August 29, 2016

“Flipped Classrooms” in Indian Education System

The idea of flipped classroom concept in a country like India is a blessing in disguise. The design of this concept is meticulously planned, organised and executed by some of the private institutions and non-governmental organisations. The inconsistent student-teacher ratio is all but true in the remotest of Indian villages and bringing valuable education through course works for the regular curriculum is one of the pros how technology helps Indian modern education.

One of the interesting aspects of flipped classrooms is that it brings in a great amount of individual attention to each and every student unlike the one-size-fits-all method of education. Flipped classroom experiences are like live football matches, each goal scored is a new lesson learned through practice and practical application. However, in football, the coach or the manager is most important guy on the pitch, whereas here, it’s the teacher who takes the mantle of the coach and aides students individually. The student likewise can practice whatever is preached and revise important lessons a numerous times.

The advantages of flipped classrooms are plentiful and organisations like evidyaloka, sampark foundation are cashing in on this innovative but novel idea of educating the rural India. The right to education act has helped flipped classroom concept thrive along with the easy availability of Internet, easy access of reading devices distributed by the some state governments to assist needy students in their everyday learning. There are proven results and researches conducted state that the students learning basic concepts and retention power have increased manifolds.

Changing lives through online education and imparting a million smiles on the faces of students is the need of the hour for every government, both state and central. However, it would be laughable, if purists believe interactive education or flipped classrooms take away their jobs. The concept allows each and every student to pick and choose their virtual gurus keeping the age-old Guru-Shishya tradition intact. If one observes, information is also freely available on the internet. Thanks to Youtube, they have some splendid educational videos but some distractive ones too. Student might get easily distracted and here’s where flipped classrooms scores multiple points as it help students remain on the righteous path of learning. 

The major hurdle for private organisations and governments alike is providing each and every rural house with reliable internet connectivity and respective course material in e-format (videos, photographs…etc.,). The National Optical Fiber Network plan initiated by the government way back in 2011 is still a distant dream, but if executed and implemented properly it has the power to transform lives of many young rural students and the government’s goal of education for all will be realized sooner than ever.

March 26, 2015

ARE HINDUS COWARDS? - A must read

Someone wrote today in the face of the growing attacks on Mr Modi at the hands of the Christians, who are creating fake incidents and Mr Narendra Modi’s muted response, that “A dark fear is growing in our minds that we Hindus cannot rule. The art of ruling requires special upbringing, grooming and attitude besides guts and courage.

And this raises the question: are Hindus good people, but nevertheless cowards?
“Muslims are bullies and Hindus cowards”, the Mahatma Gandhi once said. He was right – at least about Hindus: there has been in the past 1400 years, since the first invasions started, very few Shivaji Maharaj’s and Rana Pratap’s to fight the bloody rule of the Moghuls, or hardly any Rani of Jhansi’s to stand against the humiliating colonial yoke of the British. If a nation’s soul is measured by the courage of its children, then India is definitely doomed: without the Sikhs, whose bravery is unparalleled in the more recent history of India, Hindus would have even lost additional land to the Muslim invaders and there would have been infinitely more massacres of Hindus by Muslims during the first weeks of Partition. Are Hindus more courageous since they have an independent nation (thanks - not to the non-violence of Gandhi – but to the true nationalists, such as Sri Aurobindo and Tilak, who prepared the ground for the Mahatma at the beginning of the century)? Not at all! Because of Nehru’s absurd and naïve “hindi-chini-bhai-bhai” policy, the Indian army was shamefully routed in 1962 by the Chinese, a humiliation which rankles even today. Beijing is still able to hoodwink Indian politicians, by pretending it has good intentions, through the interviews the Chinese leaders very generously give to the Hindu newspaper (which should rightly be called the “anti-Hindu”) and Frontline (“the mouthpiece in India for the Chinese communist party”), while quietly keeping on giving nuclear know-how to Pakistan, as well as the missiles to carry their atomic warheads to Indian cities, arm separatists groups in the north-east and continuing to claim Arunachal Pradesh or Sikkim. Everywhere in the world, Hindus are hounded, humiliated, routed, be it in Fiji where, an elected democratic government was deposed in an armed coup, or in Pakistan and Bangladesh, where Muslims indulge in pogroms against Hindus every time they want to vent their hunger against India (read Taslima Nasreen’s book “Lalja”). In Kashmir, the land of yogis, where Hindu sadhus and sages have meditated for 5000 years, Hindus have been chased out of their ancestral home by death, terror and intimidation: there were 25% of Hindus at the beginning of the century in the Kashmir valley… and hardly a handful today. 

