Love Nagasaki Series; view, culture, castle, where to date, drink and shop

Nagasaki is geographically very unique .
(Nagasaki means long cape. Naga=long, Saki=cape.)

1. It’s surrounded by sea and mountains.
2. It has very small land (I mean, it’s short of flat area.)

So many people live on mountains, which means there’re many houses (and glaves!) on there.

We can easily imagine that their lifestyle is far from being convinient.
I’d say, nice to visit but tough to live.

People need to go up and down slopes and stone stairs, everytime they go out.

See, it’s impossible to ride on a bicycle.

As to bicycles, many Japanese people use it to go to school or work, and most train stations suffer from too many bicycles parked illegally.

But Nagasaki is free from that common problem, thanks to slopes!

And according to Nagasaki locals, that’s a good daily excersize to keep them fit.

The following spots are my favorites, to enjoy the dynamic view of Nagasaki;

1. Mt. Inasa yama

Night view is especially popular, and called `Million dollars view’.
You can take a bus to Mt. Inasayama from Nagasaki Station, and then take skyway.

2. Glover Garden

Glover Garden is where Thomas Glover and his famiily lived.
It’s where westernization of Japan started.
Glover Garden is like a whole little mountain , and `Former Mitsubishi No.2 Dock House’ is the highest point.

3. Nishizaka Martyrs’ Hill

This is the place where 26 Martyrs brought from Osaka, kept walking for 33 days, and crucified, which now turned to one of the most sacred, beautiful, even relaxing spot in Nagasaki.

4. Kazagashira Park

Nagasaki, being the only gateway to foreign nations during National Isolation in Samurai Period, was the `dream town’ to attract many ambitious youth, including Ryoma.

5. Seabold Memorial Museum Park