Nagasaki, Japan

July 28, 2015 -- Nagasaki, Japan (9:00AM~7:00PM)

Sky: Overcast

Weather: 27C

It will be harder for me to write about Nagasaki because I do have some personal feelings towards this port. One part of me was anxious to be visiting this famous port but the other part of me wondered how I would feel after visiting there. I will explain why.

Making our way inside the harbor with Megami Bridge in sight.

Diamond Princess was built here at the Mitsubishi shipyard.

They are building another huge cruise ship (Aida).

A local ferry zooming by.

Diamond Princess going under the Megami Bridge.

Some random shots as we sailed into port.

Our ship docked alongside Matsugae Wharf at 9:33, an hour later than scheduled due to the medical evacuation the night before and also the reverse waves, according to the captain.

This is one beautiful terminal!

Nice!

Since we had a late arrival, everybody was eager to get off the ship. It was kind of chaotic inside the terminal with everyone trying to get information from the volunteers there. We managed to purchase our all-day tram passes inside the terminal then we walked out to the tram stop which is a short 5-minute walk to the left of the terminal. As you can see there was a long line of people in the middle of the street waiting to get on the tram. There were still a huge group of people waiting to cross but couldn't because there was no more space to get in line there.

We did not get on until the third tram came by. My suggestion--follow the tram track and walk backward to the stop before this one or take the tram going the opposite direction to the last stop #51 Ishibashi. Then ride the tram back the other way. The trams were basically empty when it got to this stop and then they got filled up right here with all the cruise passengers and locals.

This should be stop #48 Ourakaigan-Dori, so pick up the tram at stop #50 Ouratenshudo-Shita or #51 Ishibashi.

To go to Peace Park, take this tram (green) to stop #31 Tsuki-Machi (near Chinatown), then transfer to the blue tram towards Peace Park, get off at stop #19 Matsuyama-Machi.

Taking into consideration of the crowd doing the transfers, we decided to take the green tram all the way to stop #39 Suwajinja-Mae to see the Suwa Shrine first and back track to Peace Park later.

Suwa Shrine

Entrance to Suwa Shrine. There is quite a hike up but it was certainly beautiful with very few visitors.

See the four gates?

This is the final gate to the shrine and more steps still.

Columns recording of people's donations to the shrine.

Final hike, we were huffing and puffing by then.

Oh, more steps to the main building.

Locals waiting in line for their turns to pray.

As I was sitting at the bench under a shelter resting, I looked up and this was what I saw...

beautiful paintings. They could be paintings on glass or paintings covered by pieces of glass.

One can spend time here just walking around the back of the shrine. Nagasaki Park right there.

Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum

After our visits to the shrine, we took the red tram from the same stop #39 but going the opposite direction to Peace Park. We got off at stop 19 and walked towards the park.

First to the Atomic Bomb Hypocenter where a memorial for those who died on that day.

Seemed like all the tour groups were there at the same time.

The mother and child statue

After the Hypocenter, we walked up to the Museum. (Adults 200Y)

To tell the truth, I was disappointed at the visit. For sure it was a tragic incident that no one should have gone through. All the sufferings and deaths should not have happened. But what's lacking, to me, are facts leading up to this tragic event. What I saw was a huge amount of space and energy talking about the 'conspiracy' of the US and western countries 'plotting' this event but not enough of information telling about what and how it lead to that situation. I believe factual explanation and acknowledgement of responsibilities on both sides need to be balance when dealing with history.

I have never had the privilege of meeting my grandfather because he was taken away for no reason and killed by Japanese soldiers during the China/Japan War. This little description at the corner of the museum about the war certainly did not tell the whole story of the eight years of sufferings that the people in China went through. This sign made it sound like Japan was the 'innocent' victim but in fact they were the invaders. 

About Nanjing Massacre. Here, one single line in Japanese only that says December, occupation of Nanjing, massacre (something in Japanese).

What about Pearl Harbor? Here it is...One picture, again, with no English description, except "Pacific War begins in December".

Unless we are willing to admit our wrongs, changes will not happen.

The end of the exhibition.

Next stop, Peace Park.

Fountain of Peace

Sculptures from different countries along the path.

The famous Peace Statue

We then picked up the blue tram from stop 19 near Peace Park to go downtown.

LOL, I guess only Cantonese-speaking people will understand.

Picture of a tram behind ours.

Got off at stop 33 Kanko-Dori which is right in front of the Hamano-Machi Shopping street.

Hamano-Machi Shopping Street with endless shopping opportunities.

Look! A Daiso!

And a Don Quijote store where you can get anything and everything you want.

We followed Kanko-Don Arcade and walked towards the Spectacles Bridge. There are at least 10 bridges here, one after another.

Here it is--Spectacles Bridge (Megane-bashi).

More like a pair of spectacles with the reflection.

A beautiful sculpture by the river.

By now it was way past lunch time and we were hungry. With the many choices here at the shopping street, we found a small café which suited our needs. ChC's hamburger steak.

Grinding my own sesame for my...

tonkutsu (fried pork chop) meal set.

Good, but not the best. That'll come later.

MOR's sashimi set

We also ordered some tempura to share.

Self-help drink station

Café Wakadaisho

We made sure we got some Nagasaki Castella cake here.

Not sure what the students were doing here, but they seemed like having a good time. From there we picked up the green line at Stop 36 to go back to the pier.

Our home-away-from-home.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen's sculpture is near the entrance to the terminal.

The former Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank Nagasaki Branch which is now a museum.

Instead of going back to the ship, we crossed the street to the right of this building..

then turned left here...

and went up Glover Dori, a street that leads up to the Oura Catholic Church and Glover Garden.

 We did not have time for Glover Garden but at least we could see the Catholic Church.

Interesting street with a little bit of European feel.

The Catholic Church

After a short stay up there, it was time to go back to the ship.

Everybody had to go through immigration here at the terminal for exit procedure because we will go to Busan, Korea the next day. It was very well-handled at the terminal as we went back to the ship.

One of the locals waiting for our sail away.

These high school students gave us a great send-off as we leave port.

A shot of Glover House from our balcony.

Awww....!