A PLACE OF REMEMBRANCE
NAGASAKI
NAGASAKI IS THE CAPITAL OF NAGASAKI PREFECTURE AND AN ATTRACTIVE PORT ON THE ISLAND OF KYUSHU
AS ONE OF JAPAN’S CLOSEST PORT CITIES TO THE ASIAN MAINLAND, NAGASAKI HAS STRONG LINKS TO CHINA AND KOREA. IT PLAYED A PROMINENT ROLE IN FOREIGN TRADE RELATIONS FOR MANY CENTURIES AND IT WAS JAPAN’S EARLY GATEWAY TO TRADE WITH THE WEST DURING JAPAN’S PERIOD OF ISOLATION. THIS INFLUENCE STILL SHINES THROUGH IN ITS DISTRICT OF STATELY EUROPEAN -STYLE HOMES.
IT IS ALSO SYNONYMOUS, WITH A KEY MOMENT DURING WORLD WAR II WHEN IT BECAME THE SECOND CITY AFTER HIROSHIMA TO BE DESTROYED BY AN ATOMIC BOMB.
THE NORTH OF THE CITY WAS DESTROYED LESS THAN A SECOND AFTER THE DETONATION AND 35,000 PEOPLE WERE KILLED. THE INDUSTRIAL DAMAGE WAS HIGH BUT THE CITY WAS REBUILT, ALBEIT DRAMATICALLY CHANGED.
TODAY, NAGASAKI HAS ITS OWN UNIQUE CULTURE, ONE THAT IS A MIX OF WESTERN, CHINESE AND TRADITIONAL JAPANESE.
PORT GUIDE
PORT FACILITIES AND LOCATION
The Pier, located near downtown - is an easy walking (10 min) distance to Glover Garden.
Address : 7 Matsugae-machi, Nagasaki, 850-0921, Japan
This is linked to a map in an external website. You can view port area information through its zoom feature. (Printable Map to take along ).
The terminal provides free Wi-Fi connection and several Money Exchange machines.
Port Location Map Below :
https://www.google.co.jp/maps/@32.736681,129.86806,19z?hl=en
TOP SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS FOR CRUISES
NAGASAKI PEACE PARK
Built to commemorate the atomic bombings of Nagasaki City on August 9, 1945, Nagasaki peace Park reminds us of the horrosr of war, while expressing hope for peace.
The complex has two parks and a museum tribute o the lost souls in the blast.
A black pillar marking the atomic explosion’s center in Hypocenter Park.
In the center of the complex is the Hypocenter park with a simple, black monolith that marks the explosion’s epicenter. On the hill above the Hypocenter park stands the sobering Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum with the mission to inform future generations about the horrors of war. The hall is located mainly underground and its design involves water and light.
The park’s dominant feature is the iconic 9.7 meter tall Peace Statue which depicts a seated blue man with his arms raised in the air. His right hand points to the sky, symbolizing the threat of nuclear warfare, while his left stretches out horizontally, palm down, signifying a desire for peace.
Children’s Peace Monuments also known as the Tower of a Thousand Cranes stands as a testimony to the tragic effects the atomic bombing of 1945 had on the children of Hiroshima.
Head to the opposite end of the park to see the Fountain of Peace. The fountain memorializes the many victims who could be heard desperately crying out for water before succumbing to their wounds. Water spouts from the fountain to resemble a dove flapping its wings. In front of the fountain sits a black plaque with the words of survivor Sachiko Yamaguchi describing her despairing thirst.
Nagasaki Peace Statue holds symbolic importance and there is always a tour group of children learning about the horrors of war.
Between the statue and fountain, you’ll pass various sculptures and monuments gifted to Nagasaki from sister cities and countries around the world. These artworks not only illustrate international friendship and solidarity but are also meant to reinforce the hope for a better future and the desire to rid the world of atomic weapons.
For after the park, the beautiful Urakami Cathedral is close by and you can also walk to Sanno shrine, famous for its one-legged torii gate that miraculously survived the atomic blast.
NAGASAKI ATOMIC BOMB MUSEUM - This museum is one of the most popular tourist attraction in the region. It is an informative yet sobering look at the impact of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945. It is located at the epicenter of the bomb blast and can be easily combined with a visit to the Nagasaki Peace Park.
Upon entering the museum, you can see the mangled water tower that was just 800 meters from the bombs hypocenter. The structure is just one of the many showing the horrors the atomic bombs wreaked at the city. The museum's exhibits are there to make sure we do not forget what dropping an atomic bomb means and also as a remembrance for the victims and survivors.
Many of the materials are graphic and provocative and are first hand account from the bomb’s survivors. It is necessary though to achieve its aim of contributing to the abolition of weapons and realizing world peace.
Inside the sobering Museum which covers the history of Nagasaki both before and after the bomb.
