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Noisy birthday at Yokogawa Cinema

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 01:51:00 +0000

This week, Yokogawa Cinema is celebrating 10 years of showing many films that would never get shown anywhere else in Hiroshima to, it must be said, an often almost empty house. In celebration of their passion and staying power, a late night screening of Olivier Assayas' Sonic Youth pic Noise was held on Saturday night. It was proceeded by some local musicians doing their own noise thing, captured on video by Sophie Andersen.

The film continues to play this week, daily at 21:00 until Friday, November 14.

NOISE from Sofie Andersen on Vimeo.

I will post the details of part two of the anniversary celebrations later.

Drag Me To Hell, The Burning Plain & The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 03:16:00 +0000

Movie picks this week are Sam Raimi's very well received Drag Me To Hell (unfortunately, opening here a week after Halloween), heavy kids' movie based on real life horror, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, and the not so well received romantic drama, The Burning Plain.

Where times not shown, click on cinema name to got to schedule page.

Drag Me To Hell [Superu] (English with Japanese subtitles)

Reviews

Wald 11, Toho
Midorii, 109

The Burning Plain (English with Japanese subtitles)

Reviews

Salon Cinema Nov 7-Nov 19 at 11:45, 14:00, 16:15, 19:00

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas (English with Japanese subtitles)

Salon Cinema Nov 7-Nov 13 at 17:35

Free rental cycle pilot scheme this month [e-サイクルひろしま]

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:48:00 +0000

In an encouraging, and long awaited, move Hiroshima city government is trying out a community bicycle system from today. Until now, excluding those available from hotels, the number of bicycles available for rent by tourists totals less than 10. Until December 4, a total of 110 ~~"electric assist"~~ bicycles (including 40 with "electric assist") will be available at 11 different places around the city for people to borrow free of charge. You can return the bikes to any of the 11 places and they also qualify for free parking at any of the city bicycle parking lots.

Bicycles can be borrowed and returned between 09:30 and 18:00. You have to be 13 years old or over, show some form of picture ID and be prepared to answer a questionnaire on returning your bicycle. The pilot scheme will run until December 4.

According to the publicity pamphlet, the scheme is aimed at international and domestic tourists, but why not give the system a go and provide some valuable feedback. In a city so suited to cycling, it would be great if the scheme is not only made permanent, but expanded to be used by commuters and residents à la Paris.

The bicycles are available at the following places (it isn't possible to make reservations, but phone numbers are included to check availability)

Futaba Giga (Hiroshima Station) 090-7374-4258
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum 090-7374-3093 (available 09:00-17:00, until 18:00 on Saturday, not available Mondays)
Hiroshima Castle 090-7374-2162
A-Bomb Dome (at the old baseball stadium) 090-7374-4182
Rihga Royal Hotel 090-7374-3663
Grand Via Hotel 090-7374-0241
Sunroute Hotel 090-7374-2746
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel 090-7374-3821
Mitsui Garden Hotel 090-7374-6172
Oriental Hotel 090-7374-5344
Grand Prince Hotel (Ujina) 082-256-1111

Click here for the original PDF file (and here for the front of the pamphlet).

Halloween X, Club Chinatown: Video

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:55:00 +0000

Shot and edited by genkijin

Lovely shot of sun setting over Okunoshima

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:14:00 +0000

Prolific Flickr-bug Kamoda has a series of shots of the sun setting over Okunoshima at the end of a beautiful autumn day. This is our favorite.

The Korean Memorial at Hiroshima: A poem by Andrew Motion

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:29:00 +0000

Former poet laureate Andrew Motion's poem The Korean Memorial at Hiroshima is featured as The Guardian's poem of the week.

The poem is below. I enjoy poetry, but am nowhere near confident enough to attempt criticism and analysis. Luckily Carol Rumens has done a great job of that, so click please click through to the piece on the Guardian and see what she has to say and if you agree.

The Korean Memorial at Hiroshima

There was hardly time
between the Peace Museum
and the bullet train to Tokyo,
but our hosts instructed the taxi
to find the memorial to the Koreans.
Ten thousand Koreans, killed that morning.
You, being Korean, had to see it.

