Day 03 - Nagasaki

This morning we all woke up refreshed after a long night's sleep. When we stepped out we were greeted with an overcast sky coupled with a light drizzle. As our apartment is situated relatively close to the Peace Park, we headed there first.

Our Apartment. 

Sky's obsession.

The Peace Park is an incredibly sombre place commemorating the dropping of the Atom Bomb on Nagasaki on 09 August 1945. It features beautiful gardens, walkways and lots of incredible statues, many of which were donated from countries all over the world. The Peace Park is situated just a few hundred metres from ground zero of the bomb blast.

The Peace Fountain.

The entrance to Peace Park.

The key feature of the Peace Park is the 10 metre tall 'Peace Statue' created by sculptor Seibo Kitamura. The Peace Statue's right hand points upwards to the threat of Nuclear Weapons, while the left hand extends outwards to help humanity. The closed eyes represent prayer for the souls lost and the mild facial expression symbolises divine grace. The folded leg signifies meditation, whilst the outstretched leg demonstrates the initiative to stand up to rescue the people of the world.

The Peace Statue.

Following the visit to the Peace Park, we headed to Seven Eleven for breakfast. I'll discuss the obsession with Seven Eleven in coming days.

Sky casts a lonely figure outside Seven-Eleven.

Some Bus action outside of the Seven-Eleven.

After breakfast, we headed to the Hypocentre. The Hypocentre is the true location of Ground Zero, or the point exactly below the detonation of the Atom Bomb. When the bomb exploded, it was 500 metres above ground level. All houses within one kilometre were reduced to rubble, whilst all houses up to four kilometres were burned to the ground. The final death toll from the bomb was 60-80,000, though it was estimated that between 35-40,000 people were killed instantly. The Hypocentre is marked by a memorial, surrounded by concentric circles. It is incredible to think that 73 years after this cataclysmic event, we simple tourists can visit this location and be welcomed with open arms by the Japanese people.

The Hypocentre. 

The path to the Hypocentre leads to the Atom Bomb Museum. I have to say that the images contained in that Museum will live with me forever. The Museum is deliberately confronting with countless pictures of men, women and children burnt and maimed by the blast and the immense heat rays that accompanied. By this confrontation, the Museum hopes to remind the world of the devastation caused by the use of Nuclear weapons and hopes to ensure that Nagasaki remains the last city to have been devastated by such means. There were also countless, simple artefacts and building structures, including the wall of a church that has been reconstructed to its exact specifications post-blast. Also, amongst these items was a nondescript artefact that was actually the bones of a human hand fused into a glass, such was the heat from the blast.

A mangled Water Tank from a Primary School.

A full-scale replica of 'Fat Man', the Plutonium Bomb that devastated Nagasaki. 

A burnt overcoat caused by the heat rays. 

Haunting artwork. 

Afterwards we hopped on the Nagasaki Trolley Car to a specific station and walked a leisurely one kilometre to the Nagasaki Ropeway which is actually a Cable Car that takes you 333 metres up to the top of Mount Inasa. The views from the top Observation Deck were stunning across 360 degrees; or, should I say, would have been stunning except for the rain and haze that filled the sky and made the vista seem a little duller.

Waiting for a Trolley Car.

Onboard and on our way to the Ropeway.

Getting our steps up. 

Nearly there.

The beautiful gardens that surround the base of the Ropeway (Cable Car) Station. 

On our way back down.

After heading back down on the Gondola from Mount Inasa, we briefly stopped for lunch before catching the Nagasaki Trolley Car to the Glover Gardens. I'd describe the Glover Gardens as similar to Botanic Gardens but whilst also being an open-air Museum filled with Mansions. The views of Nagasaki Bay and the mouth of the Uragami River were exceptional (except for the haze).

I don't know, it just looked interesting. 

As evening arrived, we headed back on the Trolley Car towards our apartment, stopping briefly for dinner and shopping at a large department store, before retiring for the evening. Regarding the Trolley Cars, they are part of the Nagasaki Electric Tramway which has been operating since 1915 and comprises five separate lines covering around 11 kilometres in total. It costs 120 yen (AUD$1.45) per journey, regardless of whether you travel one stop, or the entire length of the route.

All-in-all, it was a busy day for all of us. I have no doubt that we were all touched by the Museums, Monuments and Memorials commemorating the devastation caused by man.

Tomorrow we are catching the bus to Fukuoka.