Welcome to Nagasaki

From Nagasaki City to Unzen and Shimabara over two days #Day 1 #Day 2

1. From Fukuoka to Nagasaki

(Train) JR Hakata Station 9:00 --> JR Nagasaki Station 10:57
or
(Bus) Hakata Kotsu Center 8:49 --> Nagasaki Kenei Bus Terminal 11:12

2. Dejima: The Site of the Former Dutch Trading Post

11:10 - 12:00

Japan's window on the world during the isolation period.
Dejima was an artificial island of 13,000m² built by 25 wealthy merchants of Nagasaki in 1636 by order of the Tokugawa Shogunate. It was constructed first as a compound for Portuguese traders. After the official expulsion of the Portuguese, however, the Dutch were forced to move their trading post from Hirado to Dejima. During the long period of national seclusion (1641-1859), Dejima was the only door open to the outside world and gave Nagasaki the status of Japan's sole international trading port. Dejima played an important role in the development of culture, industry, and science in Japan by serving as a gateway for Western civilization. Many ardent Japanese students traveled to Nagasaki to study Rangaku ("Dutch learning", i.e., Western science) including medicine, chemistry, weaponry, navigation, and astronomy.

access:Dejima tram stop

The Dejima Theater:
Make sure to drop by the theater for an extremely good explanatory video on the history behind Dejima. 12 minutes long, it is available in Japanese, English, Dutch, Chinese and Korean.

3. Champon and Saraudon Lunch in Chinatown

12:10 - 12:40

Champon is one of Nagasaki's typical dishes. It is said that the founder of the Chinese restaurant Shikairo, Mr. Chen Ping Shun, cooked this delicious and nutritious food for Chinese students in Nagasaki in the late 19th century. It is served in broth with a variety of meat, shellfish and vegetables on top.
Another delicious alternative is Sara-udon, an equally nutricious and inexpensive dish with crisp noodles and topping in a thick sauce. Both dishes are very popular among people in Nagasaki.

Did you know?
The word Champon is derived from chapon which, in Chinese, means "Have you eaten yet?"

4. Oura Catholic Church

13:00 - 13:15

Completed in 1865 under the supervision of the French priest Bernard Petitjean, Oura Catholic Church was designated as a National Treasure in 1933 for its value as Japan's oldest Gothic-style church.
The white marble statue of the Holy Mother at the entrance was built in commemoration of the dramatic discovery of the "Hidden Christians." On March 17, 1865, a group of peasants from Urakami came to the church and professed their faith to Father Petitjean, thus revealing that Christianity had survived through the centuries of persecution.

access:Ouratenshudo-shita tram stop

Did you know?
The Italian Opera Madame Butterfly was inspired from the Glover House in Nagasaki.

5. Glover Garden

13:20 - 14:10

Perched on Minamiyamate hillside overlooking the harbor in Glover Garden,it is Nagasaki's foremost tourist attraction. Following the end of national seclusion in 1859, Nagasaki was opened to free trade with foreign countries and merchants of various nationalities flocked to the city. The successful merchants built Western-style mansions, some of which still stand at the original sites and convey the romantic atmosphere of the 19th century.
Glover House, built in 1863, is the oldest remaining colonial style building in Japan and has been designated as an Important Cultural Asset. As the house and its surroundings are reminiscent of Puccini's opera, it is also known as the "Madame Butterfly House."
Thomas Glover, born near Aberdeen, Scotland, came to Nagasaki in 1859 at the age of 21 and spent the rest of his life in Japan. He contributed to the modernization of Japan in shipbuilding, coal mining and many other fields. In 1908 he was awarded the Second Class Order of the Rising Sun by the Meiji Imperial Government.

access:Ouratenshudo-shita tram stop

On your way out of the Glover Garden, why not have some castella?
This light sweet sponge cake has been baked since the 16th century. The name is said to come from the old Spanish place named "Castile." The recipe was introduced by the Portuguese, and today Castella is still Nagasaki's favorite confection.

6. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum Hypocenter Park Peace Park	14:40 - 15:30
Atomic Bomb Museum The atomic bomb museum was built to show the world the horror of the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki and the need to eliminate all nuclear weapons. Hypocenter Park A memorial monolith marks the exact point below the center of the atomic bomb explosion, which occurred at 11:02AM, August 9, 1945. The monolith is always decorated with flowers and paper cranes donated by citizens and travelers, and the park is planted with hundreds of cherry trees, azalea and hydrangea bushes.
Peace Park (Peace Statue) The Peace Statue was constructed in 1955 by donations from all over the world, and is highly symbolic. The right hand pointing skyward warns about the threat of the atomic bomb. The left hand stretching out horizontally symbolizes world peace. The gently closed eyes represent a prayer for the repose of the souls of all atomic bomb victims. access:Matsuyama-machi tram stop

7. From Nagasaki to Unzen

(Bus) Nagasaki Kenei Bus Terminal 16:00 → Shimatetsu Unzen Eigyo-sho Mae 17:40

Did you know?
In the late 19th century, Unzen was a favorite summer resort for European and American residents of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Manila.

Did you know?
Situated about 700 meters above sea level, Unzen is a mountainous parkland with an area of 256 sq. km. In 1934, it was designated as Japan's first national park for its splendid natural environment and numerous

8. Stay at your hotel
Here are our hotel suggestions for you! Look at our suggestions in the "Hotels" page.

DAY 2

9.Unzen Hell	(30 minutes before breakfast)
UNZEN TOURIST ASSOCIATION URL : http://www.unzen.org/e_ver/index.html

Unzen Hell ( unzen jigoku in Japanese) is the number one attraction of Unzen. Unzen Hell can easily be located by its high, dense clouds of steam.These springs are highly valued by Japanese even now as according to Buddhist teachings, "If you live in a bad manner, you cannot go to Paradise, but ratheryou will fall into the Hell of agony."

Did you know?
In the early 17th century, when the then rulers began their crackdown on Christianity, many Christian converts were thrown into the boiling Unzen Hell.

10. Nita Pass

(Shared Taxi) prior booking essential (Heisei Kanko Taxi:TEL 0957-73-2010)
Unzen Park Visitor Center 9:00 --> Nita Pass 9:20

Get on the Nita Pass ropeway or enjoy the walking trail.

Did you know?
From the Nita Pass, you can see Mount Heisei Shinzan, the newest mountain in all of Japan. It erupted in November 1990 and inflicted great damage on this area. A lava dome was created on top of Mount Higen-dake due to the continual activity until May 1995, and the mountain is now called Mount Heisei Shinzan (shinzan means new mountain in Japanese).

11. Back to Unzen

(Shared Taxi) prior booking essential (Heisei Kanko Taxi:TEL 0957-73-2010)
Nita Pass 10:20 --> Unzen Park Visitor Center 10:40

12. From Unzen to Shimabara

"Welcome to Shimabara City"
URL : http://www.city.shimabara.lg.jp/english/index.html

(Bus) Shimatetsu Bus Center

13:09

-->

Shimabara Harbor

13:43

(as of Apr.2008)

Drop off your baggage at Shimabara Harbor. (Coin lockers are available). From there, get on a taxi to enjoy lunch at Himematsuya. (about 10 minutes by taxi, about \1000)

Did you know?
In AC 1638, during the Tokugawa Shogunate, Shimabara experienced a bloody tragedy. Christian missionaries were very successful at converting local people. This faith, combined with the severity of taxes, spurred the local farmers to revolt against the military government. The rebellion lasted three months, and about 37000 people were massacred.

13.Lunch at Himematsuya (in front of Shimabara Castle)

Guzoni is a typical dish from Shimabara. It is said that it was first prepared in 1637 for peasants who participated in the Shimabara Revolt and who were in need of nutricious and very filling food. Traditional Guzoni incorporates more than 13 ingredients such as vegetables, fish, chicken and mochi (rice cake), all of them boiled together in a tasty soup.
At Himematsuya , the most famous Guzoni restaurant, you can enjoy the original taste for a very reasonable price (less than \1000 per person).

Did you know?
The donjon of Shimabara Castle was reconstructed in 1964, and it is now a museum that displays samurai weapons, armor, pottery and so on. It is especially interesting to have a look at the Christian objects from those days when Christianity was prohibited.

14.Shimabara Castle and Museum of The Disaster	14:00 - 14:30
The principal landmark of the city, Shimabara Castle was originally built by the Matsukura clan in 1615. It contains exhibition halls for historical artifacts, especially those related to the 1637 Shimabara Rebellion, an uprising of the Christian peasantry

Did you know?
In 1990, the Museum of The Disaste was opened inside the Shimabara Castle to commemorate the eruption of Mount Fugen-dake. Many objects are displayed, and both a commemorative video of the disaster and a volcanic eruption simulator are presented.

15.Old Samurai House Street	14:40 - 15:00
(a 10 minutes walk from the Shimabara Castle) Commemorating the old samurai section of Shimabara, this famous street is lined with stone walls and a spring water canal running down its center. Three samurai houses have been restored and opened as exhibits. It is extremely picturesque, and perfect for a great photo shoot.

16.Moritake Shopping District (traditional atmosphere)	15:10 - 15:30
(a 10 minutes walk from the Old Samurai House district) Enjoy browsing from shop to shop in the old streets of this shopping district. It is located between the Shimabara Castle (which, by the way, used to be called the Moritake Castle) and the train station.

17.Inohara Hardware Shop	15:40 - 16:00
(a 10 minutes walk from the Moritake Shopping District) Enjoy the metal works made from a traditional Japanese craftsman. Also, the shop itself is quite worth a look.Take a taxi to get to Shimabara Harbor (about 10 minutes, about \1000)

Did you know?
Shimabara is filled with fresh, crystal springs, which is why it is also called the "City of Water." Many of the springs are the result of a series of eruptions of Fugen-dake (the local volcano) in 1792.

18.Out of Shimabara

From Shimabara to Kumamoto Harbor

(ferry) Shimabara Harbor	16:25	→	Kumamoto Harbor	17:25
	17:50	→		18:50

From Kumamoto Harbor to JR Kumamoto Station
(bus) takes about 25 minutes

second option

From Shimabara to Fukuoka
(ferry) Shimabara Harbor 17:35 → Miike Harbor (Omuta, Fukuoka) 18:25
(bus) Miike-Harbor 18:27 → Omuta Station 18:35
(train) Omuta Station 18:45 → JR Fukuoka Station 19:35

(as of Apr.2008)