Japan Travel Info - Nagasaki

Japan Travel Info - How to get there

How to Get There:


Nagasaki, Japan, with a population of approximately 1.4 million, is one of the larger cities on the southern island of Kyushu. In Japan history Nagasaki resulted from a combination of Hizen, Tsuhima, and Iki. And Nagasaki was opened to the Portuguese in 1571. Some time after that, the island of Dejima in Nagasaki was home to a Dutch Trading port. Nagasaki is perhaps best known for it being the infamous object of an atomic bomb attack during World War II. Nagasaki is accessible from Tokyo by airplane, by train, and by bus. But recommended transportation mode is either by airplane from Tokyo airport Haneda, or by railways Japan JR train because of time and distance. Because of the sheer distance between Tokyo and Nagasaki I prefer a ride on the Japan Railways Shinkansen bullet train so that you can enjoy the wonderful scenery along the way if you have the time with an overnight stay in Kyoto. A trip on the JR Tokaido Kodama Shinkansen from Shinagawa station in Tokyo to Kyoto, as an example, would take about 4 hours, and by using the 7-day Japan Rail Pass(about $413 currently for a Green reserved car) would save you quite a sum. Use of the Rail pass over long runs really increases your savings over regular fares. Kyoto to Hakata presently takes just under 3 hours, and with a transfer to a LEX train Kamome, you would be in Nagasaki in about 2 hours. Lacking time, a direct flight from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Nagasaki by airplane on Japan Air Lines or All Nippon Airways will take just over 2 hours.


Japan Travel Info - Where to Stay


There are many hotels and ryokan to stay at in Nagasaki, I always recommend staying at hotels or inns near Nagasaki station which makes it easy for you to access the rail system and bus system for getting around. I personally like to stay at the Hotel New Nagasaki, which is located directly across Nagasaki station.


Japan Travel Info - Things to do:
 
Japan Travel Info - Things to do recommendation: Peace Park - with the Peace Statue, built in 1955, symbolizing world peace. Atomic Bomb Museum, which contains photographs and objects of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945.


Dejima - Visit the former Dutch colony built to isolate the Europeans from the Japanese people and prevent the spread of Christianity in Japan. Dejima served as the only gateway for Japan to Europe for 200 years during the Edo era.

Japan Travel Info - Glover Garden - home of a wealthy Scottish merchant named Thomas Blake Glover. He established Glover & Co. and married a Japanese woman named Tsuru. He helped to introduce modern science and technology to Japan and helped Sakamoto Ryoma, a revolutionary, bring change to the Shogunate Japan government. The home, overlooking Nagasaki, gives a wonderful view of Nagasaki, and the flower garden surrounding the home is outstandingly beautiful.

Nearby is the Oura Catholic Church, built by French missionaries in 1864. It is the oldest church in Japan.

Foods of Japan - Nagasaki is perhaps best known for the ever popular Champon (Chinese) noodles, Kasutera(Castella) pound cake, and Karasumi(dried mullet roe), all a reflection of the foreign influence on the city.

Nagasaki Shopping - Souvenirs and crafts include pearls, coral jewelry, glassware, pottery and china. I recommend a side trip from Nagasaki to Imari Okawachiyama, or “Village of the secret kilns”. This is the home of world famous Imari and Arita ware. During the spring and fall pottery fairs held in the village (Spring: April 1-5; Fall: November 1-5), you can buy these world famous pottery at very low prices. You can walk through the village and compare the different pottery the vendors and selling. Japanese Yen only. Believe me, it is worth your time if you’re in to Japanese pottery marks. Japan Travel Info - Things to do recommendation.

For a related site on Nagasaki, please click here to go to http://traveljapan-us.com/