Sasebo & Nagasaki - let's go! (part 2)

 We're going to Gunkan-jima Island!

To go to Gunkan-jima Island one needs to make a reservation in advance via the internet. We found out that at the visitors information center at Nagasaki train station on the day that we arrived in Nagasaki. So, Emi quickly made the reservation and now here we are today ready to board this cruise boat and make the 15 kilometer trip to the island.

It's a nice cruise boat and after about 40 minutes we get our first sighting of the island.

The 6.3-hectare (16-acre) island was known for its undersea coal mines, established in 1887, which operated during the industrialization of Japan. The island reached a peak population of 5,259 in 1959. In 1974, with the coal reserves nearing depletion, the mine was closed and all of the residents departed soon after, leaving the island effectively abandoned for the following three decades.

The island is nicknamed Battleship Island because from a distance it looks like a Battleship.

I went out on the back of the boat to get a better picture. It was very crowded.

After taking this picture I gave-up and went back inside.

If the seas are calm the boat will dock on the island and we would be given limited access to walk around with a professional guide. However, it was to rough for the boat to dock so instead they made one trip around the island clockwise and then another trip around the island counter-clockwise.  

On the counter-clockwise trip around the island many people had already seen enough and came back inside the boat leave plenty of room for me to go out and get some good pictures. 

While we were returning to Nagasaki port the boat crew showed us two DVDs (one in Japanese and one in English) that were very informative. For anyone visiting Nagasaki I highly recommend this tour; I enjoyed it very much.

One last look at our cruise boat before we go to Dejima.

Welcome to Dejima!

This is the bridge over the river to the entrance to Dejima.

A view of the river from the bridge.

Dejima in Nagasaki is a restored open-air museum and former Dutch trading post that served as Japan’s only window to the West during its 218-year period of isolation (1641–1859). The site features reconstructed Edo-period buildings, including homes, warehouses, and the Chief Factor's Residence, offering insights into early international trade and cultural exchange.

That's Emi walking on the main street of Dejima.

There is something to see inside every building on Dejima. I was truly surprised by how much there was to see. 

These are just three of the many illustrations of life on Dejima back when it was an active Dutch Trading Post. 

There is so much to see here, it's almost overwhelming. There is an admission fee but it's worth it.

Inside this building there's a shop for Kimono Rental. 

This is the Chief Factor's Residence (the Head Honcho of the the Dutch Trading Post). Let's go inside!

Looks like the Chief Factor had it pretty good.

There's about 18 restored buildings to visit at Dejima. It takes time to see everything but it's worth it.

Free time! Emi and I wanted to visit different places so we spilt up and we spent the rest of the day sightseeing separately.

I went to Nakashima River to see Megane-Bashi (Spectacles Bridge) again and to see all the other bridges along the river.

This area is amazing!

Low tide.

This is Megane-Bashi (Spectacles Bridge).

The other side of Megane-Bashi (Spectacles Bridge). Look at the bench on the lower right-side of the picture. There's a little Megane-Bashi on it.

On my way back to the hotel I decided to walk through one of the covered shopping streets and I discovered Emi shopping at a vegetable stand.

Emi can't pass by a vegetable stand without stopping to take a look.

The streetcars! One of the reasons that I wanted to visit Nagasaki was to see and ride the streetcars. We're leaving Nagasaki tomorrow morning so this was my last chance to see some streetcars.

 

Streetcar stations in the middle of the road.

And, here are some streetcars!

Well, that's it for this trip. On the morning of the last day we took an express bus to Nagasaki airport, flew back to Tokyo and then took a train home. Our trip to Nagasaki was fantastic; I'd love to visit here again in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mike