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Jin Travels Japan

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If there can only be a single place that I can choose to live in Japan, my answer is always Hiroshima.

"But, why?" - my teammates, friends, and family

To me, Hiroshima is a place where visitors can experience the beauty of the city while experiencing mixed emotions after learning about the history of the place. The feelings you get here is irreplaceable with anything else.

Historically, Hiroshima is known worldwide as the first city to be involved in nuclear war in World War II because it was bombed by the United States. Hiroshima has a rich history of marine and fisheries with a population of around 2.1 million. After WWII, Hiroshima was rebuilt and became the largest city in western Honshu Japan. 

Today, Hiroshima is a vibrant city, a symbol of peace in Japan that has several world heritage listed on UNESCO, as well as a reminder to the world of the dangers of war. There are many things to see in Hiroshima, whether it's world heritage sites, famous temples and beautiful views of ports and gardens, museums, local culture and entertainment - Hiroshima has it all. 

Here are 3 places that I recommend visiting if you are planning to stay a few nights in Hiroshima - within and outside the main Hiroshima city.

1. Atomic Bomb Dome - The Most Emotional Place in Hiroshima


At 8:15 am on August 6, 1945, the first atomic bomb in human history dropped on Hiroshima. The bomb was dropped near the Atomic Bomb Dome (otherwise known as the Atomic Bomb Dome), but fortunately, it avoided complete destruction and the remains of the building are still standing today. Therefore, the people of Hiroshima decided to keep the tragic memorial of this war and it was designated as the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1996. 

When I visited here, I overheard the conversation between a Japanese father and his young son:

"Papa, why is this building so broken?" - the son
"Well, you see, our sushi country made Hamburger country (USA) angry, so we fought, and many things were destroyed. Many families cannot see each other anymore. Many houses are gone." - the father

The father tried his best to explain to his son in a child language, and educated him the importance of peace. 

As I strolled along the Peace Memorial Park, this conversation stuck with me for a long time. It is indeed a building that will remain as a reminder to why we should maintain peace in this chaotic world.

2. Senkoji - Beautiful unexplored scenery


Located in Onomichi, northeast of Hiroshima, Onomichi is a small town in the Hiroshima region. Senkoji Temple located in Senkoji Park is actually a Buddhist temple located on a hill.

According to tradition, the temple was built by the renowned Buddhist priest Kobo Daishi, whose vermilion main hall was made a symbol of Onomichi city. There is also a large rock known as "Tama no Iwa". According to legend, there was once a glittering gem on a rock that served as a landmark for an inlet. 


From here, Senkoji Park and observatory are nearby, and are great spots to view the port side of Onomichi of Hiroshima. Its relaxing vibe is one of the reasons why I always love coming back to Onomichi.


During spring and fall, visitors can hike or use their ropeway while admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms and fall leaves, once again with a view of the harbor city too. The hike isn't difficult, and there are stairs so you don't need special hiking equipment. It's a chill place!

3. Okunoshima - The most beautiful island in Hiroshima


Hiroshima has many ports, and about 15 minutes from Tadanoumi Harbor, Okunoshima is a small island just 4 km in circumference, but is known as home to about 700 wild rabbits. 


These rabbits are attractive to domestic and foreign tourists. In fact, the Toxic Gas Museum and its various locations around Okunoshima also tell the history of how the island was once known to house a poison gas plant, and it has also served as a reminder that Japan will not fight again. 

Okunoshima Island is also now part of the national park, and there are several facilities that offer accommodation, hot springs, and local food, as well as the Okunoshima Visitor Center too. Various activities can be done on this small island and tourists can feed the rabbits for a taste of healing from the stress of their world.  

I hope I've shared some parts of Hiroshima that has caught your interest to explore more than just its city! If you're planning to visit, you can always get JR's Kansai Hiroshima Area Pass! If you are reading from Malaysia, I recommend consulting with the travel consultants from H.I.S. Travel Malaysia so you can purchase suitable passes for your Japan trip!

Until next time! 
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If you are looking for a unique experience around Kagoshima, never miss the famous Ibusuki no Tamatebako, or also known as Ibutama!

With a monotone exterior, this limited express train was designed with a local folktale in mind. In my previous post on Reasons why you should visit Kagoshima, I have briefed a little on the naming of the train. The name of this scenic train was behind a legendary Japanese folktale called Taro Urashima, as Ibusuki is the base of this story, and “Tamatebako” means “treasure box”, which is the most essential part of the folktale.

The Folktale surrounding Ibusuki no Tamatebako


In the folktale, there is a place called the Dragon Palace (Ryugyu-jo) under the sea. Urashima Taro, a fisherman, journeyed there and was entertained by their princess as a reward for saving a turtle. Taro spent three days with the princess, and wanted to return home to see his mother. The princess gave him a box and told him not to open it as it will protect him from harm. 

When he arrived home, everything changed. His home is gone, and his mother is no longer in sight. When he asked around, 300 years have passed (In some versions it’s longer, there are different versions of this story but this version is what my Japanese teacher taught me). Out of grief, he opened the box and smoke emerged with a sad yet sweet voice. Taro instantly turned old with long beards and bent back. That sweet voice told him that the box contains his old age - which is why he shouldn’t be opening the box. 

The train gives the same feeling, in my opinion. Everything is beautiful inside and time passes so quickly throughout the train ride!

The route


Ibusuki no Tamatebako connects Kagoshima-Chuo Station and Ibusuki Station. Compared to the original, standard train that will take about 1.5 hours to reach there, this train takes only 55 minutes!

