Mount Fugen Unzen Nagasaki is not as challenging as Mount Fuji (I don't know from firsthand experience) but a great experience to climb never the less. Not being much of a mountaineer myself, I jumped at the opportunity when a friend said to me out of the blue, let's climb to the top of the Volcano in the middle of winter. Now, some might say that is a little foolish, but the views and the scenery at the top are well worth the effort and freezing temperatures. You see in winter the scenic views are usually at their peak, not much cloudy cover and or fog or pollution polluting the desired view for climbing the mountain in the first place. The frost on the limbs and trunks of the trees are worth seeing as the angles of the frost match the incoming wind direction to form the icicles perfectly.
Although we weren't able to get to the volcano it looms large and in all directions, such a massive and dominating effect on the landscape it's impossible to miss. Absolutely the most interesting and extraordinary location on the Shimabara Peninsular.
Come and check out Mount Fugen Unzen Nagasaki here on a map:
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It was extremely cold
To see vapors wafting out of the ground as we were getting closer and closer to the Volcano was a little intimidating especially whether they might be toxic or not was unknown and a little disconcerting but we were as brave as could be expected to virgin winter climbers and if i get another invitation in the future I will jump on the bandwagon again without a doubt in the world!!
Glover Gardens in Nagasaki is one of the most popular tourist spots in the City. This is the place that Thomas Glover who was from Scotland, built his house on the Minami Yamate Hill in 1863, where there are many relocated and restored gardens and houses of foreign merchants and traders who contributed to the industry of Japan at the time.
Many foreign merchants and nationalists at the end of Edo Period lived in Nagasaki at the time. The former Glover House is the oldest western wooden architecture in Japan and is designated as a national important cultural property and is also known as the "Madame Butterfly House. At various times throughout the year events are held to celebrate the opera created by Puccini as it is well known that Nagasaki is the backdrop of the story.
Glover Gardeni is a brilliant place where you can lose yourself in the history of Nagasaki, forgetting that you are actually in Japan and could be in any other trading country from Europe to the Americas. See Japan for yourself as it was in the later half of the 19th century and the effect one man made to bring Japan into the modern ages. You will find something here for everybody, whether it be the magnificent old Victorian Houses, to the restored furniture inside to the panoramic 180 degree views of the breathtaking Harbor below and its crystal clear waters.
For those visitors that want to explore Nagasaki by themselves and not take an organized tour this location is a must visit. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk to from the International Port Terminal and has a lot of attractions nearby with plenty of shops and restaurants for a bite to eat and shopping opportunities galore. However it is located on a hill and even though their is a traveling escalator to get to the top there are many steps and a constant incline to contend with.
Check out at Glover Gardens in Nagasaki on a map below:
Please click on the following photos below to enlarge:
View of the Harbour below
The main house
Interesting architecture
One of the many houses
Lots of visitors
The main pond
Inside the restored old Victorian Houses
The main building is the most popular sight!
Outdoor setting for events is always popular
Puccini`s Masterpiece
Lots of antiquities
Kimono`s are often sighted
The centerpiece
Puccini's famous Madame Butterfly
Each building is unique
This is how they entertained in the day!
Thomas Glover
The magnificent view from the top of the hill
The beautifully presented gardens and ponds
Beautiful gardens all around
Please check out these videos of Glover Gardens Nagasaki for your viewing pleasure:
Saint Philip Church in Nagasaki is on Nishizaka Hill where the 26 Martyrs are situated. The Church is named after a Mexican Martyr who was one of the 26 saints that was killed by the Shogunate powers which banished Christianity in the 16th century. His bust can be witnessed along with the other 25 martyrs at the Nishizaka Landmark which has such as power message and image of sacrifice and willpower to defy the orders to renounce Christianity within Japan.
The 2 towers soaring from the church are 16 meters high and the church has becomes one of the most visited landmarks in Nagasaki. The museum and church was designed by Kenji Imai (1895-1987). Here is some background information of the unknown designer and architect.
1895 born in Tokyo 1919 graduated from Waseda University 1919-65 teaches architecture at Waseda University 1926-27 travelled to Europe, influenced by Gaudi´s work 1948 converted to Catholicism 1987 died
The architecture of the church is unique and any fans of the works by Gaudi will immediately recognize the similarities. So, if you are a follower of Gaudi's works or just like to visit interesting places then i am sure you will come away with a positive image of this place. It will be impossible to just spend 10 to 15 minutes here, budget on at least 45 minutes to an hour as every aspect of this building will attract your eye and demand further detailed inspection. This location is a great place to talk a walk and just breath in the history and atmosphere that remains today.
Click here to locate Saint Philip Church in Nagasaki on a map:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
The unique Spires
Interesting patterns
Quiet reflections
Entrance of the Church
The 26 Martyrs Memorial in the foreground
Inspired by Gaudi
Amazing designs
Glorious
Please take a look at this video to see Saint Philip Church Nagasaki in more detail:
Fukusaiji Temple in Nagasaki was founded in 1628, originally as a Zen Temple. During the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city of Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945, the temple was completely destroyed. It was rebuilt in its present particular shape, a giant turtle at the base with an 18 meter statue of a Kannon (a goddess of compassion) standing on its back. In my opinion a unique and interesting construction of a temple and is also known as the Nagasaki Kannon Universal Temple and is instantly recognizable within the Nagasaki skyline.
