Nagasaki 長崎市

Nagasaki (Japanese: 長崎市) is the capital and largest city in Nagasaki Prefecture, on the island of Kyushu, in the southern part of Japan. It has a population of 446,000 within an area of 406 sq km (156 sq miles). The city lies within the vicinity of other cities including Isahaya, Saikai, Togitsu and Nagayo.

Nagasaki was an important port city founded by the Portuguese in the 16th century. The village grew quickly, and it was through here that Portuguese influence seeped into Japanese culture. The dish tempura, for example, derives its name from the Portuguese word "Tempero", although it is an entirely Japanese creation.

Nagasaki was the second Japanese city to suffer from an atomic bomb attack, which took place on 9 August, 1945. Close to 80,000 people succumbed to the bomb. The city has since entirely rebuilt itself, with only traces of the bomb seen in memorials such as the Atomic Bomb Museum.

Nagasaki experiences the warmest months between July and September. The average high temperature for August is 30.6°C (84°F). The coldest months are January and February, when the average low temperature reaches 3.9°C (39°F). June is the wettest month, with rainfall of 12.8 inches (325 mm). January is the driest with only 2.9 inches (74mm) of precipitation.

Nagasaki, Japan

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Panorama_nagasaki.jpg
Author: Gus
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Nagasaki Port, as seen from Glover Garden

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nagasaki-Glover-Garden-5431.jpg
Author: Fg2
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Planning your trip to Nagasaki

You can fly Japan Airlines or All Nippon Airlines to Nagasaki Airport from Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. From the airport, take a bus to Nagasaki train station. The journey takes one hour and costs ¥800.

Alternatively, you can take the train to Nagasaki from Fukuoka and Kagoshima.

Planning your travel within Nagasaki

Trams or street cars are the main form of transportation in Nagasaki. A single-journey ticket costs ¥120 while an all-day unlimited-ride pass costs ¥500.

Kotaiji Temple, Nagasaki

Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Japonweb_-_016.jpg
Author: Sébastien Bertrand
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Places of Interest in Nagasaki

Dejima Island
Island which was Japan's sole port open to Western trade for over two hundred years, purposely located to minimize contact with local population.
Glover Garden
A neighbourhood of European-style homes built by foreign traders during the 19th century.
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
An entertaining and informative aquarium where you can observe a variety of penguins.
Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum
A state-of-the-art building often staging touring exhibits from all over the world.
Oka Masaharu Memorial Nagasaki Peace Museum
Museum documenting the war crimes during World War II and its victims.
Oura Catholic Church
Church built by French missionaries in 1864 stands as the oldest church building in Japan.
Site of the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan
Monument to the 20 Japanese Christians and six European missionaries who were crucified in 1597.
Sofuku-ji Temple
Chinese temple built by the Chinese in Nagasaki in 1629, exhibiting the finest example of Ming Dynasty architecture in the world, even rivalling those in China itself.
Urakami Cathedral
Once the largest cathedral church building in Asia, rebuilt after atomic bomb destruction.

Festivals in Nagasaki

Lantern Festival
Held during the Lunar New Year, giant lanterns are displayed on street corners and shopping malls.
O-Kunchi
One of the most popular festivals in Japan, held in October, with parades of giant floats.
O-Bon
Festival in August which is a form of ancestral worship, performed with lots of fireworks.

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