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Many
peninsulas, 971 islands and exotic streets
Nagasaki Prefecture lies in the northwestern part of Kyushu, and
consists of five peninsulas and many islands. With the sea in between,
it stands face-to-face with a continent, part of which is China, and
the Korean Peninsula. It has therefore long been an important
transportation point facing the continent. Since the 17th century,
ports for trade with Portugal and Holland were established. In
addition, since it was once the center of Christianity propagation,
there are many exotic, historical ruins and buildings left within the
prefecture.
Almost half of the prefectural land area is occupied by 971 inhabited
and uninhabited islands, and it has scenic spots such as Kujuku-shima
Islands of the Saikai National Park, and the main peak Fugen-dake of
the volcano Unzen-dake is situated right in the center of the
Shimabara-hanto Peninsula. Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park established
and named in association with Holland, is also known as a popular
tourist spot.
Nagasaki City, which is the heart of Nagasaki-hanto Peninsula, is a
port city that developed itself even up along the steep slope of a
mountain, while it also stretched horizontally to hug the Nagasaki
Gulf. The line of visitors attracted to its many tourist spots never
ends. The spots include the Peace Park which tells of facts and
memories of horrible damage that was brought about by the atomic bomb
and continues to appeal to the world its wish for peace, and the
Christian church, O-ura Tenshudo, which, to date, exudes an exotic
atmosphere.
Getting there
An hour 50 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Nagasaki Airport.
An hour 10 minutes from Kansai International Airport. Seven hours from
Tokyo Station via Hakata Station (by the JR Shinkansen Line) to
Nagasaki (by the JR Line Limited Express). Four hours 25 minutes from
Shin-Osaka Station via Hakata Station (by the JR Shinkansen Line) to
Nagasaki (by JR Line Limited Express).
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Urakami
The
stronghold of believers who continued to believe in a banned faith -
The center of Nagasaki over which an atomic bomb was exploded
Urakami is located in the north of Nagasaki City. At the
beginning of the 17th century, Christianity was introduced here and
from here missionary work spread. There were many believers, but in
the Edo Period, between the 17th and 19th centuries, the religion
was banned. In this period, Urakami was the stronghold for oppressed
believers, who strongly adhered to their religion secretly. Urakami
is in the center of the place over which the atomic bomb exploded,
following the one Hiroshima suffered during the Second World War.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a French missionary, in
cooperation with those believers who had withstood all the religious
oppression, bought a mansion here, and built a church, Urakami
Tenshudo. It was burnt down by the atomic bomb, but later was
reconstructed. The damaged angel statue in front of the church
eloquently speaks of the tragic effects of the bomb. You can learn a
lot about the atomic bomb in Nagasaki at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb
Museum, as well as at the Peace Park and the A-bomb Fall Spot
Monument. The Peace Park contains the Peace Fountain and the Statue
of Peace, which feature monuments symbolizing peace presented by
foreign countries.
Getting there
Nagasaki Airport is 1 hour 55 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport,
and 1 hour 20 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. Then take a bus from
Nagasaki Airport to Nagasaki Station, which takes 1 hour. Urakami
Station is 3 minutes from Nagasaki Station by the JR Nagasaki Honsen
Line. Take a streetcar from Nagasaki Station to Urakami-Tenshudo,
which takes 15 minutes.
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Yamate
The slope stretching with stone pavements - Western-style houses and
Ko-shi-byo, filled with an exotic atmosphere
Yamate is a district, which faces the north and northeast of
Nagasaki Port, and is divided mainly into two parts, Higashi-Yamate
and Minami-Yamate.
Higashi-Yamate became a settlement of foreigners at the end of the
19th century, and consulates from each country were set up. The
slope stretching with stone pavements between the houses let to
foreigners in the old days and Higashi-Yamate Western-style housing
complexes in those days is called Dutch Slope. Several Western-style
houses along the slope are open to the public. Higashi-Yamate
Jusanban-kan Mansion on Dutch Slope used to be a French consulate,
and is now a coffee shop. Ko-shi-byo (Confucius Shrine) was
constructed by Chinese, in cooperation with the Chinese government,
at the end of the 19th century. It is known as the only Ko-shi-byo
that Chinese have constructed overseas.