*
We had been crying in the Museum:
the charred school uniforms;
the lunch-box with its meal of charcoal,
the shadow of a seated woman
printed on the steps of a bank.
Everyone else was crying, too.
We shuffled round in a queue,
crying and saying nothing.
Then we stood in the rain
squaring up to the Memorial.
A spike of rusty flowers
and a tide-scum of dead cherry blossom.
Five or six miniature ceremonial costumes
made of folded paper and left to moulder.
Pink. Pink and custard yellow.
You could hardly leave soon enough.
*
The taxi was on its last legs,
sputtering among black cherries
then stalling by the skeleton
of the one dome to survive the blast.
No need to worry about the train, though.
The trains in Japan run on time.
In two hours and fifteen minutes
we would see Mount Fuji,
cloud-cover permitting,
and the snow-cap like a table-cloth
stretched over a tumbler of water
in the moment of surprise
before a magician taps his wand
and the tumbler disappears.

Free entry to public cultural facilities on November 3, Culture Day

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:06:00 +0000

Admission to Hiroshima's public cultural facilities is free of charge on the November 3 Culture Day holiday.

Know any more? Pop them in the comments.

Chinatown Halloween Party Pics: First Look

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 14:21:00 +0000

Last night saw another great party at Chinatown this year. Great job by Natasha and all the staff at the front and working the busy bar. MC Saemi did a great job on stage, Flo did a great job with the Polaroid UNICEF fundraiser (will publish the total raised soon) and Rebecca and Tobias for taking photos and video at the party.

Thanks also to everyone who dressed up in such great costumes - sorry we could choose so few of you for prizes!

Top 3 costumes (male):

1st Dr.Evil and Minnie Me
2nd Ikura Sushi
3rd Wal-ee Robot
Runners up: Roboto and MC

Top 3 costumes (female):

1st Harem Girl
2nd Goth witch bride
3rd Dark Angel
Runners up: Maid and Corpse Bride

Hope everyone had a great time!

Message from Natasha the organiser:

Huge THANKS to everyone who showed up last night and made the 10th such a great success!! Hope you had a wonderful time... BIG "otsukaresama" to the DJs, MC Saemi, BAR STAFF, SECURITY boys, DOOR boys, Joy for the COSTUME CONTEST and all the judges. THANK YOU for the great work! SPECIAL thanks to Flo, Rebecca ...and Tobias for taking the pictures and video. THANK YOU ALL for the biggest and best Halloween in Hiroshima!

If you use Flickr and would like to add your pictures to the slideshow below, just tag your pics with the tag ChinatownHalloween2009. Click through to the original pics via the slideshow below to download full resolution versions to keep, print and share. Also, feel free to add pics to the Halloween album on the GetHiroshima Facebook Page.

As always, if we have published a photo of you that you'd rather not be public, please write to us at gethiroshima@gmail.com and it will be gone.

Whiteout, Cadillac Records, Satoyama, Mother and more at the cinema this week

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:00:00 +0000

Click on the cinema links below each trailer to go to show times.

Whiteout (English with Japanese subtitles)

109 Cinemas

Sunshine Cleaning

Salon Cinema October 31-Nov 6 at 13:00, 19:15

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas

Salon Cinema October 31-Nov 6 at 11:00, 14:55 and Nov 7-Nov 13 at 17:35

Satoyama (Japanese)

Cinetwin Hondori October 31-Nov 6 at 10:30

Cadillac Records (English with Japanese subtitles)

Cinetwin Shintenchi until Nov 6 at 11:00, 15:10 (and 21:15 on Oct 31 only)

Mother (Korean with Japanese saubtitles)

Wald 11

Kaze ga tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Japanese)

Read Brett Larner's post about this ekiden movie at Japan Running News.

Wald 11, Warner Mycal, 109 Cinemas

Watshi dasu wa (It's On Me) (Japanese)

Read more about this film at Nipponcinema.com

Wald 11, Cinetwin Hondori

Sideways (Japanese)

Read about this Japanese remake of the 2004 movie at the New York Times.

Salon Cinema, 109 Cinemas

Stunning NHK Documentary: Satoyama

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 07:53:00 +0000

Satoyama is a highly acclaimed documentary film made by NHK that focuses on the life and surrounding environment of an 83 year old fisherman who lives near Lake Biwa in Shiga Prefecture. The camera work looks truly amazing, and serves as a reminder that unless we get out of the cities we miss the best of what Japan has to offer.

