Hiroshima Carp Baseball

First up we had an email from our next spot that the washing machine is broken, a new one won't arrive until the middle of April. So, first thing this morning we do a laundry here at the hotel so we don't have to deal with that again for a while.

Today we don't have too much planned so we start this morning with planning a visit to Shukkeien Garden. To get there Andre and I do a little detour along the water to see the cherry blossoms again, people are already out sitting under the trees. This is really something to do for locals, plus it is a weekend. We then visit the castle outside, nearly 2 weeks ago they closed the castle for good from visits, deemed unsafe we think, oh well we have maybe had enough castle visits anyway. Some beautiful trees around the castle as well.

Finally make it to the garden. This is really an urban garden, very beautiful to see it so much in the city center. Lots of cherry and peach blossoms out, the plum blossoms are finished here now. We are are definitely at the peak season here.

We spend a couple of hours at the garden then headed to the ball game. On the way we just grabbed a snack to eat before the game. Andre ordered grilled chicken on a skewer and chicken skin on a skewer. He told me after he didn't read what the second thing was, most of it went in the garbage. It wasn't even crispy, if you are going to eat chicken skin it better be crispy at least.

The stadium here holds 33,000 people, called the Mazda Zoom Zoom stadium. It is home to the Hiroshima Carp baseball team. The season just opened here and we hadn't even thought about going to a baseball game until 2 different people told us how much fun they had at Japanese baseball games. I had trouble finding tickets, but finally found some on Klook. We paid a little more than what the ticket price was, but only a couple of dollars. Our seats were way way way up but they were actually pretty good for seeing everything. The crowd was fun to watch, from the different chants, to singing along, to clapping little plastic bats and finally some balloons going up in the air. The opposing team had a very loud group as well, lots of fun. Hiroshima Carp beat the Chunichi Dragons 1-0, a fun game even though not much scoring or hits.

After the game we walked until we found supper. Lucked out again and found a hole in the wall that specializes in Okonomiyaki, very delicious. They only had this on the menu, I think at least.

Back to the hotel and time to get organized as we move on again tomorrow.

Steps 21,650 / 13.8 kms

Peace Park walking to Hiroshima castle

Would not take much to flood this city that was mostly built on reclaimed land from the sea 

Hiroshima Castle

Feeding Koi

Hiroshima Castle 

Bamboo lights

A photographer let Andre take their picture as well

Over 65 free entry!

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden - Peach tree, beautiful 3 colors 

Shukkeien Garden

This tree survived the atomic bomb, the only tree left in the park

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden herb garden

Shukkeien Garden  turtle islands

Shukkeien Garden tea house

painter sitting beside us

Tea ceremony

Outside the train station

Andre ordered chicken skin, not sure why, didn't each much of it 

On the way to the baseball game, followed lots of red shirts

Opposing fans bleachers, all wearing blue

Preparing the field

Soup at a ball game?

Beer at a ball game

Nuts at a ball game

Box seats right below us

Getting ready for the 7th inning stretch where they blow up balloons and let them go in the air 

Beautiful field 

Cheering with mini bats 

At the end of the game the players bow to the fans

Interview of MVP we think 

Leaving the stadium

License plate 

Delicious dinner at this tiny family run place

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki