Without a doubt the most popular private tour that we consistently deliver on is the Full Day Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsular Shore Excursion.
Even on the days when the weather isn`t behaving our private tour groups always end the day with a smile on their faces albeit a little tired from exploring and experiencing all the interesting and cultural itineraries on the day.
Here is another successful tour that was recently completed.
Please check the video below to see all the attractions we visited on that special day together in Nagasaki.
Shimabara Castle is located between the Ariake Bay and Mount Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsular. The outer moat is 15 meters deep and between 30–50 meters wide, extends 360 meters east-west and 1260 meters north-south. The main building has five stories, a height of 33 meters and is connected to two secondary buildings, each with three stories.
The Arita Clan (Christian ruler) ruled over the domain from Hinoe Castle and Hara Castle. After the start of the national isolation policy the Tokugawa Regime banned Christianity from 1614 and replaced Arima with the Matsukura Clan. Matsukura, who strictly enforced the prohibition against Christianity with mass executions, also severely raised taxes to pay for the construction of his new Shimabara Castle from 1618-1624. This oppression of the peasants was a major factor leading to the Shimabara Rebellion. Shimabara Castle Nagasaki came under siege during the Shimabara Rebellion but was not damaged.
Today only the moat and stone walls remain from the original structure. In 1980, a memorial museum was opened in honor of Seibo Kitamura, a noted sculptor and designer of the famous Peace Statue at the Peace Park in Nagasaki City. In 2006, the Shimabara Castle was listed one of the 100 finest Castles in Japan by the Japan Castle Foundation.
Sometimes I am in awe when i am driving down the hill from the mountain and the Shimabara Castle suddenly appears in the foreground. A real Castle that operated over 400 years ago and still remains today albeit a restored type but really portrays the history and the real life setting of what life was like in Japan in the 17th century.
An absolute must visit for visitors to Nagasaki to inspect its history and beauty. Always rated very highly by our Private Tour Groups.
Check out the Shimabara Castle on a map below:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Private Family Tour Group
One of the Outer Buildings
The view
Another view
The entrance
With Plum blossoms
Click on the videos below to see some performances by the staff at the Shimabara Castle:
Check out Shimabara Castle Nagasaki on this videos below:
The Unzen Ropeway in Nagasaki climbs the Myoken Peak of Mount Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsular. The Unzen Ropeway was opened in 1957, the area was transformed immediately and has developed into a major Attraction that many people visit over and over again throughout the seasons. It attracts visitors with its 360 degree views of the surrounding areas. It's nature is also a big calling card for many visitors, especially the blooming azaleas in spring and the many autumn changing colors.
It is open 365 days of the year and at certain times of the year during the peaks seasons of Spring and Autumn extensive waiting periods can be observed, sometimes up to 2 or 3 hours as people are desperate to see the spring cherry blossoms and Autumn foliage change. However summer and winter are quite reasonable and it's more a matter of minutes and not hours needed at these times of the year. This is the way I like it and on this particular day which was a weekday (weekends can be horrendous) in no time at all we were allowed a great standing position on the ropeway to get the sight and pictures that we desired.
This visit was my first to use the actual Ropeway as I usually prefer to climb the mountain but in order to get the photos I desired i took advantage of the fabulous service available to the public. All I can say is that i wasn't disappointed with my decision, the views and its proximity to nature are second to none resulting in some of the best pictures I have taken. Please check them out!
Check out The Unzen Ropeway in Nagasaki Prefecture below:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
The colours are intense!
Spectacular views
Please check out this video of the Unzen Ropeway in all its glory!
Shimabara Carp Street Nagasaki is a direct result of there being fresh springs all over the city and unlimited fresh water supply available at all times. Many of the springs are the result of a series of eruptions from Mount Fugen, most notably the largest eruption in 1792 which dramatically changed the landscape and flow of these fresh water springs. Today, approximately 1,500 carp swim in the beautiful and well laid out natural spring channels which add elegance and mystic to the city.
Colourful Carp
Crystal Clear Springwater
Swimming Carp
One of the channels
Carp under the glass floor
Great place to take photos
Great to see the carp swimming freely.
The first time I walked the streets of Shimabara, I nearly fell into one of the canals. Mostly out of surprise and shock of accidentally finding such a amazing place. The carp looked so fresh and the water is so clear that one just feels like jumping in and swimming with the fish, although this is more of a fantasy rather than a reality.
Today the carp streams are kept for sightseeing and aesthetic reasons as well as the fact that they look so cool! However in the past and particularly during times of war and famine they were kept as an alternative food source. Although it can be said that Carp are not a particularly good eating fish, I guess when one is hungry one should not be too picky about their food source. Luckily for the carp, nowadays the channels are used only for sightseeing and asthetic purposes, so the fish should grow up big and strong and hopefully colorful to satisfy the hoards of tourists that come to see them.
Check out the Shimabara Carp Street on this map below:
Here is a video of the Shimabara Carp Street in Nagasaki Prefecture:
Karimizu Spring Geopark in Obama, Nagasaki has a cold water natural spring as well as many hot water springs as well. The Karimizu Mineral Spring located at the Obama Hot Springs Resort Town on the west side of the Shimabara Peninsular is the only spring that comprises a bubbling effect similar to opening a can of soft drink. The gaseous components in the chloride spring are melted in the shallow ground water and the 25-27℃ carbonated spring contains low quantities of hydro sulfide.
The Karimizu Spring Geopark Nagasaki is officially classified as a Hot Spring because its temperature is above 24 degrees which is the cutoff point for whether a body of water is actually groundwater or not.
