Linda Liao's Reviews Page 21/36

When visiting Hiroshima, if you want to experience the authentic atmosphere of a Japanese-style izakaya, consider stopping by Umihei Shoten. The interior has a touch of nostalgic Showa-era charm, and the atmosphere is lively and full of local character, with plenty of people gathering after work. It's a great place to relax and enjoy a hearty meal after a full day of sightseeing.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of dishes, but the steamed oysters impressed me the most. A large metal box comes filled with fresh, plump oysters in their shells. The moment you open the lid, the aroma hits you. They have a rich ocean flavor and are sweet and juicy, and every bite lets you savor the oysters' natural freshness. Compared with the more common grilled oysters, I actually prefer them steamed〜I recommend giving them a try.

Hiroshima's streetcars are an important means of transportation in the city. Their nostalgic, retro appearance as they travel through the streets is also an iconic part of Hiroshima's cityscape. The routes cover the city, making it easy to travel between various tourist attractions. If you're planning to visit Miyajima, you can also take the streetcar to Miyajimaguchi, then transfer to a ferry to Miyajima. It's very convenient.

It gives a comfortable and welcoming first impression. The overall space is spacious and bright, with soft tones throughout the interior creating a relaxed atmosphere. The room has a comfortable sofa chair where you can unwind and enjoy a snack after returning.

After watching a video by a Japanese reviewer, I came to see what all the fuss was about. Even though I deliberately avoided peak hours, there were still a few people lined up outside, showing just how busy the restaurant is all day. I waited about half an hour, and during that time, watching the chef skillfully work the spatulas over the griddle through the glass was enough to make my mouth water.

The chef deftly piled plenty of cabbage and bean sprouts onto the crispy base, sprinkled on some seasoning, and then laid strips of bacon over the top. The ingredients sizzled on the hot griddle, filling the air with their aroma. All I could do was hope the customers inside would finish quickly and free up a seat so I could finally experience the food I had been looking forward to for so long.

Once seated, I was lucky enough to get a spot at the counter, where I could admire the chef's skills up close. When the piping-hot Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki arrived, I poured sauce over it and eagerly dug in. As I ate, the crisp clanging of spatulas against the griddle rang in my ears. The sights, aromas, and flavors blended together, making me feel as if I had become part of the lively world around the griddle.

原爆圓頂館靜靜矗立在和平紀念公園對側，以僅存的殘破結構，無聲地向世人訴說戰爭的殘酷，以及和平的珍貴。

不只是來到廣島必訪的景點，更是這座城市浴火重生的見證人。活在今日和平的社會，我們更應珍惜得來不易的安穩，省思戰爭所帶來的苦難與破壞，並記住那些曾經逝去的生命。

願所有逝者安息，也願溫暖的陽光照亮這片曾經受傷的土地，讓和平的信念代代延續。

Kitakaro Hokkaido Pioneer Okaki is a specialty souvenir from Hokkaido, made with locally grown Hokkaido rice. It's crispy, naturally aromatic, and the sweet and salty flavor is hard to stop eating. There are many varieties, and the packaging also has a distinctly Hokkaido style. Recommended for people who prefer savory snacks to sweets. It's great either for yourself or as a gift, and gift boxes are also available, letting you enjoy multiple flavors at once.

Hiroshima Castle Sannomaru is a newly developed leisure and shopping area near Hiroshima Castle, with restaurants, souvenir shops, and cultural experiences. After visiting the castle, you can stop by to walk around, grab something to eat, and shop for unique items.

The cat café is highly recommended for cat lovers. You can observe cats with all kinds of personalities up close, and being surrounded by them is quite blissful. At feeding time, they even line up in a row to eat!

Hiroshima Orizuru Tower is near the Atomic Bomb Dome and is a tourist attraction themed around peace and paper cranes. The paper crane tradition comes from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Hiroshima girl who developed leukemia after the atomic bombing and kept folding paper cranes in hopes of recovering. Paper cranes later became an important symbol of prayers for peace in Hiroshima. Inside the tower, you can fold a paper crane as a prayer and drop it into the Orizuru Wall from an upper floor, watching it flutter all the way down. It feels especially meaningful and ceremonial.

However, admission is about JPY 2,200, which isn't cheap. If you're not particularly interested in the views from above or the other activities inside, you may want to consider whether it's worth going up. The gift shop on the first floor, on the other hand, is well worth browsing. It sells lots of stylish stationery, household items, and snacks with a distinctly Hiroshima feel. Many of the products are high quality and quite unique. If you're looking for souvenirs to give someone, this is a good option.

Visiting Hiroshima Castle made me feel the strength of a city continually rebuilding itself through the tides of history. Hiroshima Castle was originally built by Mori Terumoto in 1589 and marked an important starting point in Hiroshima's historical development. The original castle structures remained intact until the final days of World War II, but were destroyed by the powerful blast and fires caused by the atomic bombing in 1945. The Hiroshima Castle we see today was reconstructed after the war to resemble the original, which makes it feel even more precious.

In addition to the reconstructed castle tower, you can find old stone walls, ruins, and traces of history throughout the park. The trees that survived the atomic bombing are still growing strong, offering a powerful sense of life's resilience. Walking through the grounds, you can almost see the process of Hiroshima gradually recovering from the devastation of war and getting back on its feet. The castle displays many historical artifacts and documents, and the explanations are quite engaging. I recommend allowing 1 to 2 hours for your visit so you can take your time experiencing the history and memories held by Hiroshima Castle.

The museum houses many valuable historical materials and artifacts, and for anyone interested in military history, it is worth taking the time to explore carefully. The most famous exhibit is the realistic 1/10-scale model of the battleship Yamato. Its massive hull and intricate structure give you a sense of the scale of Japan's shipbuilding technology and military power at the time. The exhibits also explain the background of the Yamato's construction and the reasons it ultimately sank. During my last visit, the museum happened to be undergoing maintenance, and some artifacts had been moved to a nearby exhibition hall, so I wasn't able to see everything. After learning that the museum reopened in April 2026, I hope to find time to visit again and make up for what I missed last time.