THINGS TO KNOW Atomic Bomb Museum
HOURS : 8:30 to 18:30 (until 17:30 from September to April)
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing time.
CLOSE : December 29 to 31
ADMISSION : 200 yen
The museum displays photographs, relics, and documents related to the bombing. A somber yet poignant reminder of the horrors of war.
EVENTS
Every year on August 9, the Nagasaki Peace Park holds the Peace Memorial Ceremony where the Mayor delivers his Peace Declaration requesting that the world refrain from further creating nuclear arms.
Thousands f hanging garlands of paper cranes from well-wishers across the country and around the world as prayers for peace.
HOW TO GET THERE
ADDRESS Matsuyamachi, Nagasaki , Nagasaki Prefecture 852- 8118 , Japan
BY TRAIN
Trams connect the park with Nagasaki Station. City trams run from Nagasakiekimae station. You can take the Nagasaki Denki number 1 and 3 trams towards Akasako. It’s about 15 minutes to the stop, Matsuyamachi, from where it’s another 5 minutes on foot to the park.
GETTING AROUND NAGASAKI
NAGASAKI is most easily navigated by tram and on foot. The city center with most major tourist attractions is situated about one kilometer (or five minutes by tram) southeast of Nagasaki Station. Among the major sights, only the Peace Park is not centrally located, several kilometers (or ten minutes by tram) north of Nagasaki Station in the Urakami district.
TRAMS
Nagasaki is served by four tram lines. Operated by Nagasaki Electric Tramway, the tram lines provide easy access to most of the city's main attractions and run approximately every 5-8 minutes from 6:00 to 23:00.
Enter the tram through the rear door and exit through the front door. Pay the driver when exiting. One ride costs a flat 130 yen per ride regardless of how far you travel. A 1-day pass for unlimited use of trams on one calendar day is available for 500 yen. The tram network is designed in a way in which it is possible to reach almost any tram stop from any other tram stop without the need of a transfer.
Only at Tsukimachi tram stop, it is sometimes necessary to transfer between lines 1 and 5. Therefore, transferring passengers can ask for a transfer ticket when exiting a tram at Tsukimachi in order to avoid paying twice. Hand the transfer ticket to the driver of the second tram when exiting.
Check the accessible sightseeing spots by tram.
Getting around Nagasaki by bus and streetcar/tram.
BUSES
Nagasaki is also served by a network of city buses, operated by Nagasaki Bus. However, the average visitor is unlikely to use buses, except maybe for accessing Mount Inasa.
Nagasaki Airport is located about 30 kilometers northeast of the city center. The one way journey from the airport to Nagasaki Station by bus takes 45 minutes and costs 1000 yen. There are departures every twenty minutes.
OTHER PLACESS OF INTEREST IN NAGASAKI
GLOVER GARDEN - Glover Garden There are a lot of must-see attractions in Glover Garden. One of these is the Glover Residence, formerly owned by Thomas Blake Glover, who contributed to Japan’s modernization, and it has been inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2015 as a component of “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution”. Other attractions are the nine historical Western-style buildings dotted around the lush landscape and the wonderful overlooking view of the Nagasaki Port from the hills.
Serene open-air museum with landscaped gardens, with nine Western-style homes built between 1868 and 1912 and sweeping views.
SPECTACLES BRIDGE - The bridge was named "Megane Bridge" or "Spectacles Bridge" due to its arches and reflection of the river that forms an image resembling a pair of glasses. It was built in 1634 by MokusuNyojo, a monk and the temple master of Kofukuji, and it is Japan's oldest stone arch bridge to date. "Spectacles Bridge" is designated as one of the important cultural properties of Japan.
Built in 1634, said to be the oldest stone arch bridge in Japan, s one of Nagasaki's most photogenic tourist attractions.
DEJIMA MUSEUM - a cluster of small buildings showcasing the only place where foreigners could come and trade in the 17th century. Dejima no longer exist as an island trading post but you can take a walking tour of the reconstructed residences , warehouse and other buildings.
A number of Dejima’s historical structures have been restored for exhibits to provide information on the birth of Dejima and the activities of the Dutch East India Company Dejima Factory.
NAGASAKI MUSEUM OF HISTORY AND CULTURE - The fact that Nagasaki played a critical role in the trade and industrialization of Japan is highlighted at the Nagasaki Museum of Culture and History. There’s even an entire exhibit dedicated to the city’s trading relationships. It’s a must for history buffs.
The Museum tells the story of the history of overseas exchanges distinctive to Nagasaki.
HASHIMA GUNKANJIMA - Gunkanjima used to be the home of undersea coal mining – the industry that supported the modernization of Japan. Blocks of high rise apartments standing in the small island are one of the features of Gunkanjima and are a rare find in the world. The island’s name was derived from the exterior of the island that resembles the battleship “Tosa”. Inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2015, Gunkanjima welcomes many visitors every year.
The inspiration behind the villain's hideout in the 2012 Bond film Skyfall, the tiny, fortress-like island, Gunkanjima lies just off the coast of Nagasaki.
NAGASAKI CHINATOWN - Nagasaki’s Chinatown happens to be the oldest in Japan. Shop along the street here, picking up handmade items and souvenirs to take back home.
Nagasaki Shinchi Chūkagai is the oldest Chinatown in Japan.
CHINATOWN - in Nagasaki is the second biggest one in Japan after the Chinatown in Yokohama. About 40 shops and restaurants are in the area. There are four entrances and each entrance has a Chinese-style gate. During Chinese New Year, they hold the Lantern Festival, during which the streets are beautifully decorated with lanterns. If you have a chance to go there, don’t forget the local delicacy “champon”, which is a unique noodle dish.
WHAT TO EAT
Nagasaki’s coastal location ensures that ultra-fresh seafood is a given on the menus here. If you’re feeling adventurous, whale sashimi is a delicacy here, and the area’s sushi and rice bowls are rated among the world’s best. If you aren’t a seafood person, try Nagasaki beef, or wagyu.
You can’t get wrong with this assortment of bento food with fresh sashimi and a variety of sushi.
When it comes to Nagasaki-specialties, "Champon" and "Sara-udon" should never be missed. It is a taste of Nagasaki that has always been loved by the locals
CHANPON - is a noodle dish with Chinese roots that is synonymous with Nagasaki. The dish varies between restaurants but typically consists of fried seafood, pork and vegetables in a rich pork and or chicken bone broth with noodles. This eclectic, sometimes seemingly ad-hoc mix of ingredients has traditionally been viewed in the region as an inexpensive, healthy and delicious stomach filler.
The dish was inspired by the cuisine of China. Champon is made by frying pork, seafood and vegetables with lard.
SARA UDON - literally translated as "plate noodles" and is a dish in which a mixture of meat and vegetables are placed atop a bed of crispy fried noodles. As with chanpon, the dish and type of noodles used differ from restaurant to restaurant.
Kakuni Manju - Another dish with Chinese roots, Kakuni Manju consists of a thick slice of pork belly placed in a soft bread bun. The meat is simmered in soy sauce, dashi, sake, sugar and mirin for a long time at a low temperature to make it extra tender. Kakuni Manju is served both as a restaurant dish and as street food.
Toruko Rice - Varying widely from restaurant to restaurant, this Western-inspired dish typically consists of pilaf rice and spaghetti accompanied by a breadcrumb pork cutlet topped with Japanese-style curry. This delicious meal is said to get its name, which translates as "Turkish Rice", from the way it represents the meeting of The East and The West.
A specialty of Nagasaki, the cake was brought to Japan by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century.
Castella - Nagasaki's quintessential desert, Castella is a sponge cake made from flour, sugar and eggs. The confectionery was introduced to Nagasaki by Portuguese missionaries dating back to the mid-16th century and since then has been enjoyed all over Japan as a Nagasaki specialty. The cake is today mostly bought from shops, usually coming packed in a long box. It is commonly given as a souvenir.
One of the best examples of the various multicultural influences in Nagasaki cuisine made of Japanese dishes and foreign dishes, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese cuisine.
Shippoku Cuisine Shippoku, which is a compound word from "table" and "table cloth," refers to the banquet of food served in one huge plate and placed on a lacquered round table where everyone can freely pick the dish that they want. It is a local cuisine that is truly Nagasaki where you can enjoy Western, Chinese and Japanese cuisine - all in one table
shippoku-style meal, which is meant to be savored and shared with a group. It consists of a large table of dishes influenced by the Edo period as well as Chinese and Western food.
SHOPPING- WHERE TO BUY
The closest shopping to the port on a cruise to Nagasaki is the Hamano-machi Shopping Area. Hamano-machi is Nagasaki's shopping district, and is referred to by the locals as "Hamano-machi" or simply "machi." The shopping center is always bustling with local people, as there are a lot of shops. It’s not upscale, but it’s a good way to glimpse daily life in Nagasaki. Stores ranges from established boutiques, to some dazzling shops and other general stores.
Hamamachi Arcade is a shopping street in Nagasaki, which begins at a tram station of the same name.
LOCAL CURRENCY AND TIPPING CUSTOMS
The official currency of Japan is the yen, and you’ll find you’ll need cash while you’re exploring Japan. Credit cards are becoming more widely accepted, but it’s more common to pay with cash while on a Nagasaki, Japan cruise. Tipping isn’t the norm in Japanese culture, so you don’t have to tip your taxi driver or server at dinner.
WELCOME EVENTS - By the time the passenger ship arrives at the port, the passengers receive a warm welcome from the locals through brass band performances and wadaiko (Japanese drum) from students and children and other local performers. In addition, tourists can also witness a dance unique to Nagasaki - the "Ja-odori" (dragon dance).
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