Minami-Yamate used to be another settlement of foreigners. It is in
this area that O-ura Tenshudo Church stands, and is designated a
National Treasure as the oldest Tenshudo in Japan. There are some
monuments in this area, such as Glover House, which is designated an
Important Cultural Property as the oldest Western-style building in
Japan; Glover-en Garden, where the reconstructed nine Western-style
buildings including Glover House are located; and Minami-Yamate
Jurokuban-kan Mansion, a wooden Western-style building built for the
housing of the first consuls from the US, remaining today as Kanko-Shiryokan,
a historical museum.
Getting there
Nagasaki Airport is 1 hour 55 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport,
1 hour 20 minutes from Osaka Itami Airport. Then take a bus from
Nagasaki Airport to Nagasaki Station, which takes 1 hour. Take
streetcars from Nagasaki-ekimae, changing streetcars at Tsuki-machi
on the way, to O-ura-Tenshudo-shita, which takes 12 minutes.
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De-jima and Shinchi
Trading spot during Sakoku, or the Isolation period, from the 17th
to the 19th century An island with a 400-year history of trade with
Holland
De-jima is an artificial island in the shape of a fan, whose
surface was about 13,000 square meters, and built in the 17th
century on the southern side of the city of Nagasaki. It used to be
the residential quarter of the Dutch, the only foreigners allowed to
trade in Japan during Sakoku, or the Isolation period. The East
India Company Factory operated in De-jima and served as the only
window to the world for 200 years until Japan re-opened the country
in the 19th century.
The first Protestant Seminary, built in the 19th century, was
renovated in 1998 as Nagasaki De-jima Shiryo-kan Hall or De-jima
Museum of History. Historical documents on De-jima are collected
there, as information on trade with Portugal, England and Holland.
The life at the Dutch Trading House is also reproduced and the
culture of De-jima during the Isolation Period is shown in models
and graphics. At the site of De-jima Oranda-shokan, or the Former
Dutch Factory, De-jima is reproduced on a scale of 1/15 to show what
it was like before it was reclaimed in 1904.
In the southeast of De-jima, Shiryo-kan, four gates on four
directions, Seiryu-mon, Byakko-mon, Suzaku-mon and Genbu-mon, stand
as the entrance gates to Shinchi-Chinatown. There are many Chinese
restaurants and stores selling Chinese goods along the street.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
Airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport, 1 hour by bus to Nagasaki Station. Five minutes by
streetcar from Nagasaki Station to De-jima Streetcar Stop.
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Mt. Inasa-yama
Overlooking the city and harbor of Nagasaki - Unbeatable panoramic
view
Mt. Inasa-yama, 332 meters above sea level, is in the
northwestern part of the city and is known as the best viewing point
in the city. The round observation station on the top of the hill
provides not only a panoramic view of the beautiful harbor,
sometimes called "the port of cranes" because of its beauty, and the
city extending up toward the north, but also further visibility to
Unzen, Amakusa, or even to Goto Islands on a clear day. At twilight,
the city lights blink on one after another, while the sky becomes
radiant with the colors of sunset. You should not miss this moment.
The night scene is worth the price of 10 million dollars (it used to
be a million dollars) these days, but you can certainly enjoy dining
at the observation station or one of those cozy hotel restaurants at
reasonable prices.
Halfway up the mountain, there are many conveniently located hotels
and ryokan-inns, and you can even enjoy the first officially
permitted hot springs in Nagasaki.
The mountain is also popular among the people of Nagasaki for its
cherry blossoms and some 80,000 azalea plants. On a spring day every
year, an azalea festival is held at the open-sky stage in the
Inasa-yama Park and there is a hata kite flying competition. Every
year, the festival is crowded with many visitors.
