cwn

kappa, thanks for the reply. I printed it out for a refferrence. Assuming the ferry and train service run at least till 7pm, we will try eating on the island. Actually noodles and tenpura sound great to me! Several other dishes have been mentioned as good in the Hiroshima area so I know we will find something good. I was reading the plans and comments from the board to my husband last night. We are both really looking forward to the trip. You all have given such good info. Thanks so much!

emd

wow, I hadn't thought of that exactly, lcuy, although they have found an enlarged lymph node which may correspond to what you are suggesting...thanks very much for the tip, I will look into that. I have been thinking what will I do if this happens again after a long flight; if it turns out there is some way to prevent it that would be stellar.

mrwunrfl

Seryo looks nice. The food at Oohara-no Sato (Ohara's Village?) looks great!

If you have medical insurance you should contact them to see what coverage you have overseas. I have BC/BS and am covered and in fact I believe that the card would be accepted in Japan.

emd

cwn: ok ,here's that ferry schedule I got at the TIC at Hiroshima Peace Park.

The last ferry for Miyajima appears to leave Miyajima-guchi station at 22:40. There are ferries leaving every 15 min. after 8:10 in the morning (there are some before that at more random times but those starting at 8:10 are every 15 min), 8:25, 8:40, 8:55, and so on until 18:10. After 18:10, the next ones is at 18:30, and then every 15 min. after that til 19:45; then it is 20:30, 21:10, 22:00, and 22:40 is the last one. So you'll be fine, great choices in afternoon and evening, just head there and get the next one.

cwn

end, Thanks this helps in the planning! As I think we need to buy our train tickets as soon as we get to Osaka. Sunset is close to 7pm on the 22nd. The last fast train leaves Hiroshima station at 8:33.

How much time did it take you to travel back to Hiroshima station. It looks like we should have at least an hour till train time when we board the ferry- say no later than 7pm in Miyajima. There is a 6:45, 7:15 and a 7:29 trian to Himoshima. I read somewhere the ferry takes about 10 mins. Is that right? Of course, all this planning is dependent on no rain, but that's part of traveling!

Hope your foot gets better soon and that it is nothing serious.

emd

It takes exactly 26 min. for the JR train (which you get just a block straight out of the Miyajima-guchi port) to get to HIroshima station. I know it is exactly 26 min. because the TIC man told me so, the fella at the JR station at Miyajima-guchi told me so, and I timed it, and they were exactly right, it was exactly 26 min. It was like being in Switzerland on the trains there, it was so exact.
So we left Miyajima on the 5:10 (17:10) ferry, ferry took 10 min, but really closer to 13 min., got the next train to hiroshima station, w/boarding and disembarking, got to Hiroshima station at 6:15, shopped in the dept. store basement food area at the station and had time to get okonomiaki for dinner before boarding the Hikari #390 to Kyoto at 7:47 pm and arriving in Kyoto at 9:40 pm.

emd

oops, that part about boarding and disembarking was supposed to be next to the part about the ferry really taking 13 min.

emd

and btw, one little trick that can shave 5 min. off of this and make a train's or ferry's difference: as you come out of the JR station at the port, there is a strret to cross to get to the port. And the timing is awful on th elight, it is a busy st. and it takes like 5-7 min. for the light to change to cross. So they have an underground walkway there and you use it to cross under the street. It is not readily apparent that that is what the stairs going down are ofr, just go down them and go under the street and voila, and do the same on the way back.

cwn

end, Thanks! These are the little tricks the guide books never mention. Little tips like this, from the board, for our last Asia trip save alot of fussing by my husband!

emd

Maybe Seryo or Ohara-no-sato would be good choices for the potential Japan GTT. The autumn colors at Ohara-no-sato's site look absolutely amazing.

BTW, there are other things to see in Ohara than Sanzen'in and Jakkoin, and just gazing at the beauty of the area. The Exploring Kyoto by Clancey has a good chapter on Ohara the includes Raigoin (where you take a left to go to Sanzen'in, you go straight instead, 10 min. walk up the path towards the mountain; sounds like it has incredible moss and azaleas around it) and that leads to the Otonashi no Taki (the soundless waterfalls) surrounded by wysteria, it is a cascading waterfall; and the one I went to and loved, Shorin'in, and next to that one is Hosen'in; as well as Amidaji, which is a 40 min. walk from the bottom of the path across from the bus station and light that leads up towards Sanzen'in. There are buses from the station that go to Amidaji in what is called "the valley of ancient knwledge", ride takes 10 min., 160 yen. It is at the Kochitani stop, so a "Kochitani desu ka?" should get you there (see, I'm learning!) Kochitani is the 3rd bus stop from Ohara. This is a very uncommercial area, and Clancey says "the walk up through the forest deepens the feelings of antiquity and remoteness that ibue the valley"- this sounds like my kind of place. Sigh.

emd

imbue.

ozgal

Now emd I'm sure I can't recall ever mentioning that my sons argued! Are you psychic or something?