And this is exactly what happened in Bombay, after the Ayodya mosque was brought down by Hindu militants : Muslims, angry of the “terrible” affront done to Islam, started pelting the police with stones and burning shops; but unfortunately for the Muslims, who have made of riots an art (please read the passages of the Koran which deal with riots as part of jihad), they found that for once, the Hindus under the leadership of the Shiv Sena, retaliated blow for blow – an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth – as the Israelis, who have been so long at the receiving end of Muslim bullying, say so well. It is not for us to condone violence: but how long can the Hindus be the butt of killings and persecution, be sacrificial lambs that meekly go to slaughter ? For in a way, Gandhi was right: Muslims are bullies, they have bullied India and they continue to bully Hindu India, as Pakistan demonstrates time and again by shelling in Kashmir, which make the US apply time and again pressure on India to ‘negotiate’ with Pakistan. Remember how Musharraf deceived New Delhi by receiving a well-meaning, but naïve Vajpayee at Lahore, while its soldiers were quietly invading the heights above Kargil.

The truth is that there are two standards in India: one for the Hindus; and one for the Muslims. Did the “fanatic” Hindus who brought down Ayodhya (and brought shame onto secular India, according to the Indian media) kill or even injure anyone in the process? No. But Muslims do not have such qualms. When Gandhi said they were bullies, he was being very nice or very polite. For forget about the millions of Hindus killed during the ten centuries of Muslim invasions, probably the worst Holocaust in world history; forget about the hundreds of thousands of Hindu temples razed to the ground, whose destruction - whatever our “secular” Hindus of today say - was carefully recorded by the Muslims themselves, because they were proud of it (see Aurangzeb’s own chronicles); forget about the millions of Hindus forcibly converted to Islam, and who sadly are now rallying under a banner, a language, a scripture which have nothing to do with their own ethos and culture. Yesterday and also today, when the Muslim world feels it has been slighted, in even a small measure by Hindus, these Infidels, who submitted meekly to Muslim rule for ten centuries, it retaliates a hundred fold – this is the only way one intimidates cowards. After Ayodhya, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia (at least in a passive way by giving shelter for a while to Tiger Memon) with the help of Indian Muslims, planted bombs in the heart of Bombay and killed a thousand innocent human beings, most of them, once more, Hindus. Tomorrow, Pakistan might wage, with the blessing of the Muslim word, the ultimate jihad against India, which if necessary, will utilise the ultimate weapon, nuclear bombs. For has not the Koran said “'Choose not thy friends among the Infidels till they forsake their homes and the way of idolatry. If they return to paganism then take them whenever you find them and kill them” (Koran 98:51-9:5-4:89) ?

Unfortunately for India, the British, when they were here, had created an intellectual elite, to act as a go-between themselves and the “natives”, which today, thanks to the Nehruvian culture of successive Congress governments, looks at its own country, not by means of its own Indian eyes, but through a western prism, as fashioned by the white colonizers and the missionaries. These « Brown Shahibs », these true children of Macaulay, the « secular » politicians, the journalists, the top bureaucrats, in fact the whole westernised cream of India are very critical of anything Hindu. And what is even more paradoxical, is that 98% of them are Hindus ! It is they, who upon getting independence, have denied India its true identity and borrowed blindly from the British education system, without trying to adapt it to the unique Indian mentality and psychology; and it is they who are refusing to accept a change of India’s education system, which is totally western-oriented and is churning out machines, learning by heart boring statistics which are of little usefulness in life. And what India is getting from this education is a youth which apes the West : they go to Mac Donald’s, thrive on MTV culture, wear the latest Klein jeans and Lacoste T Shirts, and in general are useless, rich parasites, in a country which has so many talented youngsters who live in poverty. They will grow-up like millions of other western clones in the developing world, who wear a tie, read the New York Times and swear by liberalism and secularism to save their countries from doom. In time, they will reach elevated positions and write books and articles which make fun of their own country, ridicule the Narendra Modi’s of India and preside human-right committees, be “secular” high bureaucrats who take the wrong decisions and generally do tremendous harm to India, because it has been programmed in their genes to always run down their own country. It is said that a nation has to be proud of itself to move forward - and unless there is a big change in this intellectual elite, unless it is more conscious of its heritage and of India’s greatness, which has begun to happen in a small way, it is going to be very difficult for India to emerge as a real 21st century superpower. 