Getting there
An hour 55 minutes flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport or 1 hour 20
minutes flight from Osaka Itami Airport to Fukuoka Airport, then a
1-hour bus ride from Nagasaki Airport to Nagasaki Station. It is an
eight-minute bus ride from Nagasaki Station to the Ropeway Station.
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Tera-machi
Historical Chinese temples, Red-painted San-mon Gate stands out
Many old temples are found on Tera-machi-dori Street that runs
parallel to Naka-dori Street in the city of Nagasaki. One of the
three big temples of Nagasaki is Kofuku-ji Temple, the oldest
Chinese-style temple, erected in the 17th century. Its majestic and
exotic red-painted San-mon Gate stands out even among the big
Chinese-style temples of Tera-machi-dori Street.
Another representative temple in the Chinese style is Sofuku-ji
Temple. Splendid Chinese urabon-e (a kind of Buddhist event) is held
every summer in this temple and Chinese from all over Japan come to
participate in the event.
Suwa-jinja Shrine, famous for the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival, held
every October, is located on the side of Mt. Tamazono-san. In the
precinct of the shrine, dance offerings such as Kasahoko,
Kujira-no-shiofuki, Hon-odori and Ryu-odori are dedicated by
individual towns to be later danced in different places throughout
the city. Nagasaki Kunchi is a magnificent festival and is one of
the three big festivals of Nagasaki that many visitors, including
some from outside the prefecture, come to enjoy.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
Airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport, 1 hour by bus to Nagasaki Station. To Kofuku-ji Temple,
take a streetcar from Nagasaki-eki-mae Station to Kokaido-mae
Station, 5 minutes. To Suwa-jinja Shrine, take a streetcar from
Nagasaki-eki-mae Station to Suwa-jinja Station, 10 minutes.
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Hirado
Point of contact with Holland and Portugal in the 17th century -
Land of William Adams and St. Francis Xavier
The city of Hirado is located on Hirado Island in the
northwestern part of Nagasaki. It has prospered as the castle town
of Kameoka Castle since 1607, when the Matsura family built the
castle on the eastern end of Hirado Island. An excellent port
enabled the town to become the central stage for trade with China,
Holland and Portugal from the 17th century. At the site of the
Hirado Dutch Trading House, stone walls called Oranda-bei, or the
Dutch Wall, which are 2 meters high and 30 meters long, and the
Dutch Well, built in the early 17th century, still remain today.
Sakikata-koen Park commands a superb view of Hirado Port and is a
famous spot for Hirado tsutsuji, or azaleas. The tombs of William
Adams, who contributed to foreign trade in Hirado (going by the
Japanese name of Miura Anjin), and his wife are in the park. There
is also the monument of St. Francis Xavier, the first man to
introduce Christianity into Japan. Hirado Haiya-fujin-matsuri
Festival is held in summer. The participants form dancing groups
called ren and dance along the streets of Hirado. This dance is
called Tasuke-haiya-no-so-odori. Visitors are welcome to join in.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
Airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes by bus to Sasebo Station. From Sasebo
Station, 1 hour 25 minutes by bus to Hirado San-bashi Pier.
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Kuju-ku-shima Islands
One hundred seventy islands, large and small - Complicated
topography of the saw-toothed coastline
The islands that are scattered on the western side of the Kita-Matsu-ura-hanto
Peninsula in Western Nagasaki are called the Kuju-ku-shima Islands
(Ninety-nine Islands). One hundred seventy islands, large and small,
dot the 25-kilometer indented saw-toothed coastline stretching from
Sasebo to Hirado creating a natural beauty. This is the
representative scenery of Saikai National Park.
