Hiroshima (Day 4) - Hiroshima Toyo Carp

Our last proper day in Hiroshima. We decide to go mapless and wander the streets of the city. We take in some local art/culture by playing arcade games in Sega, and take in the local food by stuffing ourselves with okonomiyaki, the real stuff this time.

Courts orders pork and egg, while Jeff goes for the "spiacy" option, oh and a side of gyoza - this could be our last chance. Similar to last night, the table is a hot plate which the food is served on, allow the pancakes to finish cooking/stay hot. We don't quite finish it all since its so filling. Noodles and eggs will do that.

We head down the river in a new direction. There is a decent little grass strip which people are making use of as the sun is out. We head across the road and walk through Central Park but there isn't much going on, just open green spaces - which is a sight for sore eyes.

We swing our direction towards Zoom-Zoom Stadium where tonight's game is and we wander slowly.

We head past Hiroshima Station where there are a lot of shops. We head into a Hiroshima Carp shop which has basically every product you could think of branded with Hiroshima Carp logos and colours. We must be getting close because everyone is wearing red for the first game of the season (including parking attendants closer to our hotel this morning).

At this point we can see the stadium lights so know where to go. We stop in for a quick beer at an ad-hoc looking setup which is selling food, beer and showing Hiroshima Carp highlights.

It's still a while before the game, but we figure there'll be stuff to see at the stadium so we head in (via a 7-11 detour to grab a beer to take in - yes, its fine to BYO alcohol to the baseball in Japan!).

The stadium is super impressive and even has real grass, which is a rarity in Japan. Batting practice is on and we hear the familar whistling going as balls are heading into the crowd. One comes close enough to give us a fright because we weren't watching.

We do a lap and then grab a seat. Its starting to fill up and flags are waving already. The travelling fans from Tokyo are singing with their band as their players are announced. If this is how the away fans are, what are the home fans going to be like?!

The game starts and we are sitting in a sea of red. It's a full house and every single person is wearing a shirt and has a pair of plastic baseball bats for hitting together.

Yomiuri Giants bat first, and as is the custom, their fans have their time to sing. They are doing a great job despite being the minority in their own section. What is incredible is the amount of attention the home crowd are investing in every pitch. Every strike and every out is cheered. Then it's time for them to bat...

The band has barely played it's first note and the whole stadium is singing and drumming with their bats. They have a huge variety of songs, each more catchy than the other.

The level of crowd engagement is actually shocking us. It would give the most dedicated football fans in a Eurpoe a run for their money.

The Carp are too good tonight and win fairly comfortably in the end - although close enough to stress the bloke to the left of me a bit in the 9th. His girlfriend had to remind him that the Giants were 5 runs down with one out left.

Carp Win, Carp Win and the crowd goes wild. Slyly (the mascot) does a few laps on his segway with the Carp flag flying and team song is belted out again and again.

We couldn't ask for a more authentic experience and walk our way home to bed. A great way to spend our last day in Japan. Go CARP!

A massive trip, only a travel day to go tomorrow. We clocked up 231.81 kms, an average of 17.83 kms/day.