Fukusaiji Temple also has another claim to fame. It has a fascinating addition, a Foucault pendulum which is a device used to show the rotation of the earth. Normally found in universities or planetariums, it is one of only five in Japan. The pendulum is the third largest in the world and is only dwarfed by the ones in Paris and St Petersburg. I am pretty sure that the only Foucault pendulum to be found in an active place of worship and can be witnessed here at Fukusaiji Temple Nagasaki. I am sure that 99% of Nagasakians wouldn't know anything about this incredible fact and you could be more in the know then the locals with 1 visit to the amazing place.
If you have an interest in Buddhism, unique architecture an or just like to take photos of rare and special attractions then this is your place to visit! You will be drawn in by this places uniqueness as its a place that you travel the world and still not find something this interesting and completely different to any other structure you have seen before.
Click here to see Fukusaiji Temple in Nagasaki on this map below:
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Powerful from all angles
The monuments
Unique pond
Great hope for all
Goddess on a turtle
From afar
Unique image
Please click on the videos below to see Fukusaiji Temple in all its glory:
The Kunisaki Geopark Andesite in Nagasaki Prefecture was created 1.5 million years ago when a Volcano near the Shimabara Peninsular discharged a sticky lava called Andesite. During the age when the volcanic activity in the Hayasaki Peninsula (further south where Kuchinotsu town is now located) was less intense, there were some volcanic islands in the sea area around Shimabara Island and they belched magma consisting of different ingredients. On the Kunisaki Peninsula in the south-west of the Shimabara Peninsula, visitors can see some layers of earth containing thick lava from the volcanic eruption then and layers of debris deposited by those volcanoes.
Even an amateur like me who has no real volcanic and geological experience, just seeing and observing these prehistoric materials of rock and volcanic materials in the flesh up close and personal is a real eye opener. To realize that time has stood still and that history is staring at you is a fascinating experience that one should not miss out on and its all here in my backyard, figuratively speaking.
I spent a good 2 hours here walking and exploring but a real avid fan could easily spend a half a day here, really interesting and exhilarating stuff to be seen and observed! The walk is an easy one, right along the coastline a walking path has been paved for ease of access and movement so that you can thoroughly enjoy the entire viewing process. The result is uninhibited viewing of all things volcanic and lots of interesting materials to be seen and touched by all involved.
Come and check out the Kunisaki Geopark here on a map!
Layered rock formations
At the shoreline
Porous looking ones too
Rock shapes are different
Unique Rock Formations
Check out the Kunisaki Andesite Geopark Nagasaki in the videos below:
Kazagashira Park in Nagasaki is otherwise known as Ryoma Sakamoto's Park. It stands on the top of a hill overlooking the magnificent Nagasaki Harbor. With panoramic views of the city it is a excellent place to get a feel of the land and the encompassing valley below. The park is a well known landmark and visitors from all over Japan as well as from overseas especially those that have studies Nagasaki History come to get a gander of the most famous Samurai of recent times.
Ryoma Sakamoto is heralded as being a visionary samurai for his time and during the mid 1800′s when the country was in turmoil with feudal Lord’s batting for domination one man had new ideas to transform Japan from a backwater country into an industrial force. Ryoma Sakamoto envisioned a country unhindered by the feudal system and led a movement to overthrow the Tokugawa Shogunate, which he was successful in accomplishing. This opened up Japan to overseas influences, world trade, industrial advances, technological expertise and generally made Japan the country that it is today!
Nearly every Nagasakian knows about this park and has visited at least once. It would be a brave man or woman to admit to never having heard of Ryoma Sakamoto and or his park that is named after his accomplishments. If you have a spare hour or 2 and wish to take a nice scenic walk through the heart of Nagasaki City and experience the beauty of the area then this place is for you.
Come and check out Kazagashira Park Nagasaki on a map!
Click on the photos below to enlarge:
Nagasaki
Ryoma Sakamoto the famous Samurai
The legend
Views of the harbor below
Spectacular Views
Here is a video of Kazagashira Park Nagasaki and the scenic views and splendid panorama:
Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki is a Catholic Church that was completed in 1914. The main reason for its construction was because there were a large number of Christians who lived in the Urakami region of Nagasaki and many of them secretly continued to keep their faith even after Hideyoshi Toyotomi (the ruler of Japan in the 16th century) prohibited Christianity.
After the long-standing ban on Christianity was lifted, the Nagasaki Christians started constructing the Urakami Cathedral Nagasaki, which took them 20 years to complete.
Please click on the photos below to enlarge:
A sight to see!
Statue minus its head
Lots of info
Inside the Cathedral
Many figures and statues to see
Remembering the 26 Martyrs
Very impressive
The bell tower after the bomb
Full story of the Bell Tower
Powerful messages for all
However, when the atomic bomb was detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, the Nagasaki Urakami Cathedral was close to the center of the explosion and was completely destroyed, except for a part of its wall. After the war, the followers of the church took great pains to rebuild it and in 1959, a beautiful brick cathedral was finally completed.
Today, it stands as one of the symbols of Nagasaki that has been rebuilt and rediscovered itself from the past. Bigger, stronger, newer but at the same time able to remember the good times and the bad.
A great place to visit for practising Christians and non religious people alike. I am sure all people from all walks of life will be intrigued with the Urakami Cathedral. Today it still shines like a beacon and is a major attraction for tourists from all over Japan and the world to see and feel what Nagasaki was like all those years ago and its influence it had on many people all over Japan.
The Urakami area of Nagasaki is a landmark of sorts and there is many many places of interest that one could easily spend 2 to 3 hours in the area walking around and seeing the sights. Well worth a visit and a gander.
See where Urakami Cathedral is in Nagasaki is on a map:
Please check out more about Urakamai Cathedral in Nagasaki from the video below:
