After a short walk along Omotesando Shopping Street, consisting of me constantly darting in and out of shops for warmth, I finally reached the famed floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine.

When travelling solo, you just have to pose with some tourists to pretend you have friends LOL

Waiting for tourists to get out of my photo be like...

After this photo, I fell down immediately

The floating torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine, spotted only during high tides, was underwhelming for me, to be honest. Maybe my expectations killed the experience because I approached the shrine expecting to be blown away by Itsukushima Shrine's majestic appearance, as raved by many other travel bloggers I read.

The winter winds were strong and brutal — exactly the reason winter is my favourite season.

My itchy fingers obviously wanted an ornacle, but they're all written in Japanese.

Miyajima was considerably more massive than I expected it to be, and I had to utilise Google Maps to find my way to Itsukushima Shrine. Couldn't resist entering these shops along Omotesando Shopping Street because they had such adorable Japan souvenirs for sale!

As previously mentioned in my Hiroshima travel post, Miyajima was not in my original itinerary but the 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass made travelling from Hiroshima to Miyajima worth my yen (¥840 instead of ¥960 if bought seperately). I didn't do much research regarding Miyajima; other than it being an island off Hiroshima, I knew particularly nothing about Miyajima but being clueless is how I travel solo. I only knew I wanted to see one of the three views of Japan — Itsukushima Shrine — for myself.


I slept the entire train journey from Genbaku-Domu Mae Station to Miyajimaguchi Station because I was absolutely exhausted from all the intense solo travelling and my first overnight bus. Since Miyajimaguchi Station is the last station, where everyone gets off, I wasn't too worried about missing my stop.

With my luck, my earrings fell off (again!!!!!!!!!!) when I was sleeping. Thankfully, I had a pair of back up so I hurriedly unpacked when I reached Miyajimaguchi Station, and got a kind Japanese shopkeeper to put it on for me. Yes, I am a loser who can't figure out how to put in my own earrings, even till today. *Hangs my head in shame*


Had wanted to get a fortune-telling strip but unfortunately, I don't know my blood type... I'm the only person I know who still don't know my blood type and am too scared to find out. I'm aware that this post makes me sound like a whiny scaredy-cat but I'm just really afraid of needles!


I'm a sucker for fortune telling gimmicks even though the readings are always kinda general — I relish in that fleeting moment of feigned control I have over my future. Japan almost got me declaring bankrupcy because of the abundance of fortune telling gimmicks!

Continued looking for souvenirs for my family and friends in the souvenir shop right in front of Miyajimaguchi Station, the same shop that sucked the last of my yen. I highly underestimated how expensive Japan can be, and it was glaringly obvious that I'd run out of yen by the time I reach Tokyo, my next stop.


My stomach was growling but I couldn't afford a proper meal in a restaurant setting; we all know how exorbitant a proper meal costs in Japan. No matter, I hunted for food for street food around Miyajimaguchi Station because I wasn't sure how long the Matsudai ferry ride would take.

Unlike Kyoto or Osaka, most of the menu in Hiroshima / Miyajima were in Japanese although it was obviously a tourist spot so I resorted to stores where I could point out what I want. Eventually, I only got a fried crab stick for ¥320 (approx SGD $4) just so I could keep my gastric pains from acting up. #budgettravels


The Matsudai ferry ride to Miyajima took a total of 15 minutes maximum, including boarding and alighting. I initially wanted feel the breeze against my face by the ferry deck but the winds were unforgiving so I hurriedly retreated in, where I found a whole row of seats to myself despite the fact that it was a public holiday in Japan.

Unfortunately, it started raining again. I was slightly disappointed for a brief moment but thankfully, I've already taken all of my touristy shots that needed a tripod (and potentially leaving my camera in the rain).



On second thoughts, I guess a clear and sunny day wouldn't have felt right in a solemn place like Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park.

The pedestal of the Flame of Peace was designed to look like two opened hands with palms facing up

Took a stroll walk along one of the quieter corners of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park while digesting everything I've saw, read and learnt. Much as I want to believe that people are good at heart despite all the evil in the world, those around me keep proving otherwise. That's life, huh. People keep disappointing, but you just accept it and go on your merry way.





Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a heritage center in its entirety. Every corner of the park is filled with history and stories, as proven by the numerous signs erected around to explain the significance of every nook and cranny.

Hiroshima's clear skies after the rain

Witnessed the clear blue skies of Hiroshima when I walked out of Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall — a sight impossible in Singapore due to our constant pollution. Sigh, Mother Nature sure is beautiful.

Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims

Built in 1951, the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims was one of first memorial monuments of the atomic bomb. The Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims holds the names of all victims of the atomic bomb.

Took my time and strolled around Peace Memorial Park, relishing the experience and enjoying the cold. I roamed the area for a while before I found directions to Children's Peace Monument, a statue to commemorate Sadako Sasaki.


Sadako Sasaki was only two years old at the time of the Hiroshima atomic bombing. Living about 2km away, she was thrown out of the window when the atomic bomb exploded. Sadako was a miracle child since young and she miraculously survived the blast. However, tragedy struck Sadako at age 11 — she fainted while training for a sports meet and was subsequently diagnosed with leukemia, a common type of cancer caused by radiation exposure after the calamity.



Recalling the Japanese belief that if you fold a thousand paper cranes, your will be granted a wish, Sadako began folding paper cranes within the four walls of the hospital she was confined to. Soon, Sadako ran out of paper and used any material she could find, including medicine wrappings and candy wrappers.


Sadako was freed from her sufferings and passed away on 25 October 1955, at age 12. The consensus is that Sadako folded a thousand paper cranes before passing away, although some recounts suggests that Sadako only folded 644 paper cranes.

