On the other hand, Japan’s food, with its readily available – and inexpensive – noodle and rice bowls, would be appealing to even the pickiest of eaters. And for our daughter, who loves sashimi, it was not an issue.

Not unexpectedly, our daughter mostly looked like this on our trip:

The exceptions were Nara with its deer, parks, and forest, an unexpected pleasure about which I have previously written, and the Kaiyukan Aquarium in Osaka, which is wonderful for all ages. We initially thought the highlights of the Aquarium were the 5,400-ton tank, home to two shark whales and many more large and small fish, an incredible room with dozen or so varieties of jelly fish, and the gigantic spider crabs, but this was only until we arrived at the “petting zoo.”

Osaka’s aquarium provides the unique opportunity to stroke small rays and sharks. They feel as expected – the sharks are rough to touch and rays slimy. There are plenty of sinks to wash your hands before and after, and my daughter loved this tactile experience – but probably not enough to agree to visit Japan again any time soon. No, she’s already dreaming about going to a Thai beach at Christmas, a trip we have planned, this time around, with a four-year-old in mind.

The only building left intact following the August 6, 1945 nuclear explosion

A bottle

A child’s piece of clothing

Before and after

From a plaque outside the Hiroshima Museum:

War is the work of man.
War is destruction of human life.
War is death
To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future.
To remember Hiroshima is to abhor nuclear war.
To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to peace.

Pope John Paul II

On this second trip to Japan, my husband and I very much wanted to visit Hiroshima.  While our vacation was mostly focused on Kyoto and Osaka, we felt it was important to see this historic city and remember what happened on August 6, 1945.

I was not sure how I would feel upon seeing the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, the building we all know so well as the one the Japanese decided to leave intact following the bomb.   It turned out that the visit to the original bomb site and target, the T-shaped Aioi Bridge – and then the Museum – was as emotional as one would expect.  But it wasn’t it wasn’t the memorials – though they were moving – so much as the Museum.

The Museum in Hiroshima is dedicated to promoting peace and telling the world about the danger of Atomic bombs.  It puts physics and chemistry into laymen’s terms so that every visitor leaves with a firm understanding of what an atomic explosion means.  To demonstrate the city’s commitment to a nuclear-free world, each time a bomb is tested, the mayor sends a letter of protest reminding leaders of the dangers of atomic war. 

Some of the more striking exhibits are relief maps of Hiroshima before and after the bomb, but most stirring are the photographs and exhibits of bottles, clothing and other items that survived the bomb.  And the reminder that atomic bombs today are thousands of times more powerful than the one dropped in August 1945. 

The Museum speaks to the innocent people who died on that day – from women and children to Koreans who were forced to live and work there, far from home – and calls on visitors to listen to the eyewitness testimony of survivors with concern so that their experience is never forgotten. 

I appreciated the Museum’s focus on convincing visitors to help in its quest to educate people of the reality of nuclear war and encourage them to take action when they can.  It was a good reminder for us of what the alternative to peace could be.

Visit DeliciousBaby’s  to see more photos.

Nara Gate and Deer

Deer Biscuits

Friendly Deer

Fortune Sticks

Todai-ji Temple

Kasuga Shrine boasts thousands of stone lanterns.

One doesn’t have to walk far before running into the hundreds of feral deer, which roam freely throughout the town. There are kiosks at regular intervals where, for approximately US$1.50, one may purchase a package of biscuits to feed the deer, which approach people in anticipation of a snack.

While the deer make the first impression in Nara, the town’s tranquil setting and lovely ancient temples are what linger long after one has left. The ancient monuments of Nara were named World Heritage Sights by UNESCO in 1998. Some of the most famous – and spectacular – include Kohfuku-ji Temple, Todai-ji Temple, and Kasuga Grand Shrine. The approach to the structures through a park and forest add to their beauty and make for a pleasant walk.

While we did not find Japan to be the most small child-friendly of our recent destinations (defined by a lack of playgrounds and cities that are best seen by walking, walking, and more walking), Nara was an exception. Our four-year-old daughter enjoyed feeding the deer, and Todai-ji Temple offered one of her more lively moments when she noticed a line of people waiting to squeeze their way through one of the wooden pillars behind the large seated Buddha.

Elisa observed several school children – and then adults – hold their breath as they negotiated the narrow passage through a large column, before asking if she could give it a try. She patiently waited in line and easily slipped through. After she had successfully repeated her small adventure three or four times, a gentleman explained to me that if one passes through the small hole, he or she becomes wiser. We watched adults giving it a try and noticed that success depended on stretching out their arms over their head, as if in a dive, before passing through.

I tried not to be offended, when, upon casually mentioning I might give it a try, a look of horror crossed my small daughter’s face as she exclaimed, “Mommy! You’ll never make it! It’s too small! You’re too big! You’ll get stuck! DON’T TRY!” I decided to go with her new found wisdom.

The older I get, the more I seem to enjoy the more tranquil spots when travelling. Although we were in Nara just a day, it was a moment of serenity and peace we appreciated.

Will She make it?

Elisa gives it a try

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