WATERSIDE BEAUTY

Going up to the Tokyo City View at Roppongi Hills' observatory deck to take in views of Tokyo was really nice. We learned about the history and architecture of Tokyo while looking across the city.

I enjoyed wandering around the garden near the television station. Learning the history of this place in detail was quite interesting.

Stopping by the limited-run highball garden in Roppongi Hills was a nice break early on. Even better was lunch in Ginza; the atmosphere of the restaurant was very traditionally Japanese, and offered a serene place to enjoy a tasty meal.

The staff at the store were very helpful. Walking around Ginza in yukata drew a lot of attention, but it was a very interesting experience.

Walking through Ginza led to the Kabukiza Theater and the Kabukiza Gallery, which were really fun. I really enjoyed all the information and displays of the Japanese tradition's costumes and props.

I've always wanted to go on the Sky Bus, so I was really excited to ride as part of the day's activities. It did not disappoint, as the views provided were quite beautiful — particularly the close ups of Tokyo Tower and the entire cityscape from the Rainbow Bridge.

The sushi at the restaurant in Odaiba was tasty, and there was a good amount of variety, meaning I could feel quite content from one order and not feel like I had missed out on anything at the conclusion of the meal.

Not sure I've ever been so impressed by a hotel view as much as I was by the one here. Being able to see Tokyo Tower from my room was a nice perk to an already great room that offered plenty of space and comfort. The bath and sauna were another pleasant touch that felt incredible after a long day on the town.

Checking in was a breeze from Haneda, as all I had to do was scan a QR code. The process of going through security and boarding the plane was very easy, and the flight was on time. The seat was comfortable with enough space that I was able to rest toward my visit to Hiroshima.

On the flight to Hiroshima, I was able to choose a bento for the plane from an extensive selection at Haneda Airport.

I had not been kayaking in about 10 years, so I was slightly nervous before this one. However, the people renting out the kayaks were incredibly kind, and their instructions were very clear. Being out on the water was peaceful, and having the chance to get an up close look at Itsukushima Shrine felt special.

Miyajima was fantastic, and this trip allowed me the chance to learn a lot about the island. I liked heading up to the Daisho-in Temple on the mountain and learning the details about what the buildings and statues represented. I enjoyed Itsukushima Shrine even more because of the backdrop of the sea. Just walking around the shopping areas and beachside streets of Miyajima was a great experience.

Just a fantastic variety of food. The lunch of anagodon (conger eel on rice) was really high quality. I was glad there was time to visit Miyajima Brewery, and also eat momiji manju (sponge cake in the shape of a maple leaf). Dinner was Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki (a savory Japanese pancake) that was delicious. I also liked visiting the new tower complex called the Orizuru Tower near the Atomic Bomb Dome.

A kagura (traditional Shinto dance) performance was a nice way to end the first day in Hiroshima. It was interesting to watch a performance and pick up on the little details of this art form.

All transit in Hiroshima and the surrounding area operated smoothly. The train to the dock for Miyajima was pleasant and offered many really nice views of Hiroshima. The ferry to Miyajima, meanwhile, was punctual and pleasant, offering excellent looks at the shrine on the island approach.

The proximity to Hiroshima Station was extremely convenient. The room was very comfortable, offering ample space. I also liked the small touch of them providing a morning newspaper to catch up on the news. Additionally, Hotel Granvia Hiroshima offered up a really nice breakfast buffet to help start the day right.

The region began to experience heavy rains the day we were to visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum was a somber experience, which is to be expected as it details one of the darker moments in human history.

Due to the weather, we were unable to take part in our original plan of taking a boat on the river to Shukkeien Garden. The owner of this company, however, was nice enough to meet us at a cafe near the river to talk about the service. Based on what he said, the trip sounded pretty convenient and fun. Just looking at the various rivers crisscrossing the city was nice, and the day before we had been able to take a different boat up the river to return from Miyajima.

Shukkeien was so pretty that even the rain couldn't detract from it. The inside of the garden was quite stunning, especially the areas around the lake. I enjoyed walking on the small bridges and taking in the whole landscape. I was happy to look around the garden, as it was really relaxing and scenic.

Because of the weather, we could not cycle on the Setouchi Shimanami Kaido. However, based on walking around places connected to the path and our car trip, it looked cycle-friendly, and we saw some intrepid cyclists, even in the bad weather. And all of the places we stopped including the Setoda Sunset Beach seemed geared toward cyclists.

I thought the trip managed a good balance between the three points - historical sites, modern art, and the landscape of the Seto Inland Sea. The highlight was definitely Kousanji Temple and the various buildings there. I enjoyed learning about how each of the different structures were inspired by different locations in Japan, and also getting to see the inside of the historic house, which was quite luxurious. Nothing really topped the Senbutsu Cave, which the many paintings depicting the various levels of hell and the many intricate statues were found deep in the cave.

As mentioned, this did not happen because of the rain. Instead, we took a car tour of the road, which was pleasant. I hope to come back to cycle this road.

The drive to Onomichi was quite pleasant, and the car ferry ride was an interesting experience. By the time we got to the Onomichi Channel, the rain was coming down harder than before. The view of Onomichi Channel would have been great if the weather was nice.

We found a nice restaurant about three minutes away from the ONOMICHI U2. The seafood was delicious, offering a taste of Onomichi that surprised me with its flavor. The oysters, in particular, were a delighｔ.

Seeing what appeared to be a warehouse from the outside made me a little curious at first, but the Hotel Cycle at the ONOMICHI U2 was a fantastic place to stay: the hotel delivered on everything. The complimentary breakfast provided in the morning was quite tasty — especially the bread buffet, with the variety and quality being excellent. As a place to stay, it was really fantastic.

The final day of the trip saw the rain intensifying. When I woke up, hotel staff told me our guide would be delayed at least an hour. Soon, they told me the guide couldn't come at all. So, our plan to visit the Senkoji and the Path of Literature did not happen, but it is also completely understandable, as the rain was really coming down hard at this point.

Because of the weather, we spent the morning and early afternoon at ONOMICHI U2's Hotel Cycle. I want to note how great our time here was during this unexpected delay. Staff were incredible and provided us with lunch, which was delicious. Besides more of the bread buffet, I tried out a lemon pizza; it was fantastic!

We didn't have a chance to leave the hotel on the final day, so we didn't see much and only ate at the hotel, but the food was incredible. The guide then arrived at the hotel to drive us to Hiroshima Airport through the rain.

I thought this was a very enjoyable and informative tour. It gave me new perspectives both on the city I live in, as well as Hiroshima and the surrounding region. It was also my first trip to the Seto Island Sea. I thought the tour as a whole had the right balance between activities, touching on just enough history and leisure so that neither element overwhelmed. All the hotels were nice and staffed by kind people, and every meal — and snack, for that matter — was a delight. The weather ended up impacting the trip significantly, canceling many of the things we had planned, but there was nothing anyone could do about that, and I think we were able to adjust well.