For my time around Hiroshima and Miyajima I'd decided to stay in a hostel in Miyajimaguchi which was only a ferry ride away from Miyajima island. Though the weather was good I decided to spend my first day in Hiroshima, seeing the frame of the Atomic Bomb Dome and the peace memorial museum. The museum held disturbing bits like melted nails and skin of victims and donated items with tragic background stories. I went back over to the hostel where there was a dumpling cooking session. I was too late to cook any but ate a fair portion... I was on the table tennis most of the night, until a local came on and didn't go easy on an amateur.

I went over to the island the next day, and after reaching the mountain, heavy rain was to kick in for the rest of the day... As it was my only chance to visit, I still went up Mount Misen, and halfway up warning signs are displayed, letting you know there are vipers around, so I kept my eyes peeled but luckily found nothing. The bottom of the mountain is full of deer who were still cruising about despite the monsoon. I was drenched so made my way over to the hostel and spent the night with everyone there. Although the night lacked table tennis this was by far the most social hostel I'd stayed in in Japan, and I was hesitant to head so early to Nagasaki the next morning.