Kofuku-ji (興福寺), located in Nagasaki’s temple town district, was the first Obaku Zen temple in Japan. It was established in 1620 by a Chinese priest, as a place to pray for the safety of seafarers. It’s Chinese architecture makes Kofuku-ji stand out among Japanese temples and shrines. When entering Kofuku-ji temple it will quickly be …
Oura Church (大浦天主堂), also known as the “Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan” is a Catholic church located near Glover Garden in Nagasaki. The church was first constructed by two french priests, who dedicated it to the 26 Martyrs who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. Very near the famous Glover Garden, and …
The 26 Martyrs Museum in Nagasaki is a museum dedicated to 26 Catholics who were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597. The museum has a large monument in front of it, and has a large number of original artifacts and relics on display inside, including a number of Maria figures disguised as buddhist Kannon figures . …
Glover Garden (グラバー園) is a park and museum, located on a hillside in Nagasaki‘s Minamiyamate area. The park, which belonged to the prominent Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover, has a magnificent view over Nagasaki city and harbor. It contains a number of old western-style houses, of which the most prominent is Glover’s own former villa. …
Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown is an area in central Nagasaki, which used to be home to Chinese traders during the Edo period. Today it is a typical colorful “chinatown” district, full of restaurants and shops. During the Edo period (1603-1868), Japan had a “closed country” policy (Sakoku). This policy meant that nearly all foreigners were prohibited …
Dejima (出島 “exit island“) in Nagasaki, is a former island where first the Portuguese, and later the Dutch, were permitted to conduct business with the Japanese during the isolation era. It was through this island that Japan imported all it’s western knowledge and products. Today the area functions as a sort of large museum about …
The Dutch Slope, or The Hollander Slope, is a specific paved street leading up a hillside in Nagasaki‘s Higashiyamate neighborhood. The surrounding area was inhabited by wealthy western merchants after Japan opened it’s ports for foreign trade in 1859. The area still has a few original residences from that time, some of which can be …
Sofuku-ji is an Ōbaku zen temple located in Nagasaki City in Nagasaki Prefecture. The temple was constructed in 1629 to serve Chinese people living in Nagasaki. It later became Japanese, so the architecture is an interesting mix of Chinese and Japanese styles. The complex has numerous important cultural assets, among them two national treasures; the …
The Confucius Shrine in Nagasaki is a Chinese shrine, dedicated to the ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius (551–479 BC). The shrine dates back to 1893, when it was first constructed by the Chinese community in Nagasaki. It is a beautiful example of Chinese architecture, and stands as a colorful contrast to the traditional Japanese shrines. Already as …
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, located in Nagasaki City, is a museum dedicated to remembering the traumatic day in 1945, when the United States dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The museum displays artifacts from the bombing, and explains the events leading up to the bombing. The museum has numerous photos of Nagasaki before the bombing, …
