Day 58 in Japan - Early Dali, Coffee and Shinkansen home

Today, Sam and I got up a bit early because I couldn't sleep, and I wanted to drop our bags into lockers at Hiroshima train station so that I could head off and explore the city a little. Hiroshima seems to have some fantastic Art Museums - the Hiroshima Art Museum has a really amazing collection of French impressionist painting (like seriously, every French painter you've ever heard of and then some), but Sam and I opted to go to the Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum to see works from artists who have had some ties to the prefecture. On the way, we found this wonderful installation, which we assume was an inspired statement on the automation of modern life, the increasing distance between members of society, and a good way to get snacks.

The Coca-Cola company's "Jito hanbaiki" (2009)

It was also a very impressive collection, and we saw works from Dali (it was the Persistence of Memory - I swear it! But it had an extra panel with a giraffe on fire, and I'm sure it must have been another version by Dali or something - the most famous Dali painting in the world wouldn't be in a small museum in Hiroshima with no real security, would it?), Man Ray, Picasso, Mex Ernst, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Alexander Calder, Jeans Arp, Henri Laurels, Ben Nicholson, Picabia and a bunch more Western artists. As well as these, there were lots of wonderful works from Japanese artists from the area. Sam and I particularly enjoyed an exhibition of ceramic sculptures from Sato Satoshi. No photos (of course - although I did get one of the Dali painting, so email me if you want to see it), but it was a really nice and really air-conditioned peacful few hours. We had a breakfast-lunch at a nearby bakery, then caught up with Wendy and Dan back near Hiroshima station. We went on a big trek to find this awesome coffee place that Dan's phone told us about - it was called Green Coffee, and I recommend anyone who is missing decent coffee goes and checks it out if they are in the area.

Brianna Thompson - "The Impermanence of Pastries" (2010)

Sam and I headed for our trains home - first a Nozomi shinkansen to Okayama, and then a Kodama to Nishi-Akashi. Then a normal old local train back to Okubo, but we got to stand right behind the driver and watch him driving. It was pretty sweet.

And it's right down the middle please, hold on tight, get out your money and stop that fight. 

Food Highlight of the Day: Green coffee from Green Coffee shop in Hiroshima was like a little taste of home - still not as good as Melbourne coffee, but better than anything I've had in 2 months.