Nagasaki Peace Park School Trip: Nagasaki City

One of the best things about the Nagasaki Peace Park is that no matter how many times you have been here, each time is different.  I can`t count how many times I have visited the Peace Park.  Each time I do something interesting and amazing always catches my eye and makes me think that this place really is really something special and needs to be cherished and appreciated by all.

On my last visit I came upon a School Trip by High School students.  I didn`t ask where they were from as they were being escorted in a rather militaristic fashion but in perfect unison and very orderly and with quiet aplomb and respect for all the people around them.  I would be very surprised if an Australian High School field trip would be as orderly as this one and i would hazard a guess that there would have been quite a bit more yelling and mucking around even in such an important and sombre place.

Nearly every Japanese child from Elementary School to High School has either visited Hiroshima or Nagasaki Peace Parks during their schooling years.  The education departments and the schools themselves see it an a rather important part of their schooling and to learn from the pages of Japanese history first hand.

On this recent visit i couldn't help but wonder what these High Schooler`s were feeling inside. Whether they could fully fathom what happened here 70 years ago or whether it was just a normal regular place and they were rather bored and wanted to get this experience over and done with.  I am pretty sure the next time I have a change to see and interact with a school trip I will ask some of these pertinent questions.

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Orderly progression

Japanese discipline

Rememberence

Arima Christian Heritage Museum: Shimabara Peninsular, Nagasaki Prefecture

The Arima Christian Heritage Museum in Nagasaki is an interesting place that one can see and interact with many facets of Japanese History and especially its interaction and involvement with people from other countries through culture, trade and religious experimentation.

The Museum is well signposted in English, has enough literature and footnotes as well as a 10 minute video to explain the histories and problems of the day in which Christianity was outlawed and those that continued to follow their faith (even though the consequences meant death) were dealt with in the most gruesome manner.

No stone is unturned at the Arima Christian Heritage Museum as all topic of reference are discussed in full details.  These include the Martyring of Nagasaki Christians, the connection between trade and evil forces from abroad, as well as the Hara Castle massacre whereby 37 000 peasant Christians were murdered as a result of their unwillingness to stop practicing their faith and because of their defiance to follow the rank and file orders of their over bearing Lord of the time.

I will recommend this place to anyone who has an interest in the history of the Nagasaki Christians, as there is just enough information to fill in the gaps and to provide a picture worth viewing.  However because of the Museum`s remote location most probably a Private Tour will be needed to access this and other remote places.

Please click on the click to see Arima Christian Heritage Museum in Nagasaki on this map:

 

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

Renounce your faith or else!

Christianity arrived in Japan with the traders

An interesting 10 minute video with subtitles

Christians being Martyred

The Arima Christian Heritage Museum

Religious cleansing

Martyrdom

The Hara Castle Massacre

Rebellion forces holding out the lords soldiers

The end result 37 000 Christian dead

Entrance

Please check out these videos below to see more about the Arima Christian Heritage Museum in Nagasaki:

Mount Fugen: Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture

Mount Fugen in Nagasaki is the second highest peak of Unzen which dominates the Shimabara peninsula. Mount Fugen is well known for its volcanic activity that last peaked in a period from 1990 to 1995.  Even today, many reports about volcanoes  invariably mentions Unzen when it comes to massive pyroclastic flows.  The most severe occurred on June 13, 1991 when 34 people were killed in an area that was rated as safe.

On my Private Nagasaki Tours, and only when the weather deems so, I will drive to the lookout and give everyone the opportunity to see the Volcano and Lava Dome up close.  It's a tremendous and uplifting site for sure.

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

The Peak

Vegetation has grown

Views of Shimabara below

Currently, the two highest peaks of Unzen are Mount Fugen (1359m) and Heisei Shinzan (1483m). Until the last period of volcanic activity, Mount Fugen was the highest point in the Unzen complex. It lost this title with the growth of a new lava dome that has been named Heisei Shinzan.  At 1483 meters, the new peak outperforms Mount Fugen by more than 100 meters.