An edited version of the film has been dubbed into English with narration from Britain's most famous naturalist, David Attenborough. Unfortunately, only the Japanese version is being shown at Cinetwin Hondori next week. You can, however, see the English language version below in 6 parts hosted on YouTube. Of course, the picture quality can't compare with seeing it at the cinema. Scroll down past the Japanese trailer to see the dubbed clips.

Japanese Trailer

Satoyama [里山] is showing at Cinetwin Hondori from October 31 for one week only daily at 10:30 (late show on Saturday, Oct 31 at 21:10)

Satoyama: Japan's Secret Water Garden narrated by David Attenborough

This Is It: Michael Jackson film opens in Hiroshima Oct 28

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 06:27:00 +0000

Read the review in the UK Guardian. Click the links below for show times.

Wald 11, Warner Mycal, TOHO Midorii, 109 Cinemas

Strike a pose for UNICEF this Halloween

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0000

Do a little bit of good and get a nice souvenir photo at this Saturday's Halloween Party at Chinatown. Between 9pm and 1am party people will be able to get a nice posed Polaroid shot of themselves and their friends on the stage. Each shot is for a donation of ¥500 or more, all of which will go straight to UNICEF since GetHiroshima is sponsoring all of the film this year. UNICEF (photographers are kindly donating their time and expertise for love- thanks Flo and Rebecca).
Have a look at Flo's fabulous UNICEF shots (digital versions) on Flickr from last year.

*New* this year, if you have the best POLAROID shot or pose of the night, you will win a prize on stage after the costume contest finishes! Of course couples and group polaroids are fun too, anything goes!

New Reviews, New Places on the HP

noreply@blogger.com (jjwalsh) — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 06:49:00 +0000

Maria Kera

"ROCKADELIC"
jo - Mon Sep 2009
this place is amazing the staff are kind and happy

Mac

"gross!"
garrett - Sat Oct 2009
i went there once, i saw roaches crawling between the boards on the wall, and a nest of eggs. disgusting. i will never go back.

"Chill"
joseph - Tue Sep 2009
MAC was a great find while backpacking through Japan. Yuri was so sweet and welcoming. Even more impressive than the music collection was Yuri's knowledge of it. Thanks for a great time.

Organza

"Buchi umai and very nice life music"
Melli from Germany - Tue Oct 2009
Very cozy, very delicious food, the music performance has been excellent, too!

Bombay

"If you are in Hiroshima, you must go to eat at Bombay...The best Indian restaurant in the city"
Kai - Wed Oct 2009
I have been to Bombay Dining so many times..I cannot remember.. 20-30 times. I just love the food there. The place is so pleasant, with some bollywood movie in the background and most important the smile from the waiters, and the chef. The naan, curry, and all other food are so good!!! Be there, and then you see if I am wrongly describing the place???

New places on the Homepage:

Hiroshima Insectarium

All kinds of insects are on display, but it is the Papillon Dome, an atrium filled with fluttering butterflies, that is the real draw to this insectarium located in the expansive Hiroshima City Forest Park.

Salad Bar

Taking it's name from the distance of its location from where the A-bomb exploded, 「salad BAR1380 」is the latest eatery to open along the riverside between the old Kyobashi Bridge and the "densha dori" about half way between Hiroshima Station and the center of the city.

Trattoria Mario

A "garden" restaurant just outside the city center- in Hakushima, easily reached by street car.
Trattoria offers sumptuous Italian appetizers, pastas, roasted meats, fish chosen from a platter and served in a variety of ways with a host of delectable sauces and desserts to please even the fussiest of customers.

Gansu hiking club

Gansu is a group of people who organize monthly hiking trips which are well planned. It is a good way to familliarize yourself with hiking trails and routes around Hiroshima.
Gansu takes you to great trials around Hiroshima (which are sometimes not easy to find on your own).

Organza Restaurant, Cafe, Bar and Live House

Izumi Goto has been a big part of Hiroshima's music scene for many years, but she is now branching out into other areas she has a passion for- cooking and running a restaurant/live house called Organza.

