hiroshima-12-10-17

Woke up and packed for later in the day then went down to the hotel Japanese breakfast option which I'd purchased with my hotel stay.

They had a nice salad bar (I made a small salad, but could have made a bigger one if I wanted to).

This was followed by a tray of a normal japanese breakfast 

Some close-ups of some of the items- the fishball and boiled veggies as well as the seared tofu and veggies.   There was also rice, miso, cooked fish, some cooked fish cake, 

some seasoned mushrooms, and some tamago (egg cake).   Tea and coffee also provided...

After breakfast I walked over to see "ground zero" of the A-bomb dome and the museum.   Saw some nice cranes along the way.

Here are some photos of the A-bomb dome:

And here is a photo looking back through an arch, past the 'eternal flame' at the dome

ANd a video of same

Headed back to hotel and checked out and then took an electric city rail car (like a San Francisco Cable Car) to Hiroshima Station. 

Locked my bags up and went upstairs to buy a ticket on the Shinkansen train to get to Kobe later in the day.   It was about 10:30am and

I bought the ticket for the 2;35pm train.

Grabbed a snack in the local department store of some maple leaf treats (kind of like soft waffles in the shape of maple leaves with real maple syrup as one of the ingredients.

Hopped a tourist "all stops" bus and headed for Hiroshima Castle.    Did a little walk from the drop off point through the grounds to the castle.    

One of the other things inside the castle (there were lots of 'items' on display, but not such that I wanted to take a picture of them) was an old style transport

for carrying people around -- kind of a taxi.   Certain members of my family will understand the humor when I refer to it as "an original Bobo mobile"-- here's picture.

Finished up with what I could see in the castle and headed back towards the entrance to the grounds.   On the way I spotted a security guy feeding one of the local feral cats.

Took some pictures 

Walked back one stop to catch a tour bus headed back towards the station -- the various lines only run in a single direction so taking the same "line" I took out would be a long 

drive back...  taking an alternate line which runs the other way will be much faster.   However, it's still a bit early so I broke my own rule and went to the local art museum.

Generally speaking I only enter museums when I want to RUN!

I did a speedy tour of the museum -- much art (which I'm not very much into).   One piece I did enjoy was called "The Dream of Venus" by Salvador Dali.    Lot of strange time pieces that were

kind of melting in odd ways.   Very very strange full wall art.   Sorry, no pictures allowed in building but you can look up the title above on the web and see what I liked. 

My ticket also came with a 'pass' to go outside into their gardens.   Wow!   They were spectacular!    Lots of pictures that I will upload later, including a couple dressed in traditional attire for their wedding.

Also some coy that were aggressive in wanting to be fed.

A video of the hungry Koi fish.

As time grew closer to 12:30pm I headed back and waited for the bus -- got on it and made it back to the station.

Decided to have a quick lunch at one of the local station restaurants.   I picked an Izayaki restaurant and got a simple set lunch meal from them.

Some picked item on the side, miso soup, 3 skewers of chicken and 'fish paste balls' with some veggies on a bed of white rice.   Just about the right amount of food  -- nothing to write home about

but still filling and good.

Headed to the platform about an hour before my train was going to leave.   Long wait, but they had an "indoor waiting room" that I managed to get into and get a seat at.   Heated -- so nice place to wait.

Boarded the train when it arrived at 2:34pm (they are VERY punctual!) and took about an hour ride to the Shin-Kobe station.   Got off and found the hotel, which is directly next to the station as one exits.

Had a minor issue checking in -- apparently I'd misbooked my stay and wasn't expected until tomorrow but they were able to clear it up and get me into a room without incident.

Took a very hot shower (japan has excellent HOT water!) and a nap in prep for my 7pm Kobe Beef dinner!    I DID double check that reservation was for tonight (it was!) and am looking forward to it.

Arrived at the Kobe Beef restaurant - Wakkoqu

Once seated at a bar seat facing the hot plate table and the chef who would be preparing my meal I selected their set meal of a 220g (about 1/2 a pound) of tenderloin Kobe beef steak.   I also asked for a side order of

fresh Abalone at the suggestion of a friend of mine, my former sushi chef from Colorado.    The meal also came with an appetizer and I was given a choice of salmon or roast beef.    Since I was going to have a beef-fest I 

selected the salmon.   I also ordered some green tea to drink with the meal.

From that point on it was all auto-pilot.    The chef began by grilling up some finely sliced garlic until it was toasted and just slightly brown.  

  A plate was setup with this along with little zones with seasoning:  Salt, Pepper-spices, some spicy mustard, the garlic.   

Meanwhile my smoked salmon appetizer arrived

While I was eating the smoked salmon appetizer dish the chef begin work on the abalone that I'd ordered... here's a picture of it.

A salad course arrived as I was finishing the Abalone.   A very nice salad with a wonderful sesame vinaigrette dressing (I wish I had a glass full of the dressing it was so good!)

As I was eating this chef brought out the raw kobe beef and started cooking it.  Here are some photos:

Here are some videos of the preparation 

I was then given instructions as to how to eat these fine bite (or mostly bite) sized pieces of Kobe Beef.   These ranged from:

1) Take a TINY bit of salt and just salt from the plate and use that as seasoning on once piece

2) Take a slice of garlic and some pepper and season another piece with just that

3) Take a bit of the spicy mustard and mix with some of the soy (off screen from camera shot).   Dip a piece into that and eat.

4) Take a piece and dip into a light vinegar sauce they provided.

While I was eating the chef prepared a number of veggies -- carrots sliced wide, some sweet potato, some eggplant and some sugar snap peas.    I was told to dip the 

sweet potato slices in some of the salt and eat those.   The other veggies went with the vinegar.  - veggies arrayed behind the 3 pieces of beef I was still working on eating.

The chef also stir fried the remaining bits of steak (side cuts with fat) with some bean sprouts and served those to be seasoned with a bit of the vinegar dip.   Shown in the videos earlier in this page.

After finishing it all off I received a nice cup of coffee -- I was totally full and ready to head back to the hotel room to pass out.    Paid the bill (about $175 US) and was very happy to have experienced this meal!