Mount Fugen makes for a fantastic access point from the Unzen Hot Spring town and can be well combined with a visit of Shimabara to the east as well as the town of Obama to the west for a great day out!  Combine all 3 places and your day will just about be perfect from every point of view.

Mount Fugen Nagasaki is one of my favorite places to visit, just to see the huge lava dome sends shivers up my spine no matter where I am standing on the Shimabara Peninsular.  Mount Fugen Nagasaki can be climbed, it can be viewed also in various way, one by walking up to the lookout which is only about 200 meters from the carpark but there are quite an amount of stairs to contend with and secondly from the ropeway which will take you right up to the peak and within the parameters of its heart and soul.  I am sure it will provide you with a similar moving experience where ever it may be viewed from.

Look at Mount Fugen in Nagasaki Prefecture on a map below:

 

1st National Park in Japan

Picturesque

Nagasaki Ninja and Samurai Experience: Shimabara, Nagasaki Prefecture

The Nagasaki Ninja and Samurai Experience is one that all children and adults alike will enjoy to no end.  The Shimabara Castle located on the Shimabara Peninsular in Nagasaki has been able to turn back the clock and offer an experience like no other to the public. The chance to be a Ninja or Samurai if only for just a short period of time is one that you should not let slip your grasp.

On a bitterly cold winter day a friend of mine requested to go and check out the Shimabara Castle so without hesitation I grabbed the kids as I knew they would relish being a Ninja again even though they have had the opportunity to do so many times in the past.  Luckily when we arrived late in the afternoon just before closing time, the coast was clear and we had the whole place practically to ourselves.

All the staff members are extremely polite, friendly and helpful in every regard and request.  It is their hope that everyone leaves the Shimabara Castle with a smile on their faces and a positive experience having realized a dream and or just having an experience that one would not be able to back in their home country or even in the city areas of Japan.  Not only have many foreign travelers never had a chance to dress up as a Ninja or Samurai most Japanese people haven`t either!

Well, my friend and my kids left the Shimabara Castle just as intended, a huge smile on their face and they also talked about the experience for hours afterwards.  Mission Completed!  I am sure you will feel the same, come and check it out for yourself whilst on your Private Nagasaki Tour.

Please check out Nagasaki Ninja and Samurai Experience here on a map below:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

At the Shimabara Castle

One happy Samurai

Castle Entrance

Preparing the Ninja`s

The team in action

Real Samurai?

Fighting Style

Action Shot!

Climbing the Castle

Posing like Ninja`s

Closeup of a Ninja?

Please click on the videos below to see the real Nagasaki Ninja and Samurai Experience:

Unzen Spa House: Nagasaki Prefecture

Unzen Spa House Nagasaki is located high up in the hot spring mountainous areas of Unzen, is a great place for taking a hot spring to take away all the weariness but one of the more interesting places is the Vidro Museum which is located on the 2nd floor of the building.

For a measly price of 700 yen ($6 US) you can enjoy all types of glassware from all around the world.. The Unzen Spa House has an extensive display of Japanese Edo (16th and 17th century) Era Nagasaki glass and Bohemian glassware from Italy, France and other European countries.

On this day, I was lucky to be the only customer in the building so basically I had the whole place to myself. This allowed me to take my time and to stroll around the various exhibits at my leisure and therefore I was able to really inspect a lot of the different glass wares in full detail.

I must admit I hadn`t expected the amount of variety that was on offer and of course the buildings lighting was absolutely amazing as it showed each piece at its most beautiful apperance. For any glass lover or someone who enjoys the beauty of art, the Unzen Spa House Nagasaki is a place to visit, even if only for an hour.

I can see myself bringing some Private Tour groups here in the future.