Wallace & Grommit, The Proposal and 3D horror at the movies this week

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

The Proposal (English with Japanese subtitles)

http://wald11.com/schedule/index.php">Wald 11, http://cinema.warnermycal.com/wm/hiroshima/">Warner Mycal, http://109cinemas.net/hiroshima/schedule/timeSchedule.shtml">109

A Matter Of Loaf And Death (English with Japanese subtitles)

Plus 3 other Wallace and Grommit Films (A Grand Day Out, The Wrong Trousers & A Close Shave)

http://www.saloncinema-cinetwin.jp/sc.html">Salon Cinema October 17-23 at 10:45 (2 hour program)

Final Destination 3D (dubbed in Japanese)

http://hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/019/TNPI2000J01.do">Toho
Midorii, http://109cinemas.net/hiroshima/schedule/timeSchedule.shtml">109

The Rebirth of Buddha (Japanese)

http://wald11.com/schedule/index.php">Wald 11, http://cinema.warnermycal.com/wm/hiroshima/">Warner Mycal, http://theaters.toei.co.jp/theaters/hiroshima/">Toei

The Shock Labyrinth 3D (Japanese)

http://wald11.com/schedule/index.php">Wald 11, http://109cinemas.net/hiroshima/schedule/timeSchedule.shtml">109

Female Convict #701: Scorpion (Joshuu 701 Go - Sasori)

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:40:00 +0000

This week Salon Cinema is screening the first in a series of films made by Toei in the 1970s which Wikipedia describes as "a film in the "Women in Prison" sub-genre of Pinky violence Pink films".

Here is the plot summary, also from the Wikipedia entry:

After being cruelly set by an up crooked detective named Sugimi (Isao Natsuyagi), whom she loved, Nami Matsushima (aka Matsu the Scorpion) (Meiko Kaji) is sentenced to do hard time in a women's prison which is run by sadistic and horny male guards. There are 700 other prisoners, making Matsu number 701. Her crime was making a failed attempt to stab Sugimi on the steps of the Tykyo Metropolitan Police Headquarters because he used her to win favor with the Yakuza. While in prison she meets inmates like Yuki Kida (Yayoi Watanabe) who was committed for fraud and theft, Otsuka (Akemi Negishi), jailed for burglary and extortion, and Katagiri (Rie Yokoyama) who has been impounded for arson and illegally disposing of a body.

On the outside, Sugimi and the Japanese mafia orchestrate a plan in which Matsushima will succumb to an "accidental" death in prison. They enlist the help of Katagiri, pulling on her ties to both Sugimi and the mafia, and quickly set their plan in motion. Little do they realize, however, how hotly Matsushima's desire for revenge against Sugimi burns. After a riot, she escapes and kills all the Yakuza and Sugimi. Free, she then walks away alone.

Here is the trailer, but you might want to be careful if you are watching this at work

The film is playing at Salon Cinema, October 17-23 at 15:00 & 21:30 (no 21:30 showing on Saturday). The film is in Japanese only and admission is ¥800.

The Yakusa Papers Part 4

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:00:00 +0000

Following on from last week, Salon Cinema is showing the penultimate installment of Kinji Fukusaku's 5 part Hiroshima yakusa series Jingi Naki No Tatakai (Battles Without Honor and Humanity). Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Police Tactics (Jingi naki tatakai: Chojo sakusen) October 17-23 at 17:00 and 21:00. The film is in Japanese only and admission is ¥800.

Activ(ism) weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:45:00 +0000

If you have some free time tomorrow afternoon, why not head down to the old baseball stadium. This weekend, the final meeting of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament is being held in Hiroshima and between 15:00 and 16:30 people are gathering in the old stadium to spell out a huge "2020" with their bodies to express their support for Hiroshima's aim to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons by that year.

The city really wants people to get down there. I'm not sure of all the details, but I believe that concern over the committee's proposals not going far enough, meant that there was talk of boycotting the meeting. This means that publicity has been late going out. While there may be questions about whether it was appropriate to go ahead with such a demonstration at short notice, it would not look good if, even Hiroshima failed to generate enough interest to put on a good show: while that is unlikely to impact the final ICNND report, there is a danger that it sends a message to the Japanese government that opposition to nuclear weapons is waning.

As an incentive, the first 2000 people to register will receive a little bottle of dirt from the old stadium's mound (gates open at 14:00).

