Kids Web Japan

We fell asleep to the sound of the waves and enjoyed a good night�s rest. After breakfast the next morning, we set out on the second day of our journey. We went halfway around the island to the Tatara Bridge. This bridge, which is 1,460 meters long, looks like a bird about to take flight. It is beautiful, and riding across is a real pleasure.

We had an interesting experience as we were crossing this bridge. A set of wooden beat clappers is available at the bridge tower, and when we clapped a set together, the resulting sound produced a strange echo. This is known in Japan as the �crying dragon phenomenon,� because a similar echo can be heard in some Japanese temples and shrines that have dragons painted on the ceilings. No one had any idea that this would happen when the bridge was being built. After we crossed the bridge, we arrived on the island of Ikuchijima, which is part of Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Riding along Sunset Beach on the north side of the island, we saw a small, gourd-shaped island in the sea to our left-hand side. We had lunch near Kosanji Temple, which is famous for its cherry blossoms. We had a bowl of tako-tendon (rice topped with tempura made with octopus, a local specialty).