Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima

... and threatened to rain, so I made my way in search of shelter in case of the actuality.<br><br>Sure enough, it started to rain as I crossed a bridge into the main Peace Memorial Park area. I found myself standing before the Children's Peace Monument. This was a special destination of mine in all of Japan. And here's why...<br><br>She was only two years old when the ATOM BOMB rained destruction down on her town. Though she survived, the radioactive fallout took its toll. Sadako Sasaki ...

... will keep it burning until the day when all nuclear weapons have been eradicated from the planet.<br> Unlike most of the world, Hiroshima has learned from the errors of history. Today she looks towards the future, but remembers the past. Scarred but optimistic, traumatized but dedicated to protecting others from the same fate, Hiroshima shines a beacon of hope as bright as the blast that wiped it off the map nearly 70 years ago.<br>

... 1945 at 8.15am. We were surprised and ashamed to see Great Britain mentioned in the decision making process, and a display showing the number of nuclear missiles by each country brought home how hypocritical the west is - enough politics.... The most striking displays are of course those showing the after effects of the bomb, by the end of 1945 140,000 people had died from the blast or its after effects. We know we will see the history of ...

... Instead of telling us where one was, Sarah, our hostess, showed us the way to a park a few blocks away, and then said that she would bring coffee down to us! Veronica and I looked at each other in disbelief (it was still 30 degrees outside) but couldnt really say no. She asked how Veronica had her coffee, and Veronica said white with 2, her first response was "2 what?". Then, unsurprisingly we had to explain that white ...

... jumped into panic mode. Where would I go? What would I do? I didn't have a phone and I sure as hell didn't know how to use one. Finally after some of the longest minutes of my life, all of them greeted me with open arms and gifts. I was able to breathe a huge sigh of relief... For the worst reasons, Hiroshima needs no introduction. On August 6, 1945 thousands of people were wiped out in one instant of apocalyptic destruction and the effects were felt by many of the ...

... shoes at the door and sleep on futons and tatami mats. Most provide you with breakfast in the morning, and have their own private hot baths. So really, its kind of like a Japanese B&amp;B.<br><br>Although it had atmosphere and great rooms, it was so freaking hard to find. We ended up being guided around half the city by a woman and these highschool students who really looked like they wanted to go home. It was quite an experience though, and it was uncanny how we were all ...

... samurai armor and old Japanese weaponry. Katanas, anyone?<br><br>Miyajima Island, meanwhile, just off the coast of Hiroshima city has been my favorite site so far where we spent the majority of today - unsurprising, given its status as a world heritage site and one of Japan's three most scenic views. We even managed to accidentally time our visit with the high tide, when the torii shrine gates to the island are at their most spectacular. The island has a very serene ...

... de Japanse cultuur, uit de doeken gedaan dat in de geschiedenisboeken op de Nederlandse middelbare scholen (Sprekend Verleden, wie kent ze nog?) maar liefst 27 regels aan Japan worden besteed. Enkele daarvan gaan over Nagasaki. Tot 1600 was er geen Nederlands schip tot Japan gekomen zo lezen we. Van de 5 schepen met de illustere namen Hoop, Trouw, Geloof, Blijde Boodschap en De Liefde die in 1598 vanuit Nederland vertrekken redt alleen de laatste het Japan te bereiken. Huub v ...

... in detailing the bombing, its aftermath or, to the museum's great credit, the actions of those on all sides that led to that moment. It deals effectively and directly with myths associated with the bombing, but at no stage descends into recrimination or hints at a spirit of victimisation or self-pity. This attitude, echoed across the city, left a deep impression on me. Hiroshima is a large and ...

... to end the war, the decision to not have conventional air raids on any of the potential A-bomb target cities (so as to allow a clear assessment of the damage from the single bomb), memos showing the orders that there should be no advance warning given, Japan's refusal to sign a peace that included the removal of the emperor and on and on. Since the bomb, Hiroshima has become the center of the global movement to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The mayor of ...