As the baseball stadium event is winding down, just behind it, in Hanover Park, live bands will be cranking up the volume for an event to raise awareness about the 27 year old fight by the people of Iwai-shima to preserve their environment from Chugoku Denryoku's plans to build a nuclear power station right in front of their island. Read more about the situation and the No Nukes Relay support events here.

Another cinema bites the dust

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:24:00 +0000

The hollowing out of Hiroshima's city center continues with the closure of another long running movie theater. Following the closure of the largest cinema hall in the region, Scala-za, back in September, the Toei/Louvre cinemas in the Tokyo Hands building will close their doors next month. The theater, which opened back in 1956 and was moved up to the 8th floor in 1995 re-branded as Hiroshima Toei Plaza, cited competition from suburban multiplexes. Toei-Louvre is the 7th city center movie theater to close since multiplexes began opening in the Hiroshima area back in 1997.

Source Chugoku Shinbun [ja]

The Ugly Truth, Fast & Furious 4, The Orphan, My Sister's Keeper, Listen To My Heart in cinemas this week

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 23:51:00 +0000

The Ugly Truth

English with Japanese subtitles
Cine Twin Shintenchi 10/10-10/23 at 13:15, 15:15, 17:15, 19:15 and 10/24-11/16 at 13:10, 17:20, 19:20

The Orphan

English with Japanese subtitles
109

My Sister's Keeper

In English with Japanese subtitles
Wald 11, Warner Mycal, 109

Listen To My Heart

In Japanese

Wald 11, Warner Mycal, 109

Fast & Furious 4

English with Japanese subtitles
Wald 11, Toho
Midorii, Warner Mycal, 109

Tha Yakusa Papers Part 3

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:19:00 +0000

Jingi naki no tatakai: Dairi senso (Battles Without Honor and Humanity: Proxy War) is the third in Kinji Fukusaku's series of five films focusing on the Hiroshima yakusa in the post war years and it is playing at Salon Cinema October 10-16 at 17:00 and 21:00. The film is in Japanese only and admission is ¥800.

No Nukes Relay

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:30:00 +0000

We had been planning to put together a detailed article about the ongoing battle between Iwai-shima fishing folk and electric power company Chugoku Denryoku over the building of a nuclear power plant in Kaminoseki, an area on the Seto Inland Sea coast in Yamaguchi Prefecture. However, time is once again against us so this brief outline will have to suffice for now.

It's 27 years since the, then mayor, of the small town of Kaminoseki approved the development of two Advanced Boiling Water Reactors by the Chugoku Denryoku Electric Power Company (Chuden). We first picked up on the story in 2005 when citizens groups based on nearby Iwai-shima were attempting to disrupt boring operations on the proposed site. Iwai-shima is a small island with a population of about 500 people that lies 4km from the proposed construction site at Tanoura. The people of Iwai-shima, who are overwhelmingly against the project, claim it will disrupt the ecosystem which supports several endangered species. They refuse to trade their traditional way of life for the financial compensation offered by Chuden.

View Untitled in a larger map

The battle has heated up in recent weeks as protesters set their sights on slowing the development by preventing the start of land reclamation work until after the October 21 deadline. Using fishing boats and kayaks they blockaded the small port where 9 buoys necessary to begin land reclamation work were being stored.

Looking out from the proposed construction site towards Iwai-shima

Opponents kept Chuden's boats at bay for 27 days straight, but yesterday with typhoon number 18 rolling in, protesters headed back to port after Chuden announced no work would be attempted due to poor weather. The power company had, however, already successfully set up two of the buoys brought in from an unknown location.

The sight of octogenarians screaming through megaphones that they are prepared to die rather than allow the project to proceed unhindered has struck a chord with local (usually apolitical) musicians, creators and business owners. Although the protest receives a reasonable amount of coverage in Yamaguchi Prefecture, there has been relatively little by Hiroshima TV and radio; something which, supporters of the protesters say, is a testament to the influence of the power company.

They have banded together and are producing a series of events which they hope will bring the issue to the attention of a wider audience. The No Nukes Rally will take place in around 50 venues in Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefecture between October 12 and 25.

Many of the events will include a screening of the documentary Bunbun Tsuushin about the environment under threat and the campaign. I haven't yet seen the film, but have been informed that people with very limited Japanese can probably get the gist of about 50% of the film. As well as film screenings, there are live music shows, djs and photo exhibitions. Supporting restaurants and cafes are offering special dishes and there are even cooking classes.

