The trip to Hiroshima provided us with our first Shinkansen train trip. The bullet train would speed us the 250 miles from Osaka to Hiroshima in around 90 minutes, too fast for many photos but fast enough to make our ears pop. We arrived feeling fresh and had no difficulty locating Peace Park a 20-minute walk away from the train station. The large majority of buildings have been built since the dreadful atomic bomb was dropped on the city by the Americans in 1947, although the resulting city is well planned and was a pleasing place to walk in.

One building that was close to the centre of the blast and partially survived the attack was the Genbaku dome, now on the World Heritage UNESCO list and referred to as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial. The building has been preserved as a memorial to difficult times, alongside the constructed Peace Park. The on-site museum depicted in pictures and objects recovered from the debris the story of the tragic day and the subsequent rebuilding of the city. Much of the script had been translated to English so we were able to understand the significance of many of the items, including the burned frame of a small tricycle and numerous pieces of torn and burned children's clothes.

Apparently, only a small percentage of the bombs capability actually detonated but this was enough to eradicate much of the city through bomb damage and subsequent fires. The ongoing effects of the atomic gases were to prove extremely destructive for many surviving families who lost family members in subsequent months. Many children who had been conscripted to build fire blocks around the city subsequently lost their lives there.

The Japanese certainly make sure the nation's children are aware of this part of their history as the site was scattered with school parties, many of whom performed beautiful songs at various points around the site. The children were well behaved and respectful to the mood of the place and appeared to understand the significance of the site.

The following day we headed off again in the same direction and headed for the island of Miyajima. Famous for the Itsukushima Shrine which appears to float in the sea at high tide, another World Heritage site we were keen to visit and see for ourselves. The trip started with another Shinkansen trip to reach Hiroshima and took us from the cloud over Osaka to rain in Hiroshima. From Hiroshima a half-hour local train journey took us to the port of Miyajimaguchi where we took the short ferry ride across to the island, which was shrouded with mist.

On arrival, the rain was getting heavier, and feeling another Malaysian style soaking John insisted on buying a Pac a Mac as he'd left his raincoat at the hotel. I opted for the less glamorous but equally effective brolly. We managed a few photos and a quick shuffle around a few of the sights including the iconic red torii gate shrine, before abandoning our explorations for a bite of traditional lunch- okonomiyaki. A concoction of vegetables, meat, and bean sprouts cooked on a griddle and covered with a small pancake style disc were sweated into submission before noodles and egg were added to the mix. Some fish powder and a few other squirts of sauce and it was ready. John had been a bit sceptical about trying the cafe but after taking his first bite was soon devising ways to replicate at home. I had to draw the line at the suggestion of including Worcester sauce- John's usual staple, but I foresee Okinayama appearing on the menu back home fairly soon.

We opted out of any more trekking as the rain was still pouring down and we were dripping and damp in all the usual crevices so we headed back to the ferry boat for the trip back to the mainland and the Shinkansen trip back to Osaka......another successful day despite the rain.