Dutch Slope - Nagasaki

I could not find a better map to show our other sightseeing locations, so I guess this one will have to do.

As well as Glover House, we visited other sights in Nagasaki. The other places of interest that we were lucky enough to visit were: Dutch Slope, Oura Church, A-Bomb Museum, A-Bomb Hypocenter, and the Peace Park.

I was a little disappointed that we did not have enough time to visit Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge) and the grave of Thomas Glover, but I guess that means I still have a couple of reasons to visit Nagasaki in the future.

It seems that using the local tram network is the best way to go sightseeing in Nagasaki. Not only do they exude a certain charm of days gone by, but they are also extremely cheap. If I can recall correctly, the fare was a flat ¥100 (50p) no matter which stop you got off. After breakfast at our hotel, our first destination was Dutch Slope. Dutch Slope seems to have been a residential and business area for the foreign population of Nagasaki about 150 years ago. Initially, it was called Dutch Slope as there were solely Dutch merchants living and working there. Japan was a closed country for about 250 years (and still is in some respects!) and the only national group who were allowed access and trading privileges were the Dutch. After, restrictions on other nationalities were eased, Dutch Slope became the preferred location for all Nagasaki's foreign residents.

Oura Church is one of the major attractions on Dutch Slope. According to my leaflet, it was built by the Portuguese in 1864 and is the oldest church in Japan. It was nice to walk up the steps to the church and have a quick look inside. I was wondering what the Vatican would think of the ¥200 entrance fee. After our brief viewing of Oura Church, we continued our way up Dutch Slope, walking the narrow lanes between the old European style houses and offices. For a moment, I really did feel as if I was back in Europe.

We continued our slow walk up and around Dutch Slope, stopping to enter accommodation once used by ships crews, houses once occupied by the European merchants, and taking the chance to admire the fine views of Nagasaki Bay. My ire was only briefly raised when a light aircraft started buzzing Dutch Slope, advertising a local supermarket. Japan really is the land of noise pollution. I hope that my frequent blogging has not sent you all to sleep, but I still intend to soon post blogs on the A Bomb Museum, Peace Park, and Huis ten Bosch.