Day 14 Part 2: Miyajima and Okonomiyaki (Japanese style pancake)

  We are in Hiroshima

                                        1 pm Take a ferry to   Miyajima Island. 

                                        2-2:30 Visit Itsukushima -Shrine 

2:30- 3:30  Visit Daishyo-in(大聖院）

                                       3:30-5pm  Free time in Miyajima Island 

                                        6-7pm Eat  Okonomiyaki!

Miyajima is a sacred island in Hiroshima Bay, famous for the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine and its iconic, vermilion torii gate that appears to float on the water at high tide. Just a short ferry ride from the mainland, it offers wild deer, mountain hikes, and fresh oysters

The island of Itsukushima, in the Seto inland sea, has been a holy place of Shintoism since the earliest times. The first shrine buildings here were probably erected in the 6th century. The present shrine dates from the 12th century and the harmoniously arranged buildings reveal great artistic and technical skill. The shrine plays on the contrasts in colour and form between mountains and sea and illustrates the Japanese concept of scenic beauty, which combines nature and human creativity.

The iconic "floating" Miyajima Torii Gate (O-torii) is the majestic, vermilion-lacquered gateway to Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima Island, Japan. Standing 16.6 meters tall and weighing 60 tons, it appears to float on the Seto Inland Sea at high tide and can be walked to during low tide

Daishoin Temple (大聖院) is the oldest and one of the most important Buddhist temples on the holy island of Miyajima (Itsukushima), located just off the coast of Hiroshima. Founded in 806 CE by the monk Kūkai (Kōbō Daishi), the founder of Shingon Buddhism, this sprawling mountain complex sits at the base of Mount Misen. It is famous for its rich imperial history, incredible variety of unique statues, and peaceful spiritual

All of us got the same Okonomiyaki that had bean sprouts, sliced cabbage, pork, and soba noodles in between the egg and flour mixture.  

　　                               Restaurant " Henkutsu -ya"

Day 14 Part 1: Hiroshima peace park and Lunch together

 We are in Hiroshima

8-10:30  Visit Hiroshima peace park!

11-12:30  had a nice group lunch at Japanese restaurant (Otyoya-Gohan)

in front of the Flame of peace

                                  in front of Sadako Statue

The Peace bell in Hiroshima peace park

Lunch!

Teishoku (定食) means a Japanese set meal. It is a complete, pre-fixed dining option usually served on a single tray, consisting of a main dish, a bowl of rice, miso soup, and side items like

Day 13 Part 2: Good bye Kyoto and arrive in Hiroshima

Thank you for having us stay at the Japanese INN 

Wonderful tine in Kyoto!

This is our stay in Hiroshima !  Red Helmet Inn

Day 13: More temples and Nintendo Museum

We are in Kyoto Area 

9-10　Visit Higashi Honganji Temple  Visi

10-1 Freetime  in Kyoto station area

1-4  Visit Nintendo Museum

Higashi Honganji (East Honganji) was built only eleven years after and a few street blocks east of Nishi Honganji as the head temple of the Otani faction of Jodo-shin Buddhism. Its main hall, the Goeido is Kyoto's largest wooden structure and dedicated to Shinran, the sect's founder. Next to it and almost as large is the Amidado Hall, dedicated to the Amida Buddha.

in front of Higashi-honganji Temple

 Nintendo Museum: 

The Nintendo Museum opened in October 2024 on the site of a former factory of the Kyoto-based entertainment company. It is located in Uji City, a short train ride south of Kyoto.

The museum introduces the company's history. It displays the various products offered over the decades since the company's beginnings as a toy maker producing playing cards in 1889. Interactive sections let visitors play various games with an initial amount of "coins" included with the admission ticket and the ability to purchase additional coins.

 

Day 12 Part 2: Meditation at Manpukuji and Kyoto night

 　　　4−５pm Practice meditationat Manpukuji-Temple

           6-10 pm Enjoy the Kyoto night view

An old Zen Buddhist temple called Wanfu Temple lies on Mount Huangbo in Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China. Its abbot Yinyuan Longqi, who is known as Ingen Zenji (Zen-master Ingen) in Japanese, visited Japan and founded Obaku-san Manpuku-ji (which shares the same Chinese character as Huangbo-shan, Wanfu-si) in Uji, Kyoto in 1661.
Manpuku-ji was built with Sumatran teak and is an absolutely rare Japanese temple since it remains very well as it was at the time of its construction, and most of the buildings are designated as Important Cultural Properties.

Mason is getting "keisaku"  flat, wooden "encouragement stick" used during seated meditation (zazen). It is not a punishment. Instead, it serves as a mindful tool to awaken the mind, alleviate physical stiffness, and correct posture

In Buddhism, "Buddha's flower" almost exclusively refers to the Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera). It represents purity, enlightenment, and resilience, as the flower blossoms untainted despite having its roots in murky, muddy water

A couple of nigh views of Kyoto