Hijiyama Jinja, Hiroshima

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

We landed in Osaka’s Itami Airport on the evening of December 31st, collected our ridiculously voluminous luggage, and prepared to make the final leg of our epic journey—this time from Osaka to Hiroshima by shinkansen (bullet train).

If all went according to plan, we’d be joining the Princess’ parents for their annual midnight shrine visit to celebrate Oshogatsu, the Japanese New Year.

But things rarely go according to plan, do they?

Ten Thousand Shrines