Today was J's birthday.
He wanted to go to Hiroshima and have Hiroshima style okonomiyaki. We rushed grabbed coffee and got on the 9:50 shinkansen to Hiroshima. Unfortunately Rokusaburo was closed. It has been a pilgrimage of sorts to return here and it is sad that on J's birthday it wasn't open.
On the flip side, we got to check out Okonimura which is a building that has five floors of Okonomiyaki stalls. Who knows which is best. We had perfectly delicious Hiroshima yaki (noodles egg pancake spring onions).
We took a nice walk down a shopping arcade to the Peace Park. The tragedy of the atomic bomb is evident but Hiroshima is a lovely city. Two rivers run through the town, with pretty trees leading to the island that is the peace Park.
The museum is an interesting building that floats above the plaza, framing views to the eternal flame and the promenade with the Atomic Dome in the background. Oddly the building had an odd mesh from about eight feet up. Typical of a building of its time it had a brutal concrete facade that seems inappropriate. That being said the concrete below is beautiful and sculptural. even though parts are symmetrical, as one walks around, the columns shift in your view presenting interesting juxtapositions.
The floating stairs under the building in steel and frosted glass help pull down the scale and craft a very accessible feel. The landing half way up also gives a great view back to the eternal flame. The entrance to the museum is in a flanking building that appears to be from the 1970's. This interesting stair serves as an exit dropping you off on the Plaza.
We walked in the shade along the river channel towards the ruins of the Atomic Dome. The day was warm, sunny and cloudless in contrast to the rainy days we have had. It was a nice hour walk back to the station to catch a very relaxing 80 minute ride back to Osaka.
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