One would be tempted to say in conclusion : “Arise ô Hindus, stop being cowards, remember that a nation requires Kshatriyas, warriors, to defend Knowledge, to protect one’s women and children, to guard one’s borders from the Enemy”…. And do Indians need a Narendra Modi to remind them of that simple truth ? FRANCOIS GAUTIER (*) This is no to say that all Muslims are fanatics; on the contrary, many of India’s Muslims are extremely gentle and their sense of hospitality unsurpassed. The same thing can be said about Pakistan: Pakistani politicians, for instance, are much more accessible than in India and Pakistan has its own identity, which cannot be wished away. No, the problem is not with Muslims, whether they are Indians or Pakistanis, the problem is with Islam, which teaches Indian Muslims from an early age, to look beyond their national identity to a country - the Mecca, in Saudi Arabia - which is not their country, to read a Scripture which is not written in their own language, to espouse a way of thinking, which is inimical to their own roots and indigenous culture. Indian Muslims, have to think of themselves first as Muslims and secondly only as Muslims. Muslim soldiers fighting against Pakistan in Kargil, have shown the way.

                                                                                                             ~ By Francois Gautier

May 08, 2014

Role of Pulses in the Sprouts Market in India

India is the largest consumer and producer of pulses in the world. Pulses harmonize the staple cereals in major diets with essential amino acids, vitamins, minerals and proteins. Recent medical reports have proven that people who consume pulses on a regular basis are less prone to non-communicable diseases such as colon cancer and cardio-vascular diseases.

Statistics from the Indian Department of Agriculture and Co- operation show that though there is enough land area for pulse production, attempt to increase the land area under pulses has not been adequately done. With an ever increasing stress on world food security and the possibilities of global climate change in broad-spectrum and regional impacts in particular have come the forefront of scientific community. As India’s pulse crop is still heavily dependent on the monsoon, the rains are crucial for Indian agriculture as monsoon provides 70% of yearly rainfall. Quite often pulses play a pivotal role in crop rotation; maintain soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, release of soil bound phosphorous, mixed and inter-cropping as they can be grown on an array of soil and climatic conditions, thus contributing considerably to sustain- ability of farming systems.

Impact of climate change on pulses is more serious than ever. Severe water crisis and irregular distribution of rain is affecting mil- lions of poor farmers in different regions of the country. The changing climatic scenario in India has made technical experts to look for better
alternatives with best bet technological interventions of crop establishment, crop management and need for ideal policy support for farmers who include pulses in their daily staple diet.

Most important pulses that we produce are lentil, black gram, red gram, bengal gram, green gram, lab lab bean, dolichos, moth bean and others. It is also quite interesting to note that India is the largest pulses processor as other countries exporting pulses do not have ample pulses processing facilities or units. It has to be reiterated that India has to expand and espouse more resourceful crop production technologies along with constructive policies to support farmers to bring more area under pulses. As estimated by a popular organization, India’s population density would reach 1.68 billion by 2030 from the projected 1.21 billion for which the anticipated pulse prerequisite for the year 2030 is around 32 million tons. Keeping this in mind, India has to produce not only enough pulses but also remain aggressively competent and also on the other hand protect the native pulse production.

On the other hand sprouts are today a convenient way to have pulses and other seeds with fresh vegetables for salads and in some instances they can be eaten raw or even cooked. Latest research about sprouts shows that, sprouts are totting up to being splendid source of nutrients; they have an incredible curing ability. One of the quickest and easiest ways to pack a group of nutrients into your body in just one handful is by having sprouting raw nuts, seeds, beans and grains. Undeniably sprouts can be added to the main-stream examples of ‘alternative’ foods that include various berries, yogurt, corn flakes, muesli, nutrition bars and others.

