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Today is a travel day. The trains are so fast here that we barely have time to gaze out of the window. We have a 4 hour trip today. 2 hours on the Shinkansen bullet train and 2 hours on a Japan Rail line. Owen and I are both happy to kick back, tune out,…

Our “activity” today involves riding a shuttle bus for three minutes part way up the mountain. From the station we will board a “ropeway” to the top which is essentially a gondola. At the top of the second ropeway was an observatory from which we could see around the island. Owen wasn’t interested in hiking…

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum This morning we are going to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. At the start of this trip, I told Owen that we did not have to visit a lot of museums but we would be visiting this one. I understand that a visit to this museum is a very visceral an…

This morning I intended to use the bath after breakfast and before we started traveling to Hiroshima. I walked the fifteen minutes to the bath only to find they don’t open until 2:00. I assumed the bath would Be open in the morning. I assumed incorrectly. By the time I got back to the hotel,…

Osaka Castle My plan was to get an early start and head to Osaka Castle. My plans have changed. I didn’t get up as early as I thought I might. It is getting hot already. I am going to pivot and take a morning of rest. I will read in your pleasant and spacious room…

We are using this morning to regroup a little. Owen and I are both a little travel worn. It did not help that our room was somewhat unsatisfactory. We have asked for a new room and they will move our things while we are out today. We have decided to spend the morning doing our…

We said goodbye to Hisashi’s family this morning. They were all so lovely and hospitable with us that it was sad to say goodbye. before we left, Ya-San gave us another incredibly generous gift. He gave me a matching set of black pearl earrings to give to Michele to complete her set. He said that…

Hisashi was obliged to help out with some things around the family home today so Owen and I were on our own. Regardless, Hisashi helped us plan our day. Our first stop was the Naikū area of Ise Shrine. It is the inner area and took several stops on the bus to reach from where…

We have had a very “chill” day. It seems we were all up for a while at various times in the night to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the guesthouse and Aso Bay. This morning we are shifting between cleaning a bit, packing and organizing, napping, reading, and eating. We are not in any hurry…

Today, I will drive on the other side of the road. I’ve never done it before. We will be heading to a small bay on the coast to enjoy fishing. We are starting off the morning enjoying plum water at Mother’s house I’m doing it! Ya-san (Hisashi-sensei’s brother) graciously loaned us his car. Hisashi-sensei doesn’t…