Back From My Hiroshima Trip

こんいちわ！ Sorry that I have not posted anything in a while, I have been very busy here in Japan getting settled in and ready for school . Plus, I rather not be on the computer cause there is so much for me to see here!

Last night I got back from my Hiroshima trip with my host brother, some rotarians, and other exchange students (who are living in Japan as well) from around the world. I had a GREAT time. Not only have I made new friends but I`ve learned more Japanese, tried some crazy food, noticed many cultural differances, did new fun things, and learned a ton of Japanese history. Over the 3 day trip, I took over 600 photos. Haha I AM  SO NEW TO EVERYTHING!
Hiroshima is such a beautiful, advanced city. I visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum where I got too see many statues and memorials for thoes who died and asking for world peace.  I learned much more in the museum than I would even in  history class even though some parts of the museum where rough for me to handle, but I was so fortunate to vist such a historical place. Also, I saw and took photos of the last and only building left standing from the day of the atomic bomb; called The Atomic Bomb Dome. It was unbelieable to me that I got to see something that close that was still left from 67 years ago on the day of the atomic bomb.
 Here are the other things I visited and got to do on my trip:
- Rode the bullet train to Hiroshima, know as the Shinkansen, which was SO SO SO fast
- went to Miyajima, the Shrine Island, by  boat (it is part of Japan`s 3 most scenic views)
- I got to pet some deer there cause they just walk around, it was very funny
- Went to multiple shrines and learned how to properly wash hands and mouth before entering
- shopped at many cute, little shops
- ate at many new and exciting restraunts where the food was SO TASTY and some not so much...., but all the meals were prepared like fine art
- went walking around in the city of Hiroshima and stayed up all night karaoking at a karaoke place
- stayed in my own room at the Hiroshima Oriental Hotel with a beautiful view of the mountains and city
- went to the silver mines of Iwami Ginzan and visited historical village there (which was so nice!)
- stayed in a traditional Japanese style hotel, it was called Yunotsu kiun-soh where you eat on the floor, wear a summer time Kimono (the Japanese style dresses), and spa outside. It was so beautiful and very relxing there.
- Also, I went to the Hiroshima Samurai Matsue castle where there were samurai swords, outfits, and other artifacts used by Samurais
- made Japanese candy sweets :)
-  and finally, I tried Purikura, which is like photo booths for Japanes girls where it makes your eyes really big and you can edit your photos. It was so cool!:)

I will never forget this trip and I`m soo happy I learned so much! You can look at the photos from the trip that I uploaded to this blog!

-Hailey