Along the journey, you can see Sakurajima from the train, purchase snacks, drinks or souvenirs from the crew while hearing guides about the scenery along the way!

As the train runs along the Kagoshima bay, or called Kinko bay, Sakurajima’s view will surely be memorable throughout the train ride. As this train runs faster than standard trains, it only has three stops including the terminal stations: Kagoshima-Chuo Station, Kiire, and Ibusuki.


The interiors of the train



Ibusuki no Tamatebako has an interesting exterior and cozy woody interior. If you love photos, and something Instagrammable, wear pretty clothes! It has many spots for photos, whether with the staff, with the train, or with their uniform of Ibutama! I personally love the aesthetics of the train because of the warm and cozy vibes, with the large windows that makes the scenic view even better.



In the train, they also sell special snacks and drinks! You can also purchase some nice souvenirs. There was also a fun quiz related to Ibusuki too! 



I also love how the train was decked in old fashioned seats! The arrangements feels nostalgic. Its beautiful interiors, scenic views, and the smooth ride makes this ride memorable. Usually, you will be stuck in your assigned seats as you need to reserve your train tickets before boarding (you can reserve for free with your Kyushu Area Pass), but if there were unoccupied seats you can get more freedom to move around. 




If you wanted something that screams Kagoshima, try the black sesame pudding! It uses local ingredients and this flavorful pudding is only limited on Ibutama itself! It’s a delicious dessert to enjoy while you enjoy the views.


The enjoyment and recommendation


If you are looking for a special experience, then try scenic rides in Japan! It’s so relaxing and it changes how you see the country on a different pace. Best of all, free reservations with a JR Kyushu Pass! You can reserve in advance in any JR Stations in Kyushu that has a Midori no Madoguchi, or do it in Ibusuki Station/ Kagoshima-Chuo station if there are slots left. 


It is also enjoyable to see the locals here. Whenever this train is departing or arriving, the locals give you a friendly farewell with flags. You also get a free souvenir of a stamped card to say you went on the train ride. 



Overall, this is a very enjoyable and fun scenic train ride. There are three trains per day, usually at 10am, 1pm and 3pm unless there will be schedule changes later of the year (since we are in a pandemic wave as I write right now). However, since it is popular, I recommend reserving in advance!

If you’re looking for JR Pass from Malaysia, visit this site! It's a trusted Japanese Agency! slightly smiling face 

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In my previous post, I have stated a few reasons why you should consider visiting Mie Prefecture of Japan. So now, I'd love to show you a couple of tourist spots that are nice to visit! 

1. Ise Jingu that is loved by all Japanese


The Ise Jingu complex is considered the most sacred in Japan because of the presence of the goddess Amaterasu-omikami, the most superior god in the Shinto religion. The Jingu Isle is a Shinto temple complex consisting of 125 temples divided into two main sections: Naiku (inner temple) and Geku (outside temple). 

This is where it is believed that the Amaterasu-omikami, located in Naiku, while Toyouke-no-omikami, the goddess of agriculture and industry, is in Geku. All 125 temples are located around the city of Ise and can usually be reached by bus located in the city of Ise. 



Nearby is a street with traditional architecture from the Edo era Oharai Machi, and very close to Naiku, where visitors can buy a variety of popular traditional foods such as akafuku mochi, which is a concentrated cake made from rice and contains Japanese red beans.


2. Kumano Kodo: UNESCO World Heritage Site in Mie



Kumano Kodo has been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. Kumano Kodo has a variety of hiking trails that connect the various sacred sites of the Kii Peninsula in Mie that covers several regions. 



These ancient routes have been used for over 1,000 years. If the climbers begin to climb from Ise, this route will take them to Hongu Taisha and Hayatama Taisha, two of the three temples that form Kumano Sanzan (the three largest temples in Kumano), and to the third temple, the famous Nachi Taisha view of Nachi waterfall in Wakayama area. While hiking through Kumano Kodo will take a few days, this trip will satisfy hikers.


3. Mikimoto Pearl Island - The museum highly rated by many foreign visitors



In 1893, Kokichi Mikimoto made the world's first cultured pearl in the ocean of Ise. Although the pearls are different from the pearls brought from the sea, but Mikimoto has succeeded in becoming a world-renowned brand for their quality of pearls. 



For visitors interested in learning about the history of pearl culture and the process of breeding and acquiring cultural pearls, Mikimoto Pearl Island is a small museum to visit. Located just off the coast of Toba, which has English-language infomercials, it also has a collection of antique jewelry featuring pearls. 

Visitors can also enjoy the demonstrations of the Ama diver even in the winter and can learn a lot from the small museum located in Mie.


Of course, there are a lot more beautiful and interesting spots in Mie, such as…


Futamiokitama Shrine



or perhaps the Toba Sea Paradise




or enjoy yourself in Todaya’s hot springs




or enjoying the view of the majestic Nachi Falls while heading to the shrines in Kumano




Mie Prefecture is a place worth a lot more than just a day trip! You can arrive here with various kinds of rail passes too. ^^

It's a place that is very calming, and I would love to visit again someday.

Will you be adding Mie to your travel plans?
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About Me

Image may contain: 1 person, standing, ocean and outdoor
Jin, Type A ENFP, Virgo-Libra Cusp
Slytherin
Multilingual and travels to Japan for various purposes.
Avid mobile game player.

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ジン・A型・ENFP・乙女と天秤座のハーフ
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4つ言語話せます。様々な原因で日本に行く。
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対応可能言語/ Languages:
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