Shimabara Castle: Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture

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:

Mount Inasa Nightview: Nagasaki City

The Mount Inasa Nightview in Nagasaki is a unbelievable place to visit.  The daytime views are in a world of there own but in relation to the nighttime view it rates rather poorly in my opinion.  Words don't explain this incredible place like the way they should and this view needs to be seen to be believed. Without a doubt one of the most scenic views in all of Nagasaki and probably in all of Japan.  It is a place that I try to bring every visitor and customer that comes to Nagasaki as it really brings out the highlights of everything Nagasaki has to offer in terms of beauty and nature from its scenic location to its panorama.

There is even a restaurant at the top of the lookout that offers spectacular views all through your dining experience.  The food isn't gourmet but the scenery more than makes up for the lack of dining quality.  As for me, I like to bring some coffee and snacks to the top of the Mountain sit back and watch the sky slowly turn into a million stars, virtually untouchable on all levels.  Depending at the time of year this transition from dusk to night can take minutes to hours so please come prepared with the right amount of clothes, snacks and drinks, the alcoholic kind is acceptable as well as drinking in public in Japan is the norm, and not necessarily frowned upon.

On our Private Nagasaki Full Day Tours, the Inasayama Night time view is always on the agenda as the last attraction of the day, unless the weather is bad of course.

Have a look at Mount Inasa nightview in Nagasaki City on a map:

 

Click on the photos below to enlarge: Million dollar views from Mount Inasa

Please look at the videos below to see Mount Inasayama in the evening time:

Click to enlarge and see more Nighttime views of Mount Inasa.

Can get crowded at night

Is that your cruise ship below?

For the lover birds

Real Love Birds!

Chinatown Lantern Festival: Nagasaki City

Nagasaki Chinatown Lantern Festival is not for the faint hearted!   If you are brave and not afraid of crowds and I do mean thousands of people crammed into a relatively small area like Chinatown in the middle of Downtown Nagasaki, then this is the place to be.

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival has something for everyone!!  At night is when the real Nagasaki Lantern Festival Chinatown comes alive.  Lanterns of every size and shape imaginable, colours that will mesmerize you and of course divine Chinese food with smells from out of this world.

Check out some of the photos below of the intense and amazing sights and scenes to be had at Nagasaki's biggest and best festival.

In the early years when the Nagasaki Cruising scene was still in its infancy, there weren't many cruises coming into Nagasaki City in Japanuary and February, so this location really wasn't on the agenda.  Nowadays with cruising all year round, the chance to see this incredible festival and hopefully on a weekday (weekends can be murder) is now a real possibility.

When the opportunity arise we will pop in for 20 to 30 minutes at the end of the tour and get a small dose of Japanese/ Chinese culture and history. Not to be missed!!

Click here to see Chinatown Nagasaki Lantern Festival below on this map:

 

Click on the pics to enlarge!

Massive Lanterns

Interesting faces

One of my favorites

Click here to see more of Nagasaki Chinatown Lantern Festival on a video:

Unique Bus Stops: Konagai, Nagasaki Prefecture

The Unique Bus Stops in that you see here in the photos below are part of the Nagasaki Prefectures character and adds to her personality unlike any other attraction.  I nearly always include this site on my private Nagasaki tours because everyone comes away with a pic and a smile on their face.

I think the unique bus stops are just another random if not crazy idea that some town official thought up but for whatever reason it has stuck and become a permanent and important fixture of the town's psyche.

In the sleepy town of Konagai, Nagasaki Prefecture right on the boarder of Saga Prefecture there are some Unique Nagasaki Bus Stops that will stop you in your tracks and make you say to yourself, "Why haven't I ever seen this before?"

As you drive from one bus stop to the next, you will wonder what fruit or vegetable will come next. In some ways, when you don't see your favorite one you wonder why it hasn't been included and of course when you have passed the last one and headed into the next prefecture you will also have a slight feeling of disappointment that you won't see another one again in Japan, period!