A simple video has also been put together which will be screened at Yokogawa Cinema and periodically on the big screen at the Hon-dori intersection in central Hiroshima.

Below is a list of some of the events in the local area. We will be adding more events and further details and links over the next few days. The charge for many of the events is a donation (and perhaps one drink or food order). If you are at all in support of the cause, please try and make it to at least one of them.

Local events

Monday, October 12
- Yokogawa Cinema, Hiroshima flim screening
- Organza, Hiroshima film screening & live music
Tuesday, October 13
- 広島市・ばばじ　《写真展》※24日まで（日祝定休）
- 広島市・蛇足／LOVE POP《特別メニュー》c
Wednesday, October 14
- koba, Hiroshima film screening, petition, live music
Thursday, October 15
- Yamagoya Theater, Hiroshima film screening
Friday, October 16
- Aina Haina, Hiroshima film screening, live music, djs, photo exhibition
- Reverb Records, Hiroshima film screening, photo exhibition
Saturday, October 17
- Hanover Koen, Hiroshima film screening, live music, djs
Sunday, October 18
- Pico, Hiroshima film screening, flea market
- Daishoin, Miyajima film screening, discussion
Wednesday, October 21
- Otis!, Hiroshima film screening
- Border, Hiroshima film screening, punk live
Wednesday, October 22
- Cafe Paco, Hiroshima film screening and live music
- Border, Hiroshima film screening, punk live
Saturday, October 24
- Tsubomi, Hiroshima cooking class
- Hiroshima City University, Hiroshima film screening, photo exhibition
- Rock Country, Iwakuni film screening, live music
Sunday, October 25
- Hiroshima City University, photo exhibition

Nobuyoshi Araki Faces of Hiroshima Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:30:00 +0000

Less this

...or this...

... than this...

...this...

... and maybe a bit of this...

at the Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art from Saturday, October 10. More details here.

Atomic Bomb Dome sunset (time-lapse)

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:20:00 +0000

By Nathan Duckworth

3 month Hiroshima loop bus experiment starts tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:23:00 +0000

The office behind Hiroshima's monthly "No My Car Day" (every 2nd, 12th and 22nd of the month) in cooperation with local bus companies is implementing a weekend and holiday loop bus service in central Hiroshima city from Saturday October 3. The bus will run for 3 months until December 23 as an experiment to see how it affects car use in the city center.

Each trip will cost only ¥100 and passengers will be able to buy a day pass for only ¥300 (half price for kids). In these months when many people are concerned about money these prices may well be enough to tempt local shoppers to leave their cars at home, just to save on parking fees. The service could also be great for visitors.

A total of 31 buses with capacity for 73 passengers will run in clockwise and anti-clockwise directions every 20 minutes starting at 10am through to 8pm from Hiroshima Station. Clockwise, the route runs via Danbara, through the Hijiyama Tunnel, along Peace Boulevard to Peace Memorial Park, up the Motoyasu River and turning on the Densha-dori past A-Bomb Dome, turn up the road behind Sogo and Pacela (past the old baseball stadium) past Shimin Hospital and back towards the station along Jonan-dori past Jyogakuin High School and through Noborimachi and over the Eki-mae O-hashi.

Here is a Google Map with the names of the bus stops and their approximate location. Depending on the direction, the buses do not stop at every stop. Click on the bus icons to check (if there is no note, the bus stops in both directions, otherwise there is a note saying either "only clockwise" or "only anti-clockwise").

View Hiroshima Loop Bus Route in a larger map

Miyajima Full Moon Festival returns this weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Paul Walsh) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:26:00 +0000

The Full Moon Festival held on the dark side of Miyajima on Iri-hama beach returns this weekend after a hiatus of several years. It really is back to basics this time around, with no big stages or transport laid on - and no tickets either. The festival returns to its roots as a DIY event in which festival goers are participants rather than spectators. There may be stands selling food and drink, but if you go, it makes sense to be fairly self-sufficient.

Things kick off tomorrow (Oct 2) and run through Sunday (Oct 4). Click here for a map of Miyajima including the festival location.

If you want to go, but don't have a ride or you are going and have room in your vehicle for others, why not get together in the comments below?