Nagasaki Vacation Travel Guide | Expedia

The thriving city of Nagasaki is cradled in the lush western mountainsof Japan’s Kyushu Island.

An 8-hour bullet train from Tokyo, this charmingly diverse city lieson the edge of a scenic channel of the Sumo-nada Sea.

In a nation isolated fromthe outside world for generations, Nagasaki was a gateway, through which knowledge and resourcesflowed to and from the rest of the globe.

This historic harbor city is nowa dynamic fusion of Japanese sophistication, which co-exists and harmonizeswith elements of overseas cultures and faiths.

To much of the world, the name Nagasaki is bound to one of the mostdevastating events in modern history.

At 11:02 am on August 9th, 1945, World War Two’s second atomic bomb, “Fat Man, ” was detonated over the city.

Tens of thousands perished, and most of the northern valleywas reduced to rubble and ash.

At the Peace Park in the Urakami District, a dark pillar stands underthe exact location of the bomb’s detonation.

Take in the surrounding art and statues, and reflect on the horror of the blast and its aftermath.

Take a short walk to theNagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, founded in remembrance to all those who perished.

Just across the road fromthe museum is The Memorial Hall.

Meditate in the solemn glasshouse, and leave a message of peacebefore you continue on your journey.

Discover a serene refugefrom Nagasaki’s often-confronting history at the San’no Shrine.

These 500-year old camphor treeswere a surprising survivor of the blast, and stood strong when nuclear windsflattened this part of the city.

Today, they remain a symbol of Nagasaki’s resilience.

Despite all odds, greenery sprang forthwithin a few months of the detonation, giving hope to those who were spared.

The city’s surviving residents put aside old quarrels and banded together irrespectiveof cultural and religious differences.

Historical monuments were painstakingly rebuilt, and brick by brick, season by season, the Nagasaki way of life was restored.

Today, Nagasaki invites visitorsto look beyond its atomic story; this is a city whoseearliest chapters are filled with riches, and whose future pages arewritten with the ink of inspiration and hope.

Travel to the harbor, the historic gateway which has brought travellers and trade to the nation’s shores for over 400 years.

While away an afternoon in Nagasaki Seaside Park and watch as ships cruise in and out of the channel.

This is a place of relaxation and recreation, where locals unwind and enjoy their beautiful city.

Take a tour from the harbor to Hashima Island, an eerie landmass whichwas once home to miners and their families.

The island was desertedalmost overnight in the mid 1970s when coal reserves ran dry.

Explore the crumbling buildings, listen to the echoes ofthose that called this island home, and dredge up whispers of the hardships which once occurred beneath the rocky surface.

Back on the mainland, savor steaming fusionsof Japanese and Chinese cuisine in the Shinchi Chinatown District.

After filling your belly, fill your shopping bagsin the Hamamachi Arcade.

This warren of wellness, fashionand sweet shops is a favorite of Nagasaki, and the perfect place to immerse yourselfin the city’s modern culture.

Ride the trade winds north to theNagasaki Museum of History and Culture.

Discover the fascinating story of how new faiths and peoples boosted the city’s economy, and helped Nagasaki become themulticultural beacon that it is today.

Refresh your mind and spiritamidst the tranquil gardens of Sofuku-ji.

This hillside Zen temple was built by Chinese merchants who settled at the port in the 17th century.

Faith is the lifeblood of Nagasaki.

For centuries, conflict reignedbetween followers of different beliefs.

But since the city’s total obliteration, its people have united ina single prayer that transcends religion.

A prayer for peace.

To the north-east, a relic of traditional Shinto times lies at the base of leafy Mount Tamazono-San.

The Suwa Shrine can be traced back 500 years and is believed to be the ancientdwelling place of three kami spirits, the sacred gods of the Shinto faith.

As your journey reaches its peak, climb to one of the most epicvantage points in Japan, Mount Inasa-yama.

This mountain’s protective embrace helpedshield much of Nagasaki from the devastating atomic windsand today it continues to watch over the city.

Gaze out in awe at theincredible beauty of a city, reborn.

Nagasaki has become a beacon of hope, stepping out from the shadowsof one of history’s darkest days and into a bright, new future.

Though great suffering is woven intothe fabric of this city, its light of creativity, tolerance, and forgiveness is leading therest of the world on a pathway to peace.

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