Some of the Unique Bus Stops have seen better days and they are in need of a touch up or repair or better still a repaint but just to see one up close to touch and feel and to sit inside as to re enact the feeling of waiting for a bus is exciting in itself.  Come and enjoy the Bus Stops even if it's just for a fleeting moment!

Check out the Unique Nagasaki Bus Stops on this map below:

 

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

Mouth watering Watermelon

Juicy strawberry

Appealing Melon

Tasty Tomato

Delicious Orange

My favorite


Please click on the video below to see the highlight sights of the Konagai Bus Stops.

Unzen Ropeway: Unzen, Nagasaki Prefecture

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!

Ichiran Ramen Factory: Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture

Without a doubt the best and most popular Shrine in Fukuoka Prefecture is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine located approx. 30 minutes from central Fukuoka City.

The Shrine is dedicated to the God of Learning and as such is busy all through the year with many student visitors coming here to pray for upcoming success in their educational endeavors, especially during examination time at various periods during the year. 

The building was larger than I expected.  At first they have a viewing window where you can see the manufacturing process of the noodle component of the product.  Ichiran`s soup recipe and process is a very heavily guarded secret so this portion of the process is not on the agenda unfortunately.  Next, you can walk at your own speed through the Museum part of the Building which shows the history of the company, various aspects about the product and quite a few instructional and interactive exhibits which is very popular with the younger customers.  There isn`t a huge amount of English subtitles but the design and the displays are all very explanatory and easy to follow.

Finally, the main part of the tour is the tasting and ordering of you favorite Ramen.  I am sure that even an average ramen fan won`t be disappointed with the taste as there are many choices of Ramen open to the public thru a vending machine which starts the ordering process. The staff members are all friendly and are extremely polite to their international customers. and more than willing to flash you a smile and a wave at the end of the stay on their premises.

Of course on the way out there is also a Gift Shop of sorts that you can fill up on Instant Ramen which always is a popular gift for family and friends back home who haven`t had the pleasure of trying the genuine product.

Overall I had a great hour at the factory.  I learnt a lot, will return to try another Ramen type and throughly recommend any Ramen Lover to come and see the entire process for themselves.

Please check out the Ichiran Ramen Factory on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge:

The noodle production line

This Ramen is Fukuoka based.

Museum exhibits

Always busy!

Walk through a Bamboo Grove

Famous visitors

Ichiran Signage

You will order from the vending machine

You can purchased ramen to take home too!

Click on the videos below to see more about the Ichiran Ramen Factory in Itoshima, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Ohori Park Japanese Gardens: Fukuoka City

I have been wanting to go to the Japanese Gardens at Ohori Park in the middle of Fukuoka City for sometime now and with Autumn in full swing the thought of seeing some red crimson Japanese Maple Leaf gave me even more motivation to go and check it out.

The location of this attraction can be seen from the outside but only the tops of the trees so I really wasn`t expecting too much but once inside I was in fact blown away by the size, features and overall ambience of the place.  Not only are the gardens impeccably maintained but the central pond really sets the centerpiece of the whole place.  I was a little rush for time on this day and only spent around 25 minutes here but in all honesty I could have easily spent an hour or more here, just lapping up the breathtaking scene and ambience.

On this day, the Teahouses and outer buildings were closed but I lucked out with 2 sets of Japanese couples getting professional pictures taken around the grounds.  I wished them luck, sent a message of congratulations and was able to snap a couple of photos of the ladies and gents in their magnificent Kimonos.  I am sure the gardens are pristine all year long but i will absolutely want to come back during spring to see the Cherry Blossoms and Azalea foliage during this period.

Once I get the times and the booking process under control I will also document and blog about the Green Tea Ceremonies that are held twice a month.  I am looking forward to see what kind of facilities are available for the International Travelers as I may include this traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony on my Fukuoka Walking Tour Itinerary.

Check out the location of the Ohori Parks Japanese Gardens below on a map:

 

Please click the photos below to enlarge:

A zen garden

Always have Koi

The best view

Japanese beauty

Peaceful

Newly married

Pristine images

Beautiful colors

Please click on the videos below to see more details about this amazing attraction.