Our hotel room at the Riga Royal was really nice I suspect we were upgraded but no complaints here. We are given vouchers for a cheaper breakfast and decided to avail ourselves to that treat I mean $12 each is a bargain.
Our first night out and we discover the covered arcade known as Hion Dori a massive covered street in Hiroshima with all the best shops and cafes – as well as finding the post office to post back our pocket Wi-Fi. On a friend’s recommendation we ventured to the pancake district and on the 3rd floor find a variety of stalls all selling similar food. We are claimed by a very funny outgoing Japanese lady and her off-sider, who invite us to have a seat at their counter, not that we have much choice. A good choice it is and we each had the local delicacy Okonomiyaki, which is a pancake make of eggs and cabbage and other delights such as seafood and mayonnaise. She was very entertaining and we have a great time even sampling the red wine from the fridge.
The rain, a constant companion in Japan accompanies us home and we find a 7 -11 convenience store to stock up on milk and snacks and have a really comfortable nights sleep. The room is amazing very large and a great view over the castle and moat – we are very happy with our upgrade!
After our breakfast a treat at 1000 yen each, we go to the 32nd floor for a view over the city (we were on the 28th overlooking the castle and gardens) so it is interesting to see the other side of the hotel – a view of the ‘a’ bomb dome, park and river.
Our morning walk starts by seeing the ‘A’ bomb dome and walked to the peace park with a beautiful haunting bell – A very moving experience but I did find the selling of tee shirts and souvenirs at the park to be of questionable taste and disrespectful. Further on is the Memorial hall underground with many tiles depicting the scene after the bomb – followed by the museum, which was a time capsule of the explosion and quite graphic with the photographs. I worry about the small children in school groups. Many interesting relics of clothes, bottles, tiles in the most incredible melted states – the temperature at the time of the explosion was 1,000,00 degrees Celsius.
After the museum we take a bus to the station and have lunch in a department store, a small group of shops with the window displays full of plastic food replicas. When I say full I have never seen so many dishes and the menu is very comprehensive but as usual effectively ordered and prepared.
The Castle contemporary art gallery is right in front of the hotel and is full of French impressionist paintings – all the old masters are here! There are many galleries and some interesting Japanese works amongst them. A big downpour of rain offers us the opportunity to take tea in the cafe. It is always interesting that tea is served in the most delicate English style teacups.
The hotel buffet dinner does not quite live up to Kanazawa and we farewell the night with a late night drink in the rooftop bar – non smoking section – obviously a place of release for executives, lots of laughter and drinking games – nothing more amusing than a young exec with a few too many under his belt.
Hiroshima is famous for handmade brushes and I find the address of a Brush shop over the bridge – not having our pocket Wi-Fi is challenging when it comes to navigation and there are very few public Wi-Fi signals – in fact none. We eventually find the shop, which is incredibly small, a mere postage stamp and can only fit in a couple of people. After much exploring I find some interesting painting and makeup brushes to purchase.
The rest of the day is exploring the shopping area around the arcade and having some lunch at a pub – mainly French baguettes and snacks. The search for shoes is disappointing and after exploring some of the department stores we settle for coffee in the basement. A coffee shop that is like a pink powder puff and targeting young girls I think but then again in Japan that could be any demographic.
The problem with Trip Advisor is that everyone uses it and by the time you find the restaurant it is inevitably full. We have to settle for a French restaurant but only if we are out by 8 as there is a wedding coming and all the chandeliers and drapery for the chairs is being set up.
Sunday 9th September We have a late check out and stay at the hotel until 11 before getting a taxi to the station. It seems to be a special day or sale for the department store at the station and I am so lucky to see a demonstration of make up brushes being made. They were so soft that I may have had to by one to show my support.