Most of the islands of Kuju-ku-shima Islands are uninhabited. Nature
untouched by human hands is still abundant. Intricate topography,
gentle waves in the inlets, the sun setting into the sea, and the
beauty of nature are there to be enjoyed. Southern Kuju-ku-shima
Island, near Sasebo, shows feminine gracious scenery, but in the
northern part, near Hirado, the view is more masculine and dramatic.
Sightseeing boat tours start from Kashi-sambashi Pier in Sasebo for
a 50 minutes tour around the islands. Visitors can enjoy the
attractive contrast of beautiful green islands and blue water from
the sea. In the vicinity of Sasebo is Mt. Eboshi-dake, often
referred to as Sasebo Fuji. On a clear day, visitors will be able to
see not only Kuju-ku-shima Island, but also Mt. Unzen-dake in the
distance. It is a most magnificent panorama.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
Airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes by bus to Sasebo Station. For
Kuju-ku-shima Island, take a bus for Kashi-mae Kankosen-sanbashi
from Sasebo Station, 25 minutes.
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Omura Bay
Inlets and islands are dotted along the coastline - The theme park
is a reproduction of 17th century Dutch scenes
Omura Bay is located in the central part of Nagasaki. Nagasaki
Airport stretches out towards the sea and is the skyway gate to
Nagasaki. The bay and its coasts present a beautiful contrast of
intricate inlets and green-covered islands in the blue sea. The
whole bay area is designated as the Omura-Prefectural Nature Park.
Huis Ten Bosch, a theme park reproducing parts of 17th century
Holland, is in the northern part of the bay. Dutch scenes, buildings
and canals are reproduced in the park as well as an amusement park,
museums, restaurants and hotels. Visitors can tour around the park
by rental cycle or canal cruiser. Nagasaki Bio-Park is in the south.
It is a hands-on nature and animal park with an area of 300,000
square meters where children can meet 170 kinds of animals.A
sightseeing boat cruise around Omura Bay is available.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport to Huis Ten Bosch, 50 minutes by Nagasaki Jidosha bus. By
ferry, 50 minutes to Huis Ten Bosch.
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Unzen and Shimabara
Cool weather in summer makes this place a popular summer resort -
Fumes burst out from the ground at Unzen-onsen Hot Springs
Unzen is the name of the region in the center of the
Shimabara-hanto Peninsula which belongs to the volcanic region of
Mt. Unzen-dake. Its principal peak is Mt. Fugen-dake and the area is
part of Unzen-Amakusa National Park. In 1990, Mt. Fugen-dake erupted
after 198 years of silence and the lava dome of Mt. Heisei-shinzan
was formed. The dramatic shape of the new mountain may be seen from
observation points at Nita-toge Pass and from Mt. Myoken-dake.
Unzen-onsen Hot Spring is on the southwest side of Mt. Unzen-dake,
at 700 to 800 meters above sea level. The hot spring is divided into
three sections: Koyu, Shin-yu and Sho-jigoku, and is a popular
summer resort because of the cool weather in summer. Sulfuric gas
colors the ground red and yellow where fumes have burst out, and
more than thirty hot springs are scattered in the deserted landscape
of Unzen.
Shimabara City faces Shimabara Bay on the east coast of the
Shimabara-hanto Peninsula. It prospered as the town around Shimabara
Castle, built in the 17th century, and old temples and the sites of
lower-class samurai houses used until the 19th century, still remain
today. Missionaries were active in Shimabara in the early 17th
century, and many locals became Christians. However, the
administrator of that time banned Christianity and Shimabara was
known for its harsh oppression of Christians.
Getting there
From Tokyo Haneda Airport, 1 hour 55 minutes to Nagasaki
Airport. From Osaka Itami Airport, 1 hour 20 minutes. From Nagasaki
Airport, 15 minutes by bus to JR Omura Station. From Omura Station,
12 minutes by the JR Omura Line to Isahaya Station. From Isahaya
Station, 1 hour 12 minutes by bus to Unzen-koen. From Shimabara
Station to Isahaya Station, 40 minutes by the Shimabara Tetsudo
Line.
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Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
