A lazy morning in Hiroshima and an evening walk in Kumamoto - Japan at Cherry Blossom 2023 - 15
30.03.2023 - A lazy morning in Hiroshima and an evening walk in Kumamoto
Weather: sunny in Hiroshima, overcast sky in Kumamoto
Walking distance: 16 km
We will not leave Hiroshima until the afternoon. The morning is intended for people to visit the Peace Park, the museum, and the other things in the area. But I've been there already the day before yesterday for some sunset and blue hour shots. So I skip my originally planned early morning visit and decide to take it easy.
Check-out time is 11am and after getting a coffee I go back to the room and sort through some photos.
Shortly before 11am I'm checking out and by chance, I meet another couple from the group. They want to go to a café for a late breakfast or brunch and ask me if I want to come along. Why not?. Yesterday evening I thought to go back to the Okonomiyaki restaurant, but now I think that the portion is way too big.
So we are walking towards the station where they found a cafe on Google Maps. Unfortunately, it seems that it doesn't exist anymore. So we look at the next department store but the cafe there is anything but nice. Instead, I find here the Japanese BBQ chain I had dinner in Tokyo. Still, we're looking for a cafe. The next one is serving only Japanese lunch till 3pm but nothing sweet. Finally, we go to a local version of Starbucks on the other side of the train station. I take a look at what they have to offer and decide to change my plan. I will go for the Japanese BBQ. This time I order a smaller portion, which should be enough for now. The meat is different, but again very tasty. Good decision!
I grab a coffee at Lawson (this time as good as the one in Kyoto), sit a bit in the sun, and then return to the hotel to take the Shinkansen to Kumamoto [↗] together with the others.
The train ride takes 1:40 hours, but check-in at the hotel takes its time. There are not many highlights here in Kumamoto. We're mainly here to visit Mount Aso [↗] tomorrow.
Around 5pm I leave the hotel to take a walk. I decide to go to the castle of Kumamoto [↗]. It's still under renovation after being damaged by an earthquake a couple of years ago. However, I wouldn't visit it anyway and maybe I can get some nice shots from the outside. The problem is that it is overcast, so no nice afternoon light and no chance of a nice sunset.
It's a 30 minutes walk, but not really interesting - a lot of midsized concrete buildings. When I arrive, I stroll a bit through the large park near the castle, which offers some nice views.
Now let's see if I can find a restaurant in the city center. Well, there is not just one but literally dozens if not hundreds. An area of maybe 5 blocks is full of shops and restaurants. Not only downstairs but also on the upper floors. The problem is just that they are obviously not set up for international travelers. Everything is in Japanese only often without pictures and no prices either. Even with Google Translate, I'm pretty lost. But who's coming around and saving me? My favorite Japanese restaurant chain. The one from Tokyo and Hiroshima. So I have a Japanese BBQ again. This time they even bring you the tablet with the food and there is a cashier instead a machine to pay the bill.
During dinner, I decide to go back to the castle and see if the illumination is worthwhile for a few nighttime photos. Around 9pm I'm back at the hotel.