Click on this link to see Unzen Spa House Nagasaki on a map:

Please check out the pictures below, click to enlarge:

Impressive table settings

Ceramics of all styles

Beautiful table settings

Ceiling motifs

Beautifully presented

Many types of glasswares

One of the center pieces

Ceramics were great too!

Please click on the videos below to see Unzen Spa House Nagasaki and its amazing Vidro Museum:

One Piece Cruise: Huis Ten Bosch, Nagasaki Prefecture

The One Piece Cruise in Nagasaki is located at Huis Ten Bosch the replica village of a real Dutch counterpart. This amusement park/ attraction/ botanical masterpiece/ cultural center has tens if not hundreds of different activities for adults and children alike. It is the One Piece Ship that is one of the most popular attractions for the kids.

For those not in the loop, One Piece is the latest and biggest animation to come out of Japan since Pokemon. It has fans all over the world and on a recent trip to Norway and Finland I came to realize just how big the One Piece characters really are as just about every child I spoke to from the ages of 6 to 16, knew all the characters by name and really into the whole One Piece concept.

My children aren`t any different! Every time i have the chance to go to Huis Ten Bosch they ask me if they can go on the One Piece Cruise around the Harbor. On the last trip they wanted to ride the ship so desperately they had no problems forking over 500 yen (US$4) of their own hard earned precious money and so for 20 minutes they enjoyed all the sights on the ship and around the Harbor. Money well spent in my book as the wife and I enjoyed a nice coffee at a nearby restaurant whilst the kids sailed away on a ride into the imagination.

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

The One Piece Boat

My kids love One Piece

The view from the dock

Looks authentic

Up close

Click on the link below to see the One Piece Cruise Nagasaki on a map:



Click on the video below to see the One Piece Cruise Nagasaki in full swing:

Kumamoto Ferry to Shimabara Port: Kumamoto and Nagasaki Prefectures

Check out the videos below of the Kumamoto Ferry traveling across the Ariake Sea from the Shimabara Port, Nagasaki Prefecture to the Kumamoto Port, Kumamoto Prefecture.

Traveling onward to or from Nagasaki is an amazing way for you to extend your travels in Japan and to see more of Kyushu which without a doubt offers more interesting places and experiences than other parts of Japan. The problem here is that Nagasaki is located in the north west of Kyushu and sometimes there isa lot of backtracking in your travels which results in wasted time and of course wasted money on routes that you don`t need to take.

Recently, I received a request from a group that wanted to travel from Nagasaki City to Shimabara City on the Shimabara Peninsular where they would catch a ferry and cross the Ariake Sea in order to spend sometime in Kumamoto which absolutely is an amazing place to travel to and experience the unique sights, locations and speciality foods of the area.  Not only was the group able to see Nagasaki City in their own time and under their own steam but were treated to a full day tour of the Shimabara Peninsular and then dropped off at the Shimabara Port where ferry tickets and bus transfers to downtown Kumamoto City were bought, giving them extra time and options to see all the wonderful places that this city has to offer.

I was extremely impressed by the groups attitude and attention to detail. They told me exactly what they wanted to do, where they wanted to go and in what time frame. It is this kind of research that I am sure provided a magical and unforgettable tour of Nagasaki and other areas of Kyushu.  Nagasaki to Kumamoto travel by ferry is a great opportunity to have your cake and eat it too concept as it gives both the traveler precious time and value for money options not to mention fabulous scenery across the Ariake Sea.

Without a doubt, I would fully recommend this course of travel and this travel in reverse would work as well!  I thank the members of this tour for providing me the information and idea to use this concept on Tour Nagasaki in the future. If you have any questions about traveling onward to or from Nagasaki please feel free to contact me.

This is the type of travel that lends itself to Private Tours from Kumamoto to Nagasaki or vice versa.

Please check out both of these ports on the map below:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

Entry/ exit with ease!

Heading to the Ferry

Shimabara Port

Luxury cruising

Waving Goodbye