It's amazing to see nature at its best working efficiently and even more surprising that the water is cool to touch. At first, being that you are at a Hot Spring Resort and the spring water is bubbling at the surface, gives one the impression that the water is boiling at 100 degrees. However the shock of realizing that it is actually a reasonable temperature is gratifying. The spring water is actually safe to drink but trust me when I say it is not very pleasant. The carbonated water is clear but has a slight smell from the sulfide and thus is not really a delicious drink but by all means try for yourself, if you are game of course?
Check out the Karimizu Spring Geopark on a map:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
Lots of great information in English
Interesting to see and feel
Carbonated natural spring
Closeup of the bubble
Please take a look at Karimizu Spring Geopark Nagasaki video on the link provided below:
Onokoba Elementary School Nagasaki is one of the more haunting figures on the Shimabara Peninsular. It is the wrecked site of the former school which was destroyed by a pyroclastic flow in 1990. All that remains today of the interior is twisted metal and glass but the basic structure of the school is intact and was left as a reminder of the disaster. A new Onokoba Elementary School has been built in its place albeit in a new location.
A small Museum was built next to the school and exhibits some pictures and explanations about the eruption. It also has an observation deck with views of the volcano peak known as the Heisei Shinzan dome which was formed when the mountain exploded 20 years ago and raised the height of the existing mountain by well over 100 metres in height. The Museum although not huge is well represented with pictures and information about the conditions at the time and the consequences of the eruptions. Not much English documentation but the sights and scenes do more than enough to convey the end results.
There is a eerie silence and disturbing feeling when walking around the site. Its as though one can feel the power and destructive force of the volcano which is now dormant but at the time destroyed everything in its path. A must do and must see when in the area. I guarantee you won't be disappointed by what you will see here as positive comments galore have been garnered over the years regarding this location.
Come and see Onokoba Elementary School in Nagasaki on a map:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
The Volcano looms above
Completely destroyed
Solemn walk
Warped from the heat
Here are some videos of the Onokoba Elementary School Nagasaki for you to check out:
Unzen Jigoku Hells in Nagasaki is located within the Unzen Town district and is designated as a National Park. It is where you will find many wild birds and alpine plants as well as other attractive features such as frost in winter (January to February) crimson foliage in autumn (October and November) cherry blossoms in Spring (March and April) and Azaleas in summer (May and June).
The Unzen Hot Spring is located at the foot of Mt. Unzen. As a result of the nearby Volcano (Mount Fugen) it provides more than enough hot water for the many resorts an hotels in the region and support a wasteland of heat and steam. This is the place where high-temperature hot springs and steams spurt out of the ground and is called "Unzen Jigoku” (Unzen Hell) because of the sulfur content and the fact that sulfur steam is rising constantly into the air from the ground and the boiling spring water. Because of the sulfur, plants cannot grow here and the atmosphere is dense with steam which makes you think as if it is a scene right out of hell but don't worry within minutes of leaving the area the sulfur smell will have dissipated from your clothes and your pores.
One can walk around the area within a reasonable amount of time (approx 30 to 40 mins), take a multitude of photos of plant and bird life around the hells area and also enjoy sulfur infused boiled eggs cooked within minutes right in front of your eyes. These eggs taste amazing and combined with just the right amount of salt for added tasting pleasure they are out of this world and will be absolutely the best boiled eggs you will ever taste in your life!
My private tours of this area can get many different reactions, those of immense pleasure to those of utter disgust for the potent smells of the sulfur. My job as a private tour operator is to give the client as many choices as possible and if requested this location can be left off the days itinerary.
Look at Unzen Jigoku Hells in Nagasaki on this map below:
Click on the photo below to enlarge:
Steam and sulfur everywhere you look
Nature Personified
Lots of hotels and resorts
Careful of the sulfur smell
Steam venting
Lots of steam
Magnificent contrasts
Volcanic wasteland
Well signposted
Happy couple
Taking a wander
This is sulfur
Dangerous areas are fenced
Have a look at Unzen Jigoku Hells Nagasaki on the videos below:
Autumn Viewing Pleasures are one of the best things to do in November just before the change of season into winter. I am blessed here in Nagasaki to have an abundance of places right on my back doorstep to indulge in a little bit of Autumn viewing pleasures especially since I don`t have to travel too far.
In fact, the road from my place goes straight up the mountain to Unzen on the Shimabara Peninsular and half way up a private residence has turned his home and its wide open spaces into a public viewing of all things amazing in Autumn. Here people come from near and far to participate in some Nagasaki Autumn Viewing Pleasures and for a nominal fee of around $3 US for adults and free for kids, anyone can wander around the beautiful landscape and basically get lost in their own little world whilst taking in all the splendor that there is to offer.
Although I had missed the peak of the Autumn Leaf changing season by a few days, I was still able to see many exquisite sites and revel in the nature that was abundant and never ending. The Japanese Momiji (Maple Leaf) is absolutely entwined in the Japanese psyche and has a strong connection cultural as well as being entrenched in their culinary habits. It is common to see the Momiji used as food displays during the Autumn period so it is normal for the average Japanese person to feel the need to connect with the Momiji through nature as well. Hence you are never alone during the Nagasaki Autumn Viewing Pleasures as there is always one or 20 people around you.
On this day, I was fortunate to have my family with me and my kids absolutely relished in the environment. I plan to come back a few days earlier next year to arrive at the peak of the Momiji powers. Come join me if you like?
Check outAutumn Viewing in Nagasaki here on a map:
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
Orange colors everywhere
Reflections
My children enjoyed the leaves
Picture perfect
Please click on the videos below to see more Nagasaki Autumn Viewing Pleasures:
