After, we parted ways and Shū and went to the bike room to get our bikes and then headed over to Hiroshima-jo (Hiroshima Castle). One thing to know about this place is that it has gone through a lot: during the Warring States, it was a key point in the hold of Chugoku region, because it was located at the mouth of Ito River, a hub of politics, commerce, and culture. Moreover, the actual caste, a designated historical monument et. 1931, was destroyed August 6, 1945, by the atomic bomb.
After, when we descended from the castle, we saw a photoshoot for a traditional Shinto wedding that day. We later saw the same couple surrounded by family and newborns when we went to the nearby jinja (Shinto shrine) to pray.
Near by, we went to a traditional Japanese garden called Shukkeienwhich had a total of 14 little islands in one pond! It was built to model Fuji-san (Mt. Fuji), so the mounds and high points reflect this. Another thing that really got my attention was the simpleness of it, since the landscaping was simple shrubs and the architecture was simple, traditional work - even the bridges. Lastly, an awesome thing about this garden is the amount of koi (carp)! You are allowed to feed them, and you can actually buy the pellets right where they all congregate. And, you don't have to even ask to buy it; it's a box on the ground that runs on trust (something no one would do in the States).
After, we were all feeling a little hungry, so we went to eat okonomiyaki located in an open-air mall. Another friend, Yuki, accompanied us, and Shū's parent as well. But, little did I know, they were going to make me make it while everyone sat around the grill top. I am still puzzled on what it is, but it was pretty good. It was amazing that they would let a foreigner cook in there shop, and it also really shows the extreme Japanese people will go to make there guests welcome in Japan and in their own homes.
We then rode our bikes over to a local store, where they also had a bike floor that customers could leave them and not worry. We walked around, shopped, made bad jokes, got ice cream, and purikura (photo booth with effects like big eyes, skin whitening, blush, etc.)
Yuki, after purikura, had to return home, but we still ended up going somewhere: we climbed a mountain. It probably took about 25 minutes to do through urban than forrest areas, and absolutely none of it was flat. We passed a humongous Buddhist burial grounds and then continued to the temple up top with Buddha glazed in gold. A lot of effort goes into praying here which is weird to think about.
Then, we took the stair back down into a lush forrest (we joked that Ghibli's Totoro lived there because it was truly that nice). On our way down, there were a lot of signs telling people what kind of tree each one was along with many mini shrines and engraved torii (red gates) on the way. In a small cleaning, there was an inari shrine (shrine in which has a fox as a messenger animal. Further down, we saw more torii and shrines as well as offerings. At the bottom, we found yet another shrine and rang the bell to pray. It was really a strenuous hike, but it really exemplifies the importance of nature and religion and how they go hand-in-hand in Japanese society.
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