There are ample enough reasons why one chooses sprouts over other source of nutrients. It is simply because the nutrient substances present in sprouts are effortlessly absorbed by your body. Sprouts are full of minerals, vitamins, enzymes, amino acids, proteins, chlorophyll and antioxidants. As sprouts contain plant fibre they are high in liquid content which is good for digestion. It is said that sprouts symbolizes the miracle of birth. They are in true sense super foods. 

Health benefits of sprout 

Nutritional Benefits

On sprouting, there is a tremendous increase in nutrients as com- pared to the dried embryo. The vitamins, minerals and protein con- tent substantially increase with a simultaneous decrease in caloric and carbohydrate content. Pulses and seeds show a very low water content. This, however, tends to increase tenfold when converted into sprouts. Sprouted green gram (mung beans) has an 8.3 percent increase of water content over dried beans. Hence the nutritional value of sprouted and dried mung beans can be compared by multi- plying the analyzed nutrients of sprouted mung beans by the factor of 8.3. Based on this criterion, the changes found in sprouted mung beans when compared with the figures for the beans in the dried state are as follows:



The increase in protein availability is of great significance. It is a valuable indicator of the enhanced nutritional value of a food when sprouted. The reduction in carbohydrate content indicates molecules being broken down during sprouting to allow absorption of atmospheric nitrogen and re-formation of amino-acids. The resultant protein is the most easily digestible of all proteins available in foods.

Sprouts supply food in a pre-digested form - food, which has already been acted upon by enzymes and simplified. During sprouting, much of the starch is broken down into simple sugars such as glucose and sucrose by the action of the enzyme ‘amylase’. Proteins are converted into amino acids and amides. Fats and oils are converted into simpler fatty acids by the action of the enzyme lipase. Also, during sprouting there is a reduction in the gas producing quality of beans. Mainly oligosaccharides have been held responsible for gas formation. As the process of germination ends and sprouting begins, the content of oligosaccharides is reduced by 90 percent. The content of fiber and water increases tremendously, which is a boon for a healthy digestive system.

Table: Stages of Sprouting 


Sprouts are a good source of chlorophyll, said to have anti- bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. They are highly beneficial foods for losing weight too. They keep one full for a long time and also prevent over-eating as one feels satisfied on consuming just a handful.

Sprouts are an extremely inexpensive method of obtaining a concentration of protein, vitamins, minerals and enzymes. Eating sprouts is the safest and best way of getting the advantage of complete nutrition.

Grains, legumes are nowhere even near to be considered a source of vitamin C. However, when sprouted, they reveal significant quantities of this vitamin. The infinite increase in Vitamin C or ascorbic acid derives from their absorption of atmospheric elements during growth.

(Source-http://www.medindia.net/patients/lifestyleandwellness/sprouts-the-super-food.htm)

Sprout Varieties:

Usually there are 44 varieties of sprouts that one can grow and these sprouts can be divided into 5 different groups as mucilaginous seeds, legumes, seeds, grains, unhulled seeds.

Value Addition and Shelf Life

Sprouting makes good business sense. The pulses and grains may be sprouted and neatly packed for niche retail markets. The following information is taken from a fresh produce retail chain in Bangalore, India.

Table 1: Self life period of sprouts






Table 2: Value Addition with pulses sprouts











* Calculated with base price of best quality pulses as Rs.80 per Kg, Additional value addition of 8-10% on account of weight gain

Steps involved in the process of sprouting:-



Conclusion:

Fresh sprouts has always been a household product for centuries in India, where most members of the family knew the organic way of growing sprouting seeds until the emergence of retail outlets a decade ago. These days there is lot of demand for sprout seeds from alfalfa to lentil to fenugreek. Though in its nascent stages, looking at a larger perspective and in days to come, India can definitely open the doors for commercial sprouting seeds as there is a huge demand for Alfalfa, Barley, Broccoli, Peas, Cabbage, Clover, Fenugreek, Garlic, Green Peas, Lentil, Mung Bean, Mustard, Onion, Radish, Soybean, Sunflower, Wheat and many more sprout seeds. Therefore if one is planning to own and operate a thriving sprout business, then see to that you ensure all the sprouting seeds are free of plant-based or human pathogens. There must be a high, quick germination rates and should constantly show exceptional vigour. The sprouting seeds must be aged suitably so as to minimize seed damage and to provide prospective clients with best possible flavour and sprout shelf life. For interested commercial sprout seed growers there is a line of sprout equipment, from containers, labels, sanitation products, lab equipment and other supplies available in the international market. Thus, sprouting seeds is an emerging market in India and experts feel that one should make hay while the sun shines.

