Nagasaki - a quiet and relaxing stop on a trip to Japan

By David Chang Oct 12, 2010, 3:06 GMT

Nagasaki, Japan - Nagasaki is often neglected by travellers because of its location on Japan's southern island of Kyushu.

But Nagasaki has a long history of mixed cultures, delicious food and offshore islands with hot springs and sandy beaches. Its residents have a reputation of being more laid-back than people in larger Japanese cities.

Those who manage to squeeze Nagasaki into their Japan trip have found it a charming stop on their often tightly-packed tour.

'I feel very relaxed. I enjoy walking through the city and exploring the streets and lanes. The canal makes all the difference,' said Ben Boothe, 25, a British software engineer.

He was referring to the city's canal with is bridged by several stone arches. One of the bridges is nearly 400-years-old. Tourists and local residents alike enjoy the stroll under the willow trees along the canal, watching the colourful fish.

Tourists, who mostly arrive by train, usually start their city tour with a walk along the canal which leads them across the city to the Nagasaki Wharf. Along the way, modern buildings stand side by side with traditional wooden houses and trams trundle along next to shining cars.

Nagasaki began to prosper about 430 years ago when it was opened up to foreign trade.

With Western traders and missionaries, as well as Chinese merchants, coming in, the city absorbed outside influence, reflected in Nagasaki's architecture, food and festivals. The going was not always smooth, however.

A shrine commemorates the 26 European and Japanese Christians who were crucified in February 1597 in Nagasaki. Their executions where followed by further killings of Christians in the years between 1597 and 1637.

Of course today the city is probably most remembered as one of the two Japanese cities which had atomic bombs dropped on them in the dying days of World War II. On August 9, 1945, the United States, seeking to force Japan to surrender, dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki, instantly killing 60,000 to 80,000 people.

The shrine for the Christian martyrs and the Atomic Bomb Museum are among the must-see sites for tourists, although sad and shocking.

Paulin Treka, 20, a Polish university student, said she was visiting Nagasaki because of its history.

'This is my first trip to Japan. I am visiting Nagasaki because I have studied the Japanese language and Japanese history in school. I know Nagasaki's history, so I came.'

Tired of visiting the temples and museums, one can slip into a restaurant for a tall glass of foaming beer and a plate of raw fish or a bowl of spicy noodles.

After a few days in Nagasaki, a quick ferry trip takes one to the hot springs of Ioujima Island.

Hokazono Hidemitsu, deputy director of the Nagasaki Culture and Tourism Bureau, said Nagasaki received some 167,000 foreign visitors in 2009, a fraction of the 4.76 million foreigners who visited Tokyo that year.

'Foreigners who visit Japan the first time usually do not visit Nagasaki because they don't have enough time and Nagasaki is not famous,' he said. 'But they might visit Nagasaki on their second trip.'

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