On a Trip to Japan - My Family Travels

           Missing limbs, deadly body burns, and dripping skin.  This is the trauma that I saw while on my trip to Hiroshima, Japan.  During spring break in my sophomore year I was lucky enough to be a part of a “cultural exchange” program.  Our Key Club advisor took a bunch of students from Hilo High School on a home stay in Sumoto City.  For four days we were housed by students living on Awaji Island.  The next day we drove on a bus from the tiny island to Hiroshima.  This was beginning of a trip that touched my life.

            Our group visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum remembering the thousands who died from the atomic bomb during World War II.  Being an American in a museum like that is shameful.  You are reminded how absolutely cruel our country was to Japan.  Our atomic bomb decimated Hiroshima.  In the museum there was one model of Hiroshima before the bombing and after.  There was only one important building that stood, which is a monument today.  When you are at the memorial site, you can feel everything.  It is a very hard feeling to describe.  You can feel the sadness, the agony, and pain that those people went through.  You literally just want to cry.

            When we were first dropped off, we were able to view the building that withstood the bombing.  Across the water-work is a big bell.  Visitors can come and ring the bell in remembrance of all those who were killed.  The bell was like a gong.  It was huge and sturdy.  When it rang, it was deep and loud.  The sound waves practically penetrated through your body. 

            The next site was dedicated to Sadako.  She was the girl in the novel Sadako and the Thousand Cranes.  She fell ill with leukemia and was determined to fold 1,000 cranes to get better.  Our tour guide told us that Sadako’s mother, hoping to keep Sadako’s hopes up, would hide her cranes so that she didn’t know she had folded more than 1,000.  This memorial had clear booths filled with cranes.  Prior to our trip, we each folded about 50 cranes and strung them together.  At the memorial we were able to put our cranes in one of those booths to remember Sadako.  There were probably thousands of cranes crowded in those booths. 

            Finally we went inside of the museum.  In the first part, there was information about the attack, copies of letters from the Japanese discussing the possibilities of war, and many models and pictures.  The second part of the museum was truthfully frightening.  There were pictures of people with burns all over their body.  In one display, there was a man’s finger.  All that his mother found of his body after the bombing was his thumb.  Other displays had shreds of skin from victims.  Then there was a full size diorama of a mother with her two children walking in the rubble.  Their clothes were shredded.  Their body was burnt and their skin was oozing off of their arms.  It was those kinds of things where you want to look but you’re not sure if you should.  This part of the museum also had the actual cranes folded by Sadako.  They were so tiny and intricate and most of all, beautiful. 

            This experience helped me see myself and Japan in a whole new way.  I am of Japanese ancestry and my great-grandparents were from Hiroshima.  My trip to Japan really touched me in a deep way.  Japan is a part of me and this trip helped me connect to it. 

Dear Reader: This page may contain affiliate links which may earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Our independent journalism is not influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative unless it is clearly marked as sponsored content. As travel products change, please be sure to reconfirm all details and stay up to date with current events to ensure a safe and successful trip.

0 Replies to “On a Trip to Japan”

  • Jordantours

    Thanks for sharing experience..

  • ObeidatOlivia

    Nice Blog. Thanks for sharing a family resort.

  • Anonymous

    Thanks for any other great post. Where else may anyone get that type of information in such an ideal means of writing?
    I have a presentation next week, and I am at the search for
    such info.

  • dubai tours

    Very good article.

  • Devesh Bhatt

    Very good post thanks for sharing with us

  • toubkal

    Thanks for this interesting post! keep up the great work! well done!

  • Rajasthan Tour Packages

    Grt place to visit.. This place is located after entering the Ranthambore National Park.. However, to visit this place u can evn get your own vehicle…

  • todobigo

    John, glad you liked the story. This park is in Ohio where the weather can be unpredictable! It’s warmest between late April and November, but even April has the risk of some snow. If you’re camping with kids, the safest bet is June to August, because it’s warmer and there’s little rain. Enjoy your trip.

  • Julie Robert

    Hey Maggie, I really appreciate your innovative traveling ideas. You have covered so many adventurous places. Waiting for some new destinations. Please keep posting.

  • Card Games

    This post are very useful one. It is great to see this blog. Thank you for sharing this.
    Game Lover

  • things to do in marrakech

    It’s truly magical being there. I love the art this country offers. Their wall arts and crafts are just lovely.

  • John Vega

    Hi Maggie,

    You always share to the world with something new and different destinations. Thank you so much for sharing.

    The history of Cuhahoga valley national park seems interesting and must be a new experience when we observe scenes of National park from their scenic campgrounds.

    which season do you think is the best time to visit this national park?

  • Gujarat And Around

    Very Interesting And Useful Post Thanks For Sharing With Us….
    This Information Are Very Informative.

  • Andre Robles

    Wow, what a nice article. Makes you feel like you should pack up and go immediately. It seems Linblad runs a good operation and trips are kid friendly. Is there a list of particular dates that are family friendly or are there kid activities year round on board the boats. Any other advice on travling with kids to Ecuador and Galapagos would be really welcome.

  • Puzzel Games

    Nice Blog, thank you so much for sharing this amazing blog.

  • todobigo

    Hello Michael, glad to hear your family is interested in a dude ranch holiday.
    Since your kids are older and, hopefully, everyone in the family rides, you have lots of options. The Dude Ranchers Association is a really helpful resource in sorting through the many types of ranch vacations. For example, you can go here: https://duderanch.org/by-activity-amenity and search for ‘Advanced Rides’ and “Cattle Drives’ and that would get you some real working ranches that would have more of the lifestyle you seem to be looking for. One of our authors recommends the Hideout in Shell, Wyoming for this type of trip.