(Source: As published in the magazine Handbook on Minor and Imported Pulses of India 2014, by CommodityIndia.com) 


March 14, 2014

Your World Revolves Around a Seed

The foundation element of our entire agricultural system is the seed. Our enormous crop diversity has its own uniqueness that can adapt to evolving agro-climatic conditions. It only took few decades after ‘Green revolution’ to come up with improved hybrid crops. Vegetable seeds in India are viewed as a commodity today. They have a substantial export potential because of two main reasons, first, the country’s agro-ecological diversity and secondly the proximity to the neighbouring Asian markets.

Located to the North of equator, India is the seventh largest country in the world, second most populated nation next only to China. The country can be broadly categorised into three geological regions: the Himalayas and eastern hills, the Indo-Gangetic plain and the Peninsular Shield. Geographically six regions can be outlined: the Great Plains, the mountain zone, the north western gangetic north-eastern region comprising of Brahmaputra and Surma Valleys; the desert region; the central and southern plateau region; and the western and eastern peninsula regions. Furthermore, India is reported to be divided into 20 agro-climatic regions right from Arid ecosystem to Island ecosystem.

The physical diversity of the Indian sub-continent is cost-effectively rewarding and resource augmenting, to follow an approach of diversified and regionally differentiated agriculture. India is one of the few developing countries with crop production potential in almost all land class types-dry, semi and moist semi-arid, sub-humid, humid fluvisols and gleysols. This indeed makes India, a world within the world. Thus there must be no constraint to technological progress in an emerging environment such as India which regards bio-diversity as nature’s bounty.

The facts and figures are worse with respect to scientific manpower resources as the assumption of adequacy and abundance has been so all-encompassing that analysis has not been considered worthwhile. However, authoritative data on scientific manpower resources are not available, studies have conveyed the impression of satisfactoriness, and yet smaller and mid-sized seed companies are investing a lot of time and money into R&D activities by opening the flood gates to many aspiring entry-level scientists.

With congregation of hybrid seeds and best farm practices, the Indian seed companies are eyeing the export markets in SAARC and African countries. Seed producers are cashing in on the poor market infrastructure in the East and West African countries. Namdhari Seeds and some of its competitors have entered the markets in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and SAARC region and have already started conducting field trials in the African markets. The entire seed market in the SAARC region including India is more than Rs 7500 Crore currently and is expected to reach Rs 12,000 Crore by 2014. The absence of hybrid seeds was one of the prime reasons why Indian companies had a major role to play and they got a huge opportunity to establish their presence as most of them had their expertise in bringing out suitable and higher yielding hybrids.

Many small-to-mid and large scale industries usually start with an initial capital with owners and investors having varied agricultural and commercial experience. Usually, the foremost source of financing is self-generated capital, short and long-term bank loans and advances from large seed companies. Most multinational companies have forward looking statements or information that addresses expectations or projections about the future-looking statements. What one has to look at is, these financial statements often include words such as ‘will’, ‘believes’, ‘expects’, ‘estimates’, ‘plans’ and ‘intends’. Even if these words echo our present expectations, these information or statements are not guarantees of expected performance, but involve numerous risks, reservations and assumptions. Risk factors include: fluctuations in energy and raw material prices; failure to develop new products and optimally manage product life cycles; global economic and capital markets conditions; litigations and environmental matters; changes in law and regulations and many such factors involve where a company will not update forward –looking statements from the financial sector or the management.

