AROUND THE PENINSULA Sasebo The city of Sasebo, which serves as a navel base for both US and Japanese forces, is the home of Huis Ten Bosch (see below), as well as the jumping off point for explorations of the Hirado and Goto island groups. Huis Ten Bosch (Theme Park) An environmentally-friendly theme park located just south of Sasebo, Huis Ten Bosch opened in 1992 and has since become one of Nagasaki's biggest crowd pleasers. It is estimated that in 1997 4.3 million people will come to savor the park's architecture, art exhibitions, and unique European ambiance. The resort also contains several luxury hotels which currently boast the highest occupancy rates in all of Japan. Hirado Until the authorities relocated them to Dejima in 1641, Dutch traders were based in the northern island of Hirado. At one time, English and Spanish trading houses were also based here. In addition to beautiful scenery, the island boasts the reconstructed keep of Hirado Castle (circa 1703,) the Matsu'ura Museum, and the Xavier Memorial Chapel, the spire of which can be seen rising above the tiled roof of a nearby Buddhist temple -- a quintessentially Nagasaki juxtaposition. Shimabara Peninsula Stretching east of Nagasaki City, Shimabara Peninsula is home to Shimabara City, which is itself the home of famous Shimabara-Jo, a castle which features a rebuilt keep housing a collection of Christian relics. .Northwest of the castle park is an old samurai house, or buke-yashiki. Culverts full of crystal-clear rushing water and bright-colored carp water border many streets and add a charming touch to the old castle-town district. A volcanic hot-spot, Shimabara also boasts a host of rejuvenating hot springs. In the center of the peninsula is Unzen Onsen, a village of hot-spring hotels which can be reached by bus from JR Nagasaki Station in 2 hours 10 minutes or from JR Isahaya Station in 1 hour 20 minutes. The spa's waters are said to work wonders for neuralgia and rheumatism. The onsen is also the home of Unzen Jigoku, or "Unzen Hell", an area of thirty some sulfur pits, fumaroles, and streams stained many colors by the chemicals in the water. At the southwestern foot of Mt. Unzen, situated on the eastern shore of Chijiwa Bay, is Obama Onsen, another collection of hot-springs hotels. The spa serves as the gateway to Mt. Unzen and can be reached by bus from JR Nagasaki Station or from JR Isahaya Station. Omura City Between Nagasaki and the Shimabara Peninsula is Omura City, the site of a once important castle. Now the former castle grounds form part of extensive Omura Park, which is famous for its many cherry trees and azaleas. Goto An archipelago of some 150 islands, Goto was where many persecuted Christians fled to continue to practice their religion. Today Goto offers refuge to marine sport enthusiasts, who flock to it to enjoy scuba diving, wind surfing, jet skiing and other maritime activities. Iki and Tsushima Islands These two scenic islands, which can be reached by ferry or by air from Hakata and Nagasaki, once served an important role as stopovers for the diplomatic missions which in ancient times shuttled between Japan and the Asian continent. A wealth of artifacts dating from those days can be viewed daily from 9 am to 5 pm at Iki's Hara no Tsuji Museum. Another site that bears witness to Iki's history is Shinjo Shrine, which preserves artifacts of the Mongol Invasions of 1274 and 1281. Tsushima also boasts many relics that testify to a long history of diplomatic intercourse with the Korean peninsula. It was ruled over by the So clan, and Bansho-in, the clan's the funerary temple, forms one of the island's main attractions. The island's rugged, unspoiled natural beauty, an increasingly rare commodity in modern-day Japan, forms another of Tsushima's attractive features. go to: [Top] [Nagasaki City] [ Festivals]