Paper cranes since became a symbol of peace, and a statue of Sadako holding a giant paper crane was erected in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in remembrance of the strong-willed girl.



Children's Peace Monument was a place I only ever dared to dream about visiting as a kid. I Googled incessantly for photos of Children's Peace Monument because I was so desperate to catch a glimpse of that place that inspired me to be a stronger person, to believe in peace, to fight my demons, to live. It was this exact Children's Peace Monument that began my love for war history.

I silently wiped away a tear that flowed down my cheeks as I realised that words aren't — will never be — adequate to describe the initial overwhelming feelings of seeing Children's Peace Monument upclose and personal.

Children's Peace Monument

Children's Peace Monument

Address 
1 Nakajimacho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture 730-0811, Japan

Growing up a history buff, Hiroshima was the part of my solo travel that I looked most forward. I first learnt about Hiroshima when my primary school teacher introduced my class the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes. Immensely touched by Sadako's strong will to live, I vowed to visit Hiroshima some day. It took me 13 years, but I knew the wait was worth it the moment I laid my eyes on the A-Bomb Dome. It was surreal, very very surreal, to know that my dream came true — all because of my own hard work, no less.

Hiroshima was never in my itinerary and was an extremely last minute stop. My itinerary initially consisted of the mainstream tourist spots, going Osaka – Kyoto – Tokyo. Making the last minute stop at Hiroshima meant I travelled back and forth Japan, and I was shot curious glances when I told people aout my itinerary but Hiroshima is worth it. So worth it.

7 hours on Willer Express from Kyoto to Hiroshima

Being my chatty self, I made friends with a backpacker from Paris and shared travel stories. I guess that's the best part about travelling solo — you open up easier compared to travelling with a companion. In turn, you tend to make more friends, often of different cultures.


By then, I was halfway through my solo travel and thoroughly exhausted. I removed my make up on the overnight bus and zonked out almost immediately. Tip 1: Bring make up removal wipes as they are much more compact to bring around. Or just abandon make up completely, which was what happened nearing the end of my travels.

Tip 2: if you're travelling on overnight buses like Willer Express, bring an eyemask so the lights switched on and off randomly throughout the bus ride will not affect your sleep. I had my earpiece on because I listened to music to sleep, but you might want to bring noise-cancelling earpugs.




My bus was originally scheduled to arrive at Hiroshima at 5:55am but as with Japan's efficiency, we arrived a little ahead of schedule, right before daybreak. Since my pick up point later that night was also going to be at Hiroshima South Exit, I took photos of my surrounding area in case I can't find that place at night.

Hiroshima Station South Exit (in front of 7-11 'Hiroshima matsubaracho-ten'), where Willer Express overnight buses stop

My phone was running out of battery at this point because I stupidly placed my travel adapter on the floor in Kyoto Station and walked away without it. Walked into a Seven Eleven expecting to find a travel adapter because have you visited Seven Elevens overseas? They have everything — except travel adapters and earrings.

By now, I learnt to show photos instead of hoping for someone who can understand English or Chinese. Unfortunately, the shopkeepers didn't recognise the travel adapter photos I found on Google for some reason, and I had a hard time explaining what I needed. I kept repeating, "Japan, Singapore, different. *plugging in socket hand gesture*"

A Japanese lady saw me strruggling at the counter and she was kind enough to download a translation app for me to type in what I wanted so she could give me directions! My heart :'))) Japanese are sooooo amazingly nice; they really go beyond everything to make sure you get the help you need even if it doesn't benefit them in any way. Thank you Japan, for reminding me what kindness is all about.

Bought cheese tart in 7-11 in case I got hungry

Because Hiroshima Station was under renovation, I sturggled with finding the lockers in a bit. The lockers located right opposite the taxi bay, near a police station.


I bought the 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass for ¥840 (approx SGD $10.50) and it gives me access to all lines on the Electric Railway (Hiroshima's version of trains which gets you to virtually all the tourists spots), and Ferryboat from Miyajima-guchi to Miyajima and back.

Hiroshima was slightly different from Osaka and Kyoto — I bought my 1 Day Streetcar and Ferry Pass after boarding the Electric Railway, while you typically purchase your transport passes from the stations itself in other cities. The early hours probably contributed to this change as well; I read online that tourists usually can buy the 1 Day Streetcar Pass at Hiroshima Station Streetcar Information Desk (in front of the departure platform).


When all that was over and done with, I travelled on the Electric Railway to Genbaku-Domu Mae Station, and I found myself facing the A-Bomb Dome. It was glorious, magnificent and breathtaking... But my face wasn't. I darted into a toilet nearby to put on some make up because I looked exhausted — not that I expected any otherwise from a overnight bus ride. And that was when my earrings fell out again -___- Told myself to relax this time, and just enjoy Hiroshima first so that's what I did.


Tears welled up in my eyes as I re-approached A-Bomb Dome. I had to choke back tears every step I took. I was there. I was there. I was finally there! I gasped. I was conflicted and confused — was I crying because I had accomplished my childhood dream, or because I was standing right in front of a building with such rich history? Maybe a bit of both, but does it really matter at that point?

I took a short stroll around A-Bomb Dome, making sure I've taken in every bit of what it has to offer. The solemn atmosphere. That one action which changed history. The fact that I'm a Singaporean, how the fate of A-Bomb Dome — the death of thousands of mere Japanese — directly impacted the lives of my ancestors and in a way, me. It was intense and overwhelming, and I was glad I was there alone because no one in the world would have understood how much this meant to me.