India has achieved what other developing counties haven’t. Many experts have forecasted that export of agricultural seeds from the country may more than double to Rs. 1,000 crore in the coming years and as many as 38 varieties from India have been registered in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). OECD is a group of 34 countries that guarantees the quality of seeds that can be imported by countries participating in OECD schemes and as many as 57 nations have taken up such schemes.

India approximately exports around Rs. 500-550 crore worth of seeds and the consignment is only going to increase as non-member countries go by this list. Meanwhile, a representative from NSA stated that registration of 38 varieties takes the total number of Indian seeds in the OECD list to 95 and another 118 varieties are in the pipeline for registration with OECD. India’s contribution to the world seed market is one percent and aims to increase the contribution by ten percent of global trade by 2020.
 
Farmer seen spraying pesticide on a vegetable crop.
Seed industry has evolved over the years by adopting and innovating scientific advancements in variety development and quality seed production. The Indian seed market is mainly contributed by the cash crops such as corn, cotton, paddy and wheat, sunflower and millets. In the 2013 financial year, non-vegetable seeds accounted for a major percentage of overall seed market in India and in the coming years the percentage of vegetable seeds might grow higher than the current FY results. This is because the vegetable seed industry was a major and third largest contributor to the hybrid seed industry. Indian farmers have shown their interest and penchant to adopt any new technology which promises higher production and profitability and it is evident from the fact that farmers are willing to invest if and only if technology is promising. According to a popular publication, most these factors led to the higher growth of Indian Seed Industry (around US $ 2000 million) with a potential 60% growth rate.

Moreover, there has been a progressive step by ICAR, a policy decision to provide freely the parental lines of new vegetable hybrids to private seed companies under joint agreements. Thus such targeted approaches by the public sector via collaborating with the private sector will soon meet the national targets. In the mean time, better climate resilient hybrids and varieties need to be developed at the earliest. It’s a healthy sign to see that the private sector has indeed contributed significantly in the development of vegetable seed basket both in terms of hybrids and new crops.

Currently, India is the sixth largest seed industry and it is poised to grow at a rate faster than the global rate. It has made marvellous contribution to enhance productivity through development of superior hybrids and many private companies are aggressively empowering the research and development. However, Indian seed industry needs support and investment from public sector for investment in research and infrastructure. Robust public private partnership models are necessary to serve the farmers better by removing the various productivity constraints through technological interventions.

Private companies today are trying to launch a wide and whole range of crop protection tools, inputs and technologies in India as well as in other agro-based economies in Asia where crop production has to be increased at nearly 2 percent annually. Thus private entities are promoting research, development and movement of quality seed to meet the world’s demand for food, feed, fibre and fuel.

Lastly to improve agricultural production and food security in a sustainable manner, there has to be a long term vision aiming to increase crop productivity, increase earnings and create employment opportunities through self-sufficiency, import substitution and export promotion of quality seeds. However, the primary aim must be to envisage and double the number of precise high yielding varieties by 2020 and thus improved seed production will be increased threefold through formal system. This can only be achieved by: reinforcement of varietal development, discharging and preservation using diverse gene pool both from local and exotic sources, boosting public, private and community ventures in seed multiplication, processing and conditioning through efficient seed quality services. Augmenting the marketing skills of seed entrepreneurs and make suitable investments in seed related infrastructure. Thus, these strategies might help to develop effective and efficient public and private seed related organisation with business culture and to improve and expand the horizon of seed exports.

(Source: As published in the magazine CommodityIndia.com on 08/01/2014)





June 26, 2013

Twelve tips to live long and happy life

  1. Try and play a game – whether it’s tennis or squash, badminton or golf, a round is good for you. Or exercise regularly an hour of brisk walking, swimming or running is as good.
  2. If you cannot do any of these, get yourself a vigorous massage at least once a day. Powerful hands moving over your body from skull to toes improves blood circulation.
  3. Cut down on your intake of food and drink. Maintain a strict routine for meals.
  4. A single peg of single malt whiskey in the evening is good for your appetite.
  5. Before you eat dinner say to yourself: ‘Don’t eat much.’  Try and eat alone and in silence.
  6. Stick to one kind of vegetable or meat followed by a pinch of chooran (Idly or Dosa is a healthier option as it is easier to digest).
  7. Never allow yourself to be constipated. Keep your bowels clean by whatever means you can: laxatives, enemas, glycerine suppositories.
  8. Keep a healthy bank balance for peace of mind. It does not have to be in crore but enough for your future needs and the possibility of illness or failing health.
  9. Don’t lose your temper, and do laugh often.
  10. Don’t tell a lie.
  11. Give generously. It will cleanse your soul. Remember, you cannot take what you have with you.
  12. Instead of whiling away your time praying, take up a hobby: gardening, music, helping children or those who are in need. Remember: always keep busy. Keep both your mind and hands working.

