Nagasaki. It's nearly impossible to separate it from it's recent tragic past, but Nagasaki is a city with a rich history and culture as well as it's present-day dynamism. Visitors should not be misled into believing this to be sad place. The memory of the atomic bombing is respected and remembered, but Nagasaki is a city which dates back through the centuries as one of Japan's most dynamic and internationalized. Fascinating cultural, culinary and historical attractions await any visitor to this vibrant port city.

Nagasaki can trace its origins to the late 7th Century and was always Japan's first window on the world. Early contact and trade with merchants from China, Korea and Southeast Asia and then 16th Century business with Portuguese and Dutch merchants left a lasting impression on Nagasaki and it's citizens, which later spread to the whole of Japan.

As a seaside port, spring, autumn and winters are milder than cities further north while summers tend to be hot but more comfortable than other areas with refreshing ocean breezes to help combat any humidity. Though spread out over a fairly large area, Nagasaki has extensive streetcar services which only add to the unique atmosphere of the city. These trams are augmented by bus and rail systems that make the city very easy to navigate. The city is also served by the Kyushu Shinkansen.