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| Okunoshima |
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| beautiful island in its own right |
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| Okunoshima summit |
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| Poison gas factory remains... |
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| back on the main land... looking back at Okunoshima |
Warning: Lots of pics. These bunnies were too cute.
This is part 2/3 of the Japanese "wildlife" tour.
Part 1 was the Snow Monkeys. Part 3 coming shortly.
Xmas isn't a big holiday in Japan and most of the population goes to work as it is not a holiday. So while Becca was at work, we decided to do a day trip from Hiroshima using our JR rail pass.
Here's the rest thus far...
Part 5 - Railway Museum, cousins
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| The kids were exhausted and we had to wake them up for X-mas morning. They don't really get presents yet... |
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| Becca had to work, so we decided to do a day trip somewhere. And we settled on bunny island. On the way to the train station we got on a PINK taxi! Oh boy oh boy... the kids were excited. AND it had pink pillows! |
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| Pink taxi! |
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| Picking up breakfast at the train station Con Bini - Convenience Store... 7-11. Nikko's favorite. Natto rolls! |
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| And we used our JR rail pass to hop on a Shinkansen 2 stops... |
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| to Mihara station. We didn't get off, but this station is built on an old castle. With a moat. Pretty crazy... Not sure what kind of impact statement they wrote for proposing this one.. |
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| Here's a pic of the station... |
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| Okunoshima seemed to be quite the attraction. There were signs to how to get there in many languages... |
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| From Mihara station we got on the local line over to Tadanoumi Station. This track runs right on the ocean, very pretty. Amazing sea kayaking potential... |
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| Good map for the day. |
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| The rules on the ferry ride over. |
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| You can camp there! That'd be super fun. |
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| As soon as you get off the ferry, you are surrounded by bunnies and you are instantly satisfied. |
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| They are soooo cute. This was quite the crowd pleaser... |
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| we bought a bunch of rabbit food before getting on the ferry... I think at a seven 11. |
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| The sea kayaking potential in this bay is incredible. |
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| Clean white sandy beaches... |
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| Turns out the bunnies like cabbage. |
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| There are many trails on the island. |
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| we decided to walk around clockwise... this is by the visitor center. |
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| door to Mordor... |
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| Okunoshima also has a dark history. In 1925 the Japanese Imperial Army decided to start a secret program to develop chemical weapons, even though they just signed the Geneva Conventions prohibiting them to do so. The island hosted a plant that ended up producing over 6 kTons of mustard gas and tear gas... |
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| we didn't see any... but Japan is still quite wild. In some areas... |
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| freestyle feeding. |
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| At the visitor center, there is a nice restaurant serving cheap udon. reason number 453 to love Japan.... |
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| after the poison gas museum, we hiked to the summit of the island. Where there is a sundial. |
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| and more bunnies. The best thing about bunnies is that they are so stupid they don't follow you, or chase, or hunt you down. A very refreshing animal to feed compared to monkeys, raccoons, and even deer... |
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| Really crazy looking flower. Have no idea what it might be... |
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| A bunny bit me! |
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| On the ferry, there is a baby play area. Nikko was copying whatever the baby was doing. While Kai was just dancing... |
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| Our next destination is the top of that mountain on the other side... |
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| In Japan, mountain climbing is very regimented... At the train station there is a sign that reads. It'll take around 1 hr if you are slowly walking... then 50 min if you are walking normally, and 40 min if you are walking fast. And you'll waste 103 kcal if you weigh 50kg and 124 kcal if you weigh 60kg. |
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| The hike is steep, but very rewarding. |
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| with fresh springs to stop at... |
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| And buddha kanons to bow down to. |
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| This is the rest area. Suggested rest time: 5 min... |
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| The tippy top requires following this chain. Kimbo stayed back. |
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| Kai "resting" on the way home... |
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| forgot why Kimbo has that face... but that is not a face that is messing around. |
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| back on the Shinkansen, beer in hand, soon we'll be back at Becca's after a long, fun day feeding bunnies and lots of hiking. |
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