*Source: From Kushwantnama by Kushwant Singh

June 10, 2013

Spare a thought

Today, the massive supply of food for the teeming populace is simply enormous. At any given point of time a human being can locate a huge assortment of high quality foods from the fresh market, super market, mall and markets, order a desired dish at a local restaurant or more so gift or enjoy a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Somewhere in the corner of the world, crops are being planted, harvested and transported every month of the year so that there’s a wide selection of final produce, packaged foods, supply of raw materials and other ingredients that are available year round. Therefore, it’s quite easy to take this great quantity for granted and yet, there’s a highly intricate method that’s necessary to move the plants from the field to the dinner tables.


As in many countries and like any other industry, food production has become a major global business. Plump and bright red tomatoes in the produce section one month might have been grown in a field in India and the next month, in a greenhouse in Vietnam or Indonesia. Even if the tomatoes may not seem to be different from each other, that plant that have produced them might have been, since each has to match certain growing conditions.


Agriculture industries today are entirely customer friendly and the company that can do the best job are those who are closest to their customers. There are many seed companies with great research facilities in different locations, so that the breeders can mould plants for precise growing environmental conditions, local crop growing practices and other specific needs, one such seed company is the Namdhari Seeds Pvt. Ltd (NSPL). NSPL has always advanced scientifically and with available resources they have often tried various new advancements and shared knowledge whenever they are given with an opportunity. 



October 03, 2011

Nagasaki





Destination Overview
Nagasaki is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyūshū in Japan. Nagasaki is a historic city; it began as a small fishing village, formerly part of Nishisonogi District. For a long time it was the only point of contact between "the West" and Japan, mostly known for the fact that it was bombed with an atomic bomb at the end of WWII. During World War II, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made Nagasaki the second and, to date, last city in the world to be subject to nuclear attack. In 1603, a military dictatorship steered in a long epoch of separation from foreign influence in to order of secure it power. Nagasaki was home to a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War. It became a centre of Portuguese and others European peoples' influence in the 16th through 19th centuries. Long a centre of Christianity, the city had until 1945 Japan's largest Roman Catholic cathedral.

Nagasaki is a small fishing village secluded by harbours; it enjoyed little historical significance until contact with European explorers in 1543. The landscape of the Port of Nagasaki bears a resemblance to an arena looking out to sea. The major characteristic of Nagasaki is the houses that extend up the slopes to the summits of the city's mountains. The lights from these houses give Nagasaki its renowned "million-dollar" night-time scenery. The Port of Nagasaki is the focus of the city's exchanges with other countries. It boasts a number of exclusive festivals that highlight the city's food culture and local traditions. Nagasaki's port, the first to receive Western trade, was known to Portuguese and Spanish traders before it was opened to the Dutch in 1567. After the Portuguese and Spanish merchants were forced to leave Japan in 1637, the Dutch traders were restricted (1641-1858) to De-shima, an island in the harbour.

Nagasaki today has a recorded populace of about 440,000 and the city covers an area of 338.720 square kilometres; devoted to continued development as a city of industry, marine products, and international tourism, it remains dedicated to world peace. The extension of the Nagasaki Express way and the completion of the Dejima Bypass have significantly improved access to all parts of the city.

