Abandoned Fukuchiyama line

My friend Ian asked me if i want to go hiking, and my first response was, "define hiking". I am in no condition to hike (I have never been in a condition to hike haha), but he sent me a link of the place we were going to visit, it was mostly on level surface, but he said that if we still have energy we can go up the hill.

The destination was an abandoned section of the Fukuchiyama line between Namaze and Takedao stations. It was said to have been abandoned some 25 years ago. There are tunnels, a river nestled in the mountain, big rocks, paradise really.

Hiking buddies

After lunch we decided to go up the hill where there is a nice stream, so I went up with them thinking, okay, maybe it is not that far, but after around 50 meters haha, I was already panting so I said, I am just going to wait for them in the picnic area. It was quite slippery, going down, and I did not want to slide all the way down so I used this time to take pictures of grasses and flowers, so people would think that it is on purpose that I am going down in sitting position. :))

Miyajima

After a day of touring Hiroshima, we spent a night in a backpackers inn near the port to Miyajima. Early the next day, we boarded a ferry to the shrine island. I was quite excited because I recently saw the second Wolverine movie and there was a part there where he stayed at Miyajima.

Hiroshima

Once every school year, the Kobe University offers its foreign students a chance to go on a subsidized field trip to chosen areas in Japan. Last year, we chose to go to Hiroshima with our fellow scholars from Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar. The trip was organized by their very accommodating Japanese tutor so we did not have to worry about anything! Because of its historical significance, Hiroshima is a must-see place in Japan. The city was virtually decimated when the atomic bomb "Little Boy" was dropped in Hiroshima. The important places in Hiroshima highlight this moment in Japan's history and its commitment to peace.

Submarine outside Kure Maritime Museum

Battleship Yamato

Hiroshima Castle

Atomic Bomb Dome

Atomic Bomb Dome

Peace Memorial