albaaust

Hi emd what a fantastic report! Reading it brought back lots of wonderful memories. I do have to share with you that our experience was very similar in terms of noticing the huge contrast between Japan and Australia. When we arrived back in Sydney the "couldn't care a less" attitude really struck us as our bags which we had looked after so carefully were "thrown" into the shuttle bus and the place appeared to be so dirty.I must admit I even felt a little ashamed to be an Aussie when the driver (who admitedly strictly speaking wasn't an Aussie) started abusing other drivers. It was just so loud and aggressive compared to the past month when all we saw and heard was welcoming smiles and no raising of voices. We felt compelled to reassure tourists sitting near us that we were all not like that! On another subject did you buy the woodblock prints? Where did you get them? What other gifts did you buy or for yourself?
I hope your foot is better. Do make sure that you have thorough checks for DVT. One of my close friends developed it and unfortunately did not survive. On a lighter note...Like other respondents I agree that your relationship with your son will be enriched by the experience and there will be so many things that you may not have anticipated that will emerge at the most unexpected times.For example, my daughter writes the most beautiful poetry about Chiang Mai in Thailand.Keep writing your thoughts and do get better.

emd

Oh, albaaust, did I shop. And I am not normally a shopper. But the quality was great, I got good prces, and the stuff is just so lovely and cool. I got woodblocks. I found 2 small shops near Senjosi on the first day that had them, one was right on the street leading up to the temple. My favorite is wonderful 12" x 18" matted woodblock of a famous geisha, Itsutomi (she was the most popular geisha of the Yoshiwara in the 1st half of the Kansei era, 1790-'94) by Eishi(who influenced Utamaro). She is simply lovely, and has a samisen stringed instrument next to her and a pick in her hand. You can see her at http://www.adachi-hanga.com/hp_english/en_gl_b22.htm
I paid $80. And other smaller ones, $30-40. I did not attempt to buy any antique ones, I decided it is better to do that through the NYC dealer I have used.
I started a collection of tea spoons, some wood, ceramic, porcelain, and handmade wooden kitchen spoons/untensils. Tea canisters, chopsticks and holders, fine washi paper stationary, yummy food items from Kyoto and the train station kiosks; handmade fabric items like purses, glass cases, handkerchiefs from the textile center; hand beaded jewlery (a favorite of mine, great handmade jewelry co-op in Nakano Mall). I got some great Kiyomizu ware sake cups w/enamel overlay, this is a famous Kyoto style of handiwork. I have those in the living rm. on display, they are so lovely. Nishijin-ori silk woven fabric design w/gold thread to frame (mine has cranes flying over a lake; I found it outside a shop in Ohara on the path up to Sanzen'in). A collection of cool samurai miniatures. Baseball team items. And all the other things I mentioned in the report from Toji market. And more...

I'm glad I'm not the only one to have problems w/the loud aggressive thing upon returning. That is a big part of the great experience there, people are so different, and it really hit home how I can tend to be suspicious of people and their motives. Just when I thought someone in Japan was going to "give me trouble", they surprised me completely w/some very gracious act. I know that in Japan deviation from the norm is not well-tolerated socially, and I appreciate having more of that tolerance in the U.S. But the quiet ways in Japan are so refreshing, and I have much to learn from it.

emd

lcuy, thanks so much for the heads up on potential for lymphedema. I've been researching it and this may be it, since every other diagnotic test so far has been negative, and primary lymphedema can manifest itself for the first time on or after long flights. I need to go to L.A. for work soon too. I'm going discuss this w/my dr. and see a lymphedema specialist for diagnostics. I really appreciate you bringing this up.

rhkkmk

i just met 'cheech and chong' and they thought they would stop by next weekend to visit you...they wanted to know if i thought you would have anything in the house to drink??

emd

Uh, well, actually Bob, I don't think these guys had been drinking. They had that other funny smell. Not that I had ever smelled it before, and if I had smelled it it would have been a long time ago, but it isn't something you would forget if you had ever smelled it, not that I ever have.
And that's about how much sense Cheech and Chong were making too. They sure were laughing hard though. And unlike the space nazi, they got quiet when they passed out. I much preferred having them behind me, a thousand times over.
Now bob, if you ever run into that space nazi lady, you just tell her to have a great day for me, and bow while you are at it.

emd

oh, and one more thing. I may have been sitting in front of them, but I did NOT inhale.

rhkkmk

bill would be proud of you

monkeyrhino

emd...i just got to reading your report...WOW!!! It's sounds like you and your son have very similar tastes. I have so many questions, but think I need to absorb for a moment. It's funny that Mr emd's cousin is in the Dropkick's. I live in Boston and they are such a staple here. I think I need to get some good directions to the Bandai Museum, Gee Store, nakano Mall, Mr Craft & probably Ninja Asakusa. Uzamasa Movieland, too. Any important things to know about Westin Miyako? And, is it totally dumb to go to Hakone for 2 nights during rainy season. It was more the "relaxation" part of our trip, but it sounds like it may be better spent in Kyoto. I am sure I will think of a thousand other questions tonight. I am sooo glad you had a fabulous trip & your son sounds like a neat guys. I have a feeling he and my husband would have a lot to talk about =)