Today we headed for Miyajima, the island site of the famous Itsukushima Shrine.  You will likely recognize the shrine from the photos (and it was recently featured in an episode of the Great Race).

The shrine is a marvel of Japanese architecture and construction techniques. At high tide the structures appear to be floating on the waters surface.

As you might expect, a meal figured into our plans.  I can only report that the fresh oysters and eel, Miyajima specialties, were unbelievable in quality and quantity!

After a full day of touring and shopping we had a fast, quiet and restful return to Tokyo on the shinkansen.

I have finally found the time to post some thoughts and photos on our very busy trip to Japan.  This day we boarded a Nozomi 700 bullet train for a four hour ride to Hiroshima.

Keiko and I were met at the station by Miyata, a former member of the Avaya World Cup team, who escorted us on a quick orientation tour and then selected a place for lunch.  Our selection was the local meal of choice – okonomi-yaki, two very thin Japanese crepes filled with cabbage, noodles and other ingredients prepared on a griddle as you sit at the counter.  Unique, filling and delicious. I subsequently learned there are over 900 such small restaurants in Hiroshima but that was clearly the local favorite.

After checking into our hotel we visited theHiroshima Peace Memorial and Museum. One cannot be profoundly impacted by the horror and pain inflicted by the atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. I encourage anyone who visits Japan to make the journey to Hiroshima.

The Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the few buildings that partially survived total destruction, now serves to symbolize both the horror of atomic weapons and appeal for world peace.

The Atomic Bomb Dome

Visited with old friends from the University of Maine – Sachiko, a former student from the Business School, and Hitomi, a post-doctoral student in the sciences. Odawara is a small Pacific Ocean coastal town with fabulous fresh local fish. Shared stories and updates over a sushi lunch at tiny establishment the Food Channel would never find!

Instead of returning to Tokyo, we boarded a Shinkansen bullet train for Yokohama and a visit to the Ramen Museum. A unique place, the Ramen Museum documents the history of Ramen, explaining the complexity of its preparation and other interesting information. Highlight of the visit is sampling one (or more) of the six different regional kitchens that offer their version of the dish in an “old” Japan recreated environment. We sampled two different versions – one from Oita, a very complex salt and pork based soup; the other from Kitakata, a clear, smooth soy-based broth.

We retired well-fed and happy from our day-long travels at a hotel next to the Yokohama rail station looking forward to a good night’s sleep and our coming trip to Hiroshima.