Nagasaki

After arriving in Nagasaki I instantly liked this city. No doubt it turned out to be most interesting of all Kyushu trip. First I went to see Nagasaki Peace Park and used these old Nagasaki trams to move around.


Video: Nagasaki tramway

Next to spectacles bridge, which is oldest arch bridge in Japan. If you look carfully in the photo below, bridge and its reflection in water is a little bit forming spectacles shape.

Even this bridge is so old it is in use today and cars can freely cross it. Around this area are also other interesting bridges.


Image: Nagasaki spectacles bridge

Next are views around Chinatown. First from new part, where are most shops located. Finaly look into European quarter in Nagasaki. These buildings are also original - they survived atomic bombing, because bomb felt on the opposite side of town.


Video: spectacles bridge, Chinese quarter and European style buildings


Image: Temple in China town


Image: Nagasaki Chinatown


Image: Men are playing table game. I did not ask how much are stakes


Image: Most of the things in Chinatown seems old and real

In the evening, just before dawn I took ropeway up to Inasa hill. On top is view platform from which is possible to see around the hill. One side has nice view on the town and other side - small islands scattered in sea.


Video: view from Inasa hill on Nagasaki


Image: look on the small islands from Inasa hill


Image: Sunset on the top of Inasa hill

Next my jounrney continue by train to Kumamoto city.

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Shimabara railway, travel from Nagasaki to Kumamoto

Video: travel from Nagasaki to Kumamoto

Lovely small train, which makes way through rural areas. Sometimes is possible to see the sea. But where is water gone ?


Image: train and sea

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Nagasaki Peace Park

First after arriving in Nagasaki, I visited Peace Park and place where atomic bomb exploded. It is called Atomic Bomb Hypocenter.


Video: walking around Atomic Bomb Hypocenter and Peace Park

Place to commemorate explosition center is area about size of a football field with some trees and is surrounded by roads and dwelling houses. On one side is located black monument, which indicates center of explosition and on opposite side is monument of mother holding child with date and time on it. There are some benches under trees, where I saw group of Japanese school children sitting and chatting lively. Only adults were quiet and came in groups to stand silently in front of the black monument.


Image: monument showing place where atomic bomb exploded

I read what information stand says - atomic bomb exploded on August 9, 1945, 500 m above this place. It killed or injured 150 000 people. It also says that people believed that this area would lack vegetation for 75 years. This indicates how little that time was known about radiation. I watched children and black monument again and thought - life is really powerful, even most murderous weapon can not destroy it. Pictures on information stand show destruction and death, but now this place is full with sounds of busy city and children’s voices.

Not far is located Peace Park. Centrally located is statue of a man with a raised arm. This statue is usually displayed in photographs about Nagasaki. There are also beautiful fountain, which symbolizes victims thirst for water. After bombing they endured burns and were asking for water.

There are also several other statues in the park. Overall idea, concept of sculptures and fountain in this peace park is very well done. If possible, more tourists who visit Japan should be encouraged to visit Peace Park. It is place to remember tragedy for all of us, for all of mankind.


Image: Scuplture in Nagasaki Peace Park showing mother and child


Image: bell in Nagasaki Peace Park

Here is other post about Nagasaki town.

Nagasaki Peace Park on Google map:

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