t touch the hands of people preparing the food.  It’s quite efficient (once you figure it out)

We then drive to a village that’s 400 years old.  This is Naraijuku.  The villages were built to accommodate the feudal lords and leaders that had to travel from far away to report to the Shogun every year.  They would be delivering taxes that were collected to the Shogun.  This was very time consuming for the feudal lords and was the way that the Shogun held power.  This occurred between the 16th and 19th centuries.



These villages are almost deserted now but kept for tourism and history.

Tiny doorway.





After we settle in our hotel we decide to go to a Sushi restaurant.  (Suwa - Shiga).  It was very challenging figuring out how to order but we did it and had a great meal.  You had to order on the screen and then the order would arrive on a conveyor belt.  It would just stop in front of you and you just take it off and eat.



And a beer to wash it all down.  It looked like a small beer on the screen but look what we got!  Oh well.  Bottoms up!

Kyoto

Today we leave Hiroshima for Kyoto.  All the hotels are comfortable.  Breakfasts vary and the rooms are small. The language continues to be a barrier as hardly anyone speaks any English.  We learned from JSook our tour guide, that the children learn English but concentrate on grammar not spoken just so they can write their exams to get into University.  Very little English written anywhere.  The google translate app is very handy.

Kyoto

You first have to cleanse yourself at the entrance to the shrine by washing your hands and mouth prior to entering.



Arriving at Fushimi Imari Shrine in southern Kyoto.  

There are thousands of vermillion Torii gates which straddle a network of trails behind the main buildings.  Beautiful forest.  Very peaceful (except for the thousands of people!)

Our group.



Zen Temple has gold leaf-covered floors on the top two floors.

Ringing the bell to have my wish granted.

Three ladies in our group opted for kimonos… what fun!  Lots of people did this.  You could rent them or buy them.

Matcha Ice Cream

We then head to the Arashiyama bamboo forest.  So much bamboo.

This is Togetsu Bashi Bridge.  It’s over 1000 years old.

I have to talk about the toilets…these are amazing.  Heated seats, you can add music, automatic flush.  They have a special little seat so if you have a toddler with you, you have a safe place to put them while you use the toilet.  As you can see here there is also a child’s seat if needed.  These washrooms are always clean and available everywhere!  I’ve never been anywhere that is so well equipped with washrooms.



This is the control panel!  It’s all in Japanese so I was afraid to push anything.  Might be an ejection button :)

Hiroshima

Today we get up early as we are catching the bullet train to Hiroshima.  This train waits for no one.  It’s never late.  Expensive.  Roughly $100 each way but we will be there in 1 hr. 40 mins.  If you were to drive it would take you 4 hours.

There are fantastic shopping malls attached to the train stations.





This commercial building was right beside where the atomic bomb exploded.  Because it was so close it didn’t totally destroy it.  Rather like the eye of a hurricane.





Thousands of paper cranes were donated from all over the world to show support for the people.  In particular a young girl that had developed leukaemia.  She believed that if she made 1000 paper cranes she would survive.  She was only able to complete 400 before she died.



Bell of Peace



Ground zero.  This mound represents where the bomb detonated.  It actually exploded before landing.



The clock tower.  It chimes every day at 8:15 am to represent the time on August 6, 1945 when the bomb dropped.





This is where the G7 met.  The memorial is not so much about the death and destruction but about a future of peace.



It was an amazing museum but very emotional.  Like visiting any atrocity it’s disturbing but I feel it’s necessary if you are visiting a country that experienced something like this.  It’s acknowledgment and respect.  Understanding what happened.

We then take a ferry for a short ride over to Miyajima to visit Itsukushima, the Floating Shrine.

When the tide is in it gives the illusion that the shrine is floating.  Not so much when the tide is out.  

Torii Gate



Lunch of grilled oysters in garlic butter

Lots of shopping 



So cute.  Their parents dress them up and they have their pictures taken professionally.  This happens at 3, 5 and 7 years old.

Then back on the ferry, back on the bus and back to our hotel.  Another long and interesting day.