Final leg of our amazing journey begins with Hiroshima… Hiroshima welcomes us with okonomiyaki (type of an omelette with noodles, shrimp, and eggs – a must try if you are in the area!), mouth-watering chocolate filled pastry and good weather….

After a simple yet tasty breakfast we are headed to Miyajima (the Shrine Island) – a sacred island off the Hiroshima coast that is filled with shrines, temples, mountains and beaches…

The ferry is picking us up from Hiroshima…

…and transporting us to another world…

The sun is barely reaching the ground through the thick clouds, creating an atmosphere of secluded, ethereal world…

Itsukushima Shrine torii (gate) welcomes the island’s visitors. The island is designated as the UNESCO World Heritage site for its beauty and cultural significance.

Not that many people live on the island, making it perfect for quiet walks…

…and thoughts

Deer, on the other hand, are everywhere…

Wander through tiny streets long enough and you’ll find souvenir shops along with the vending machines that are a hallmark of Japan (hot coffee and tea available at all times!)

Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

The shrine was built to float over the water, symbolizing its location between our world and the world of deities

Miyajima island was considered a sacred place, and not many people were allowed to visit it through much of its history. When people did arrive on the island, they had to go through the torii gate (perhaps in order to purify their souls)…

Back to the Hiroshima city for a solemn visit to the Atomic Bomb dome and museum…

The dome on the right is ground zero where the atomic bomb exploded.

Ground zero, up close.

An eerie feeling overtakes me – it is hard to imagine that this beautiful town witnessed the worst disaster made by man…

“…a pledge on behalf of all humanity never to repeat the evil of war.”

Will this pledge ever be fulfilled?