Nagasaki

Nestled upon the western coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki is a Japanese prefectural capital distinguished by a complex and pivotal history. For over two centuries, from 1641 to 1859, it served as the nation's sole window to the outside world during the Tokugawa shogunate's period of isolation. This unique status was facilitated through the artificial island of Dejima, a Dutch trading post which became a critical conduit for European goods, scientific knowledge, and medical advances into Japan. This legacy is evident in the city's architecture, cuisine, and the enduring presence of the Oura Church, the oldest Christian church in Japan.
The city's topography, defined by a deep, narrow harbour framed by terraced hills, has fundamentally shaped its urban character and strategic importance. This geography tragically magnified the destructive impact of the atomic bomb dropped on August 9th, 1945, which devastated the Urakami district. The event is memorialised with profound dignity at the Nagasaki Peace Park and the adjacent Hypocenter Park, where the "Mother and Child in the Storm" statue by Seibo Kitamura stands as a poignant testament to the victims.
Today, Nagasaki is a city of resilience and reflection. Its vibrant identity synthesises its cosmopolitan past, visible in the Glover Garden and the distinctive champon noodles, with a steadfast commitment to peace advocacy. As a major port and cultural centre, it actively preserves its unique heritage while contributing to contemporary dialogue on nuclear disarmament from a position of hard-won authority.
How to get to Nagasaki
Nagasaki has an airport and a train station with connections to Fukuoka. It is also possible and less expensive to travel to Nagasaki by bus from Fukuoka.
Accommodation
Nagasaki has several hotels, bookable via international hotel booking portals.