Traveling from Osaka to Hiroshima

Temple Travels and Stay

We set off to our temple stay at Mount Koya Temple Temple (Sekishon), Koyasan by walking to the subway. After a subway train, express train, funicular and then bus we hand a final walk up to the temple.

The temple is set in the mountains so once we left Osaka city the scenery during the journey was been spectacular.

The village we are staying at is connected to Oko-no-in and has a massive cemetery from when he died 1200 years. Although some Buddhists believe he is still around looking after them so in the cemetery lots of offerings to him. The cemetery was a great place to walk around with the sun shining through massive pine trees some of which are over 600 years old.

The temple is less basic than in South Korea and a bit less strict. We were allowed beer with our tea. Tea was a mix of local vegetarian dishes and surprisingly good. Although before the dishes were explained to us one lady insisted to me (we later learnt was the soup) was actually to clean your hands, luckily I waited for the guide's instructions so was able to enjoy the soup.

In the evening we went with the majority of the group into a local bar. A nice time and good to get to know people.

Breakfast, after a chanting ceremony and burning of wood with our wishes on, was local vegetarian one step too far for me, once home I won't be replacing my Weetabix with rice and sea weed.

Hiroshima

The trip to Hiroshima involved the above transport plus the bullet train. Seeing the site of the bomb and visiting the museum was incredibly moving and quite hard to see it all.

We followed this by a group meal with a Hiroshima speciality of okonomiyaki. This was amazing and great watching the restaurant staff prepare it in front of us. Even Liz, the fussy eater, loved it.

Tour Impressions

The guide has been more in control today but we feel some of the group aren't giving her a chance and being quite awkward to try to create things they can moan about. Talking of moaning our main bags were transferred to the new hotel for us unfortunately mine wasn't there, luckily a few phones by the hotel and it turned up. That was after I had planned a new wardrobe of clothes with the insurance. It had been left in the van we think. It must have been a secure van as we couldn't initially trace it through our smart tags saying last location Osaka.