  • michael novinski

    Looking for a real ranch experience with horseback riding (lots of it) and time in the open air with my son (15) and daughter (12) and my wife (49). I am 62. We live in NJ, my children have been sheltered but I grew up in a small coal mining town in Pennsylvania. I want my children to see another side of life.

  • Kashmir Tour

    very informative post i just checked your blog its very interesting and full of information we are tour operators in Indian Kashmir we provide Kashmir Holiday packages where you can live with local Muslim communities see their lifestyle and get a chance to taste authentic Kashmiri Halal food our Kashmir Tour Packages are customized and very cheap at pocket.

  • darjeeling honeymoon package

    Very Useful especially who travel with there kids

  • Hoi An Car

    I like it.

  • Self Driving Cars in Chennai

    This post is very useful and informative..Thanks for posting..

  • Self Driving Cars in Chennai

    This post is very useful and informative

  • Cheapest Tour Packages for Kashmir

    Good information thanks for posting

  • Tapsy Tours

    Great destinations for First Night and New Year’s Eve! Check out our favourite ones in Europe: https://tapsy.blog/?s=new+year%27s+eve

  • Rajasthan Tour

    Your Post Is Informative. Thanks For Sharing With Us.

  • om travels

    Great to see! Thanks for sharing.

  • Anonymous

    I was examining some of your content on this website and
    I think this web site is really informative!
    Continue putting up.

  • Reshma Raju

    The dark tourism and light India is a nice article to read. Thank you for sharing it.

  • Eva Torres

    Of course, you can do travel freely and easily through these two countries yourself, but I enjoyed having the trip curated for me, including well-chosen local guides, comfortable transportation on call and some superb private tours, such as a Khmer cooking class or historic walking tour of Saigon, with flexibility in the itinerary for our group of five to follow their own paths, such as making an emotional detour to the moving Genocide Museum housed in the old S-21 jail in Phnom Penh.

  • Antholhof

    I agree, the helpful information

  • Roy Smith

    Very Nice and Informative Blog About Heritage Rajasthan tour. Thanks For Sharing This Blog…..

  • Holiday House Management Central Coast

    I enjoyed reading your Italian family vacation story, and thank you so much for these tips. This surely gonna help us achieve a stress-free vacation in Italy. Great blog!

  • 4 Star Hotel

    Nice Article..
    Thanks for sharing this information with us.

  • todobigo

    For Richard re: dual citizenship US-Nicaragua… can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.

    Hi Richard, In our travel experience, this type of document should work well for your travels, but if your wife is available, it can’t hurt to download the sample forms we have online and also have her fill out and notarize one for your trip with your child. The agency responsible in your case will be the carrier — we assume an airline — and if they can make a note in your travel record that they have approved the Nicaraguan documents you should be fine on both departing and entering.
    Safe Travels!

  • Richard

    Wow, great!!! it could be a great fun out there.

  • John

    very informative article Travel forums provide first hand experience and advice to travelers and are a great source of information and travel tips.

  • Priyanka

    As a signal parent, your life, world, actions are based on your childs well fair. Not your happiness or anything that has to do with you.

  • Naveen

    It should list where they are going, the dates that they are allowed to go and grant your permission for that trip. You want to include your address and phone number and probably the contact info for the adult traveling as well.

  • Delhi Agra Jaipur Tour

    The grand archways and the paintings of Lord Krishna and his cows are a visual treat. Wander through areas opened for tourists and you shall witness the impressive aura and architecture of the Royal state of Rajasthan.

  • Kashmir Tour Packages

    Thanks for Sharing

  • Richard

    Hello guys my wife and I have dual citizenship US-Nicaragua, I’m planning to travel to the US with our son also dual citizenship for 3 weeks, with a Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) from Nicaragua, can I use the same to travel back to Nicaragua with the same Power of Attorney (Specific to Minors) since wife is staying back in Nicaragua to keep eyes on the house.

  • Cristoph126

    Congratulations to the winners! A question to all the professional travelers here, how are you planning the route ant the places to see while visiting a new country? As for me I just google the most touristic and popular places. It works mostly, but there were a few times when I realized that I have seen only some the places this country or city is famous for, and that’s sad. On my last trip to Armenia, I decided to take a tour and it was quite productive. It’s much more informative when somebody is telling you history and some interesting facts. If someone wants to save their time – make sure to ask them to help if you’ll ever be there.

  • Viajante Digital

    Curitiba é uma lugar lindo, além de ser considerada uma das melhores cidades para se morar em Brasil.

    Realmente a muito o que conhecer por lá, como também diversas outras belezas do nosso brasil.

    Principalmente as praias do Brasil que são muito procurada por inúmeros turistas internacionais e nacionais.

    As Praias do Litoral Paulista, divididos entre Praias do Litoral Norte e Litoral Sul.

    As mais conhecidas são as Praias de Ubatuba com mais de 100 belas praias no litoral norte paulista.

    Já no litoral sul, a região mais procurada são as Praias de Guarujá, a região conta com 23 praias de pura beleza e preservação ambiental.

  • planetfiesta

    nice article, i also read about Celebrate Christmas Eve 2018

  • Sharon Hackleman

    Aloha!
    I would like to add my baby equipment company, Nana’s Baby Equipment. I serve the entire island of Kauai with aloha!
    Mahalo,
    Sharon Hackleman

  • clara

    Your article is very useful for me. I like the content you make. Thank you for sharing your holiday experience. seedresort.com

  • Was an honour and pleasure to host you both in the Maori Whakata/Welcome to Wanaka. Welcome back anytime to this wonderful part of the world.
    Kia Kaha/Stay strong

    [http://www.wanahaka.co.nz]

Comment on this article

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.