In March my Mom and I returned from a 2 week trip to Japan. My plan is to make bento and share travel photos and memories. I am not yet sure how many articles will be in this series but this is my first.

Hiroshima Peace Bento

This trip was my second time to Hiroshima. The first time I was impacted by the message of peace and the paper cranes school children prepare and leave at Sadako’s statue. So I decided to use this as my inspiration for my Hiroshima bento.

If you have not already, I recommend that you read the children’s book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Dijon Lentil Salad, (this recipe does have flaws as I mentioned here. Remember to add Dijon) Cheddar cheese with Sadako statue drawn using food safe markers

Top Right: Fresh pineapple chunks with PEACE letter picks

Bottom Right: Lettuce and spinach salad with doves (carrot)

Inspiration photo for my Hiroshima Peace Bento

My Mom and I used a Japan Rail Pass when we traveled to Hiroshima by Shinkansen from Osaka. We met my language exchange friend in Hiroshima. Prior to our trip my Mom was concerned about my language skills since she would be depending on me. So I spoke via Skype with some Japanese women seeking a language exchange. We connected through the site http://mylanguageexchange.com/ and chatted a few times via Skype prior to my trip to Japan. My language exchange friend in Hiroshima was such a wonderful host and tour guide and it was so nice to spend time with her in person!

In Hiroshima we stayed at the Hotel Granvia. It is a beautiful hotel and very convenient to the train station. It was also wonderful that we could leave our luggage there in the morning prior to check-in. We then spent a day touring. In the afternoon when we returned to check-in, our luggage was already in our room!

Miyajima Bento

This was an easy but beautiful and cute lunch if I do say so myself!

Container: EasyLunchBoxes

Left Side: Nishiki rice, Tori (orange bell pepper), blueberries

Top Right: Blueberries

Bottom Right: Cooked sweet potato deer (I bought the deer cutter at Natural Kitchen – an 100 Yen store in Japan), walnuts

Warning: I sliced raw sweet potato, cut three slices with the deer cutter and then boiled until tender. I always like to have a backup in-case of problems. It is possible that I cooked them a little too much. Two of the three deer were decapitated when I removed them from the pot. I was relieved that one remained intact.

Inspiration photo for my Miyajima Bento

Below are some of my Mom’s and my favorite photos from our day in Hiroshima and Miyajima. As I mentioned above, it was my second time to Hiroshima but it was only my first time to Miyajima. It is such a special place and I would love to return again someday when I have more time to wander around.

Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Park

Atomic Bomb Dome

Display at Children’s Peace Monument

Paper Cranes at Children’s Peace Monument

Map of Miyajima

Roasted Chestnuts and Sweet Potatoes

This little shop was located on Miyajima. We snacked on these roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes. I am not normally a huge fan of chestnuts but these were delicious and the best chestnuts I ever ate!

Large Wooden Rice Scoop

Miyajima is known for their rice scoop. Of course, I had to take a photo of it.

Miyajima Souvenir Rice Scoop

Leaf Shaped Food

On Miyajima

Deer in Miyajima

Plum Blossoms

Deer in Miyajima

The deer in Miyajima are known to be more gentle than the deer in Nara but a deer ate a corner of my map!

Tori (gate) at Low Tide

This gate at Miyajima is a site to behold at any time of day. We were there at low tide and walked below it. At first I did not want to get muddy and wet but my Mom and friend were going to walk below it so I went along. I am glad that I did not let the concern of wet feet stop me. My feet stayed dry and it was a memorable walk.

Close-up of Tori (gate)

Bride and Groom at Itsukushima Shrine

On Miyajima we were lucky to see a Bride and Groom. It was not a weekend so maybe a rare occurrence on a Tuesday?

Miyajima Ekiben

At the train station I took a photo of this display of train station bento (Ekiben). It is shaped as the rice scoop from Miyajima. As a vegetarian I doubt there are any Ekiben that I can eat but I am fascinated by the shaped of the boxes and beautiful display of regional food. I would love to tour around Japan taking photos of Ekiben.

I hope that you enjoyed seeing my photos from Hiroshima / Miyajima and my inspired bento lunches. Please let me know if you have any questions and I will try to answer them.

Linking to: Bento Blog Network