Hiroshimayaki

Inside the Seven Stars In Kyushu

Today we headed to Hiroshima, mainly so we could have Hiroshimayaki.  Hiroshima is the birthplace of okonomiyaki and therefore you have to go there for the real thing.

Before we left Hakata, though, we were treated to a look at a very special train. JR Kyushu recently introduced an ultra-posh "cruise train" called Seven Stars In Kyushu, and we happened to be on the platform as it pulled in. Talk about plush - I don't think that the Orient Express could have been so luxurious, even in its heyday. It was truly stunning. The problem is, a 4-day 3-night trip on it will cost you in the region of £4000 per person. Still, Tom was given a boiled sweet by one of the Dorises ready to greet wealthy passengers. One day perhaps...

At the Atomic Bomb Dome

Next, we got our suddenly very ordinary Sakura Shinkansen to Hiroshima and then got the tram down to the A-bomb Dome.  It is a very striking sight, the A-bomb Dome (even if it has scaffolding all around it - they are trying to earthquake-proof it).  We tried to explain the significance of it to Tom, but I think it is too hard for a seven year old to take in.  There were some photos of Hiroshima completely flattened on some of the memorials, which makes it easier, but still the significance of the place did go over his head somewhat.

By the time we had got to the park, we were all hungry.  The plan was to revisit an okonomiyaki restaurant, Tenyawanya, that we went to 4 years ago (when we were staying in Aioi) as Tom made friends with the owners there and went off to play with them whilst we finished up our food.  Matt had put a photo we took 4 years ago on his phone to show them.  We were slightly worried that the restaurant might not be open as it was a Saturday, but we were lucky, there was one table left on arrival so we took it.  Within about 10 minutes everyone had left so it was just us in the restaurant.

Lunch

We ordered the Tenyawanya special (it has everything in it: pork, corn, tuna, squid, noodles and egg) and one with noodles, rice and pork.  They made their okonomiyaki differently here from the rest of Japan, in that they don't mix the cabbage with the pancake mix, so they make a thin pancake with the pancake mix, then put everything on it and top it off with another pancake.  You also get noodles in it which you don't get elsewhere.  Anyway, it didn't take long for them to arrive, and they were ace.  Quite difficult to eat with chopsticks but not a problem.  We all had happy tummies.

The owners of the restaurant didn't remember us, but after we showed them a photo they warmed up and in the end, Tom had a go on the teppan (nothing cooking) and had his photo taken with them.  He even got a free dessert of strawberries.  It was a warm and friendly experience, the lady even escorted us down the stairs and waved the whole time we were walking back down the road towards the park.  They look forward to seeing us again in 4 years time!

With old friends

We went back to the Peace Park and walked amongst the cherry trees which were in full blossom and looking very beautiful, shame there were thousands of other people out admiring them too!  We didn't go to the Peace Museum for the same reasons we didn't go to the one in Nagasaki - that's for when Tom is older.  He did go to the children's memorial and ring the bell there and the peace bell and said a prayer for all the children that died.

Cherry trees in full bloom

We then got the tram back to the station area, did a little shopping in another 100 yen shop (just a few things this time), had a drink on the roof of a shopping centre - was quite warm today and then headed back into Hiroshima Station for a 3 o'clock doughnut before getting our Shinkansen home (only takes just over an hour from Hakata).

We dumped our stuff at the flat and then walked to a local ramen shop where we had the most wonderful ramen.  Query - has anyone ever tried picking up a hard boiled egg which has been sat in hot soup with chopsticks?  Not easy to do believe me!!!!!!  Then home for shower, bath and bed.