Nagasaki/Japan

10.4.2024 Nagasaki

In the morning, I went to the cinema to watch the documentary "Mythical Roads - Flowering Cherry Trees: Japan" to get in the mood for my stay in Japan.

We arrived in Nagasaki in the early afternoon. I accompanied my fellow traveler Judi to a department store that has a "Hello Kitti" shop. I personally have no understanding of the cult surrounding this cartoon character, but it was fun to watch Judi in her "paradise". She actually found a few items for her collection.

We left the department store and parted ways because I wanted to reach my goal for the day: Peace Park.

On the way there I passed the train station. There I could see the "Shinkansen" express train.

The "Peace Park" is dedicated to the memory of the atomic bombing and its victims. A statue indicates the time of the disaster, a stele marks the exact point of the bombing. The park contains a fountain, many statues and a museum.

The "Atomic Bomb Museum" contains many objects and photos that document the extent of the destruction. Around 75,000 people died immediately, and another 75,000 were injured. Terrible. However, after my visit to Pearl Harbor, it was still fresh in my mind who had started the American-Japanese war.

I then walked back towards the ship. I had a late lunch in a department store, which consisted of fish balls. Not a culinary hit, but it served its purpose.

I went back to the department store where I had been with Judi because I had found some delicious looking pastries there that I wanted to pick up on my way back.

After my shopping, I walked along the shore and could see our ship from a distance. However, I still wanted to eat some good Japanese food. In a restaurant at the harbor, I saw fellow travelers eating in the outdoor area. I asked them if they would recommend the food. When they said yes, I joined them and ordered rice with orange fish roe. Delicious!

Then I went back to the ship and called it a day. As a bedtime treat, I had two of the baked goods I had bought, which were as delicious as they looked.