HISTORIC BEAUTY OF ARTS AND BUILDINGS

Meiji Jingu (or Meiji Shrine) was built in 1920, and is dedicated to the Emperor Meiji and the Empress Shoken. Its calm and quiet atmosphere is a stark contrast with the hustle and bustle of the city. By chance, a wedding ceremony was taking place during my visit, so I had the opportunity to see the bride and groom dressed in traditional Japanese garb. If you visit Tokyo, be sure to visit Meiji Jingu. 2020 marks the centenary of the enshrinement of the Emperor and Empress.

Soba Nomura is a soba restaurant located near the entrance to Takeshita-dori. Both table seats and counter seats are available. The menu is extensive, and includes soba accompanied by tempura. It was very delicious and a good portion, and served on such beautiful tableware. Although the restaurant is not that far away from the lively and energetic Takeshita-dori, it is a tranquil place where you can breathe freely.

The National Museum of Western Art is located in the heart of Ueno Park in Tokyo. This building is one of 17 works designed by the French architect Le Corbusier, and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The works in the permanent collection of the Museum span a wide range of eras and styles, with a particularly rich collection of Impressionist works. Of course, there are also works by the great artists of France and Europe, including Monet, Degas, Gauguin, Picasso, and Rodin. Despite being in the heart of this dynamic city, it feels as if time has come to a stop here.

Ueno Park is located in a bustling area, but offers a place of repose where you can catch your breath. There are cultural facilities such as museums (including the Tokyo National Museum and National Museum of Western Art) and a zoo, as well as shrines and temples, so one could easily spend a whole day here. The park becomes crowded in spring when the cherry blossoms flower. The Ueno and Yanaka areas offer various forms of enjoyment for visitors.

Ameyoko began as a black market in the postwar era. It is a shopping district that had been in existence for a long time. Today, it has transformed into a popular and lively street in the Ueno area. As it is located directly below the elevated railroad of the JR lines, I felt as if it lived alongside with the sounds and rhythms of trains passing by. One can find clothing, computer products, telecommunication equipment such as mobile phones, as well as restaurants here. It is perhaps better described as a lively Tokyo rather than chic Tokyo.

The Ueno branch of Yoshi Zushi has seats at the counter where you can watch the sushi chef in action, and this is where I had my sushi. Across the counter, three sushi chefs provided us with an endless supply of food even while preparing dishes for the other customers. The tofu is soft, the sashimi melts in the mouth, and there is also a good range of richly-flavored sushi. There is a friendly atmosphere in this restaurant, and the sushi chefs are all very kind, living up to all our curiousity and interests. It is an eatery that you should definitely go to in Tokyo!

Like the service I received on the international flight, the ANA cabin attendants on the domestic flight were also superb. At the airport, all the processes were completed really quickly (check-in, security checks, etc.). The boarding process was also quick, and accompanied by the warm smiles of the cabin attendants as we boarded.

Hashima is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites scattered across Japan as a relic of the industrial revolution of Japan during the Meiji era. Tours depart from Nagasaki Port, via several different routes. Hashima used to have the highest population concentration in Japan, but rapidly became an uninhabited island after the closure of the coal mines in the 1970s. At the Gunkanjima Digital Museum located not far from the port, visitors can view documents such as archives and photographs, as well as projection mappings, and learn about how the residents at the time lived there without any form of inconvenience.

Oura Tenshudo (Oura Catholic Church) is the oldest Catholic church still standing in Japan today. Built in the mid-19th century, it was dedicated to the 26 holy persons who were martyred in Nagasaki in 1597. The church speaks of the dark history surrounding the persecution and massacre of Christians in Japan.

The Historic Site Japanese Restaurant Kagetsu is a restaurant with a long tradition that goes back 360 years. At dinner time, diners can enjoy all the different flavors of traditional Nagasaki Shippoku cuisine. All the soup, fish, and meat were fresh, and surprisingly sophisticated. The service is always pleasant and offered with a smile, and even we, the diners, had the chance to wear traditional kimono. This is also one of 18 places in Nagasaki where one can see geisha.

The experience of looking back on the history of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki at 11:02, 9 August 1945, was one of the most moving experiences I had in Kyushu. The route from the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum to the Nagasaki Peace Park passes through the monument that marks the center point where the atomic bomb hit Nagasaki. This is the standard course taken by visitors, and provides an understanding of the history behind how the city was reconstructed, and what it has achieved to date as a promoter of peace in the region, country, and international community. The entrance of the Atomic Bomb Museum carries an inscription of the message May Nagasaki be the last atomic bombing site. This is a message that we must never forget, and which should be spread around the world.

Once you reach the Shimabara Peninsula, the Chijiwa Fault is a place that you definitely have to visit. Here, visitors can get a view of the cross-section of the peninsula, and learn about the mountainous topography of the peninsula and how it is made up of a cluster of volcanoes. It is a majestic sight (made even more so against the setting sun). There are also many stores here selling items that one can snack on. You should definitely try out the fluffy Castella cake that Nagasaki is renowned for!

Obama Onsen seems to have been built for the exclusive purpose of relaxation. This hot spring town is well known for its footbath facilities measuring 105 meters long (the longest footbath in Japan). First, walk into the seafood restaurant Mushigamaya, where you will find all kinds of food being cooked with the steam from the hot springs. Not only is it unusual; more importantly, it's delicious. After that, just like everyone else does, soak your feet in the footbath, moving from the hottest one (about 60 degrees) to the cooler ones (the temperature of the footbath drops the further you move from the sourcce of the hot spring). This is free of charge, so you can relax together with your family and friends. There is a sort of steamer next to the bath, where eggs, potatoes, and corn is cooked. You can cook anything in the hot spring using steam!

Shimabara's spring waters and the City of Swimming Carp was truly wonderful. We were welcomed warmly by the artisans, and given the opportunity to try our hands at painting candles. After that, we visited Shimeisou, an amazing villa built as a holiday villa, complete with a garden that uses the rich spring waters of the area. Here, we received the warm hospitality of the guide. At the time it was built, it apparently offered a panoramic view of the mountains and seas on both sides of the villa, but these have now been transformed into towns. The garden of Shimeisou was truly wonderful.

Unzen-Amakusa National Park, where Unzen Jigoku is located, is one of the first parks in Japan designated as a national park in 1934. Walking amongst the smells of sulfur and the steam rising from the fumaroles scattered here and there, felt like taking a walk on the moon. Take a visit there in the early morning when rays of sunlight pierce the fumaroles!

The modern folklore hotel, Unzen Fukudaya, is located in the heart of the source of Unzen's hot springs. It is a wonderful Japanese-style inn (ryokan). We stayed in a spacious room in the new annex of the hotel, which came in the simple and modest design typical of an inn. Soaking and relaxing in the private hot spring on the terrace, I felt all my exhaustion from the day melt away. At dinner, we had a seven-course meal comprising organic ingredients sourced from the Shimabara Peninsula. It was the most enjoyable part of the evening. I had my fill of all the local cuisines (fish, meat, rice, and vegetables, among others).

In these four days spent in Tokyo and Nagasaki, I had the chance to experience the historical, modern, traditional, and authentic aspects of Japan all at once. Since I only stayed in Tokyo for 24 hours, I would like to take some photographs of Tokyo's traditional aspects on my next trip. In Nagasaki, I was moved and shaken by the history of the Christians and the atomic bombing, but had a blissful time eating at the modern folklore hotel Unzen Fukudaya and Historic Site Japanese Restaurant Kagetsu. I also fully enjoyed the beautiful natural sights on my visits to the Shimabara Peninsula and hot springs. It was a wonderful journey that I savored with all of my five senses.