Sightseeing in Nagasaki - what to see. Complete travel guide

The city is located in a picturesque bay surrounded by mountains from all sides. For a long time Nagasaki was the only port city that enables the communication with Europe.

In 1945 the city faced a real tragedy – it became the victim of atomic bombing. A large part of the city was destroyed, and the explosion killed 25 thousand of people. Due to the fact Nagasaki is located mostly in hilly terrain, the effect of the blast was a bit relaxed. Nowadays the monument named "calling for peace" is installed at the epicenter of the explosion site. The northern part of the city is the location of another memorable ensemble - Peace Park and Museum of the Atomic Bombing located next to it.

Since the city has always maintained connection with European countries, they had a great impact on its culture and lifestyle. Today many people call Nagasaki the most European city of the country. The western part of the city really looks like a modern European region. Even buildings here are not usual for Japan. The most remarkable structure of this region is the Glover Mansion, which once was occupied by a wealthy merchant from England. However, the central part of Nagasaki is more like Chinatown. The Chinese community lived here for several centuries, so the main local historical attractions are represented by several churches built in the 17th century. Gourmet travellers will fall in love with the Chinese restaurants located in this area. Each year the "Chinese" Dragon Parade takes place in this region of the city. This is a truly magical and spectacular holiday.

Among the religious sights of Nagasaki we would like to mention the Urakami Catholic Church, which was severely damaged by the explosion, but it was completely refurbished in 1981. The only building in the Gothic style is the Oura Catholic Church. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Nagasaki's Confucius Mausoleum is a historic monument of national importance. This tourist attraction is often called the "most Chinese" in Japan. The thing is that the mausoleum is built in the best traditions of the Chinese style. Materials imported exclusively from China were used during its construction. Moreover, the construction of the mausoleum was performed exclusively by Chinese specialists. The shrine was built in 1893, at the end of the 19th century a part of the building was occupied by an elementary school. The historic building was heavily damaged by an explosion in 1945. It was completely restored only by 1967.

Trips to Hashima Island are extremely popular among fans of unusual sights. This miniature islet with an abandoned mining town became widely known in 2011, after filming a James Bond movie. Only a few years ago part of the island became available for official tours, and today tourists are allowed to visit the safest areas of the abandoned city.

Those wishing to admire national religious sights would be interested in visiting Shofuku-ji Temple. According to historical data, the founder of this temple is the monk Tetsujin Dohan, its construction was completed in 1677. Today, Shofuku-ji Temple is a classic example of national religious architecture. After the reconstruction in 1715, it remains practically unchanged. Many wooden elements of the temple that were renovated more than 300 years ago survived to the present day.

One of the most visited cultural facilities in the city is the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture opened relatively recently, in 2005. The building housing the museum is of great architectural value. It was built in the Middle Ages as the Nagasaki Magistrate's Office. During the Second World War, the building housed a bomb shelter, and after a complete renovation, a museum was opened here. In total, about 48,000 exhibits are stored within its walls, including valuable historical documents, works of art and handicrafts brought to Japan from all over the world. A very interesting exposition is devoted to the life of Japanese officials in the Middle Ages.