Hotel overview

Nagasaki contains diverse accommodation facilities, ranging from swanky lavish hotels to the conventional Japanese city 'love hotels'. Japanese Ryokan inns are scattered around the centre of Nagasaki, collectively with budget Minshuku (Japanese family run B&B-style accommodation) and economical youth hostels. Most of the budget hotels in Nagasaki include basic guest rooms along with shared bathrooms. Nevertheless, for just a bit more money, on the whole, the standards of lodgings on offer improves to a great extent and also it features airy rooms with plenty of customary finishing touches. One can easily select from a large range of Hotels in Nagasaki many with instant confirmation. Each of the Hotels in Nagasaki has a map to show their location within Nagasaki.
Nagasaki offers a wide range of accommodation types. Lodgings come in both the typical Japanese and Western styles, as well as in unconventional forms such as capsule hotels and temple lodgings. Best Western Premier, Hotel JAL City, Nagasaki Luke and Inasa-yama Kankoh Hotels are best international chain of hotels offering 5 star services and among the domestic chain of hotels there are fifteen hotels in and around Nagasaki.

They are:
  •     Hotel Monterey Nagasaki
  • ·  Dormy Inn Nagasaki
  • ·  ANA Nagasaki Gloverhill Hotel
  • ·  Chisun Grand Nagasaki Hotel
  • ·  Majestic Hotel
  • ·  Loisir Hotel Nagasaki
  • ·  Best Western Premier Hotel
  • ·  JR Kyushu Hotel Nagasaki
  • ·  The Hamilton Nagasaki
  • ·  Sasebo Washington Hotel
  • ·  Chisun Grand Sasebo Hotel
  • ·  Nagasaki Hotel Ihokan
  • ·  Chisun Inn Omura
  • ·  Luke Plaza Hotel
  • ·  Sasebo Green Hotel
  • ·  Victoria Inn Nagasaki
  • ·  Nagasaki International Hotel
  • ·  New Tanda Hotel
  • ·  Hotel New Nagasaki
  • ·  Hotel Resol Sasebo
  • ·  Nagasaki Washington Hotel
  • ·  Hotel Tennen
  • ·  Hotel Cuore Nagasaki Eki-mae
  • ·  Yataro
  • ·  Nagasaki Catholic Center
  • ·  Ocean Palace Golf Club & Resort

Business Hotels
Business hotels offer small, simple Western style rooms with snacks and drinks provided by vending machines. Price range varies from 4,000 to 9,000 yen per person.
Pensions
Pensions are comparable to Minshuku, except that they offer rooms in Western style rather than in Japanese style. Price range varies from 4,000 to 12,000 yen per person.
Minshuku
Minshuku are Japanese style bed and breakfasts, which are usually family operated. Typical rates for minshuku range between 5,000 and 9,000 yen per night and person.
Ryokan
Ryokan are Japanese style inns found throughout the country, especially in hot spring resorts. The average cost of a ryokan stay is between 15,000 and 25,000 yen per person, per night.
Love hotels
Love hotels (also known as boutique or fashion hotels) are hotels that offer double rooms for short periods of time. An overnight stay costs around 8000 yen. The room fee for a rest during the day is usually a little bit lower (3000 to 7000 yen), while on weekends, the prices can be much higher.
Youth hostels
Youth hostels are among the most inexpensive types of accommodation in Japan. One night typically costs between 2500 and 3500 yen per person and usually 1000 yen more for non-members.
Hotel rates in Japan are often given as "cost per person" rather than "cost per room".

Things to Do

Overview

Nagasaki city has a unique history of appealing foreign cultures. The city today remains evident of the various cultures that it imbibed from various countries that have stroked it and given it a rich multi-ethnic, multinational atmosphere. Nagasaki is dedicated to remembering its past, predominantly the lamentable suppression of Christianity under the ban of religion and the terrible tragedy of the atomic bomb. Japan opened its doors to foreign trade and diplomatic relations with other countries under the Meiji Restoration, rebuilding relationships and modernization began in earnest in 1868. It was officially proclaimed as a city on April 1, 1889 and with Christianity being legalized, the Kakure Kirishitan came out of hiding and Nagasaki recovered its earlier responsibility as a centre for Roman Catholicism in Japan.

The tourist attractions of Nagasaki include its gorgeous seaside scenery, its lands surrounded by ocean, and the night-time views offered from its mountain slopes. Moreover, Nagasaki is transforming itself into a very charming city through the redevelopment of Dejima and the Port of Nagasaki; the opening of the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture, which contains exhibits on the entire history of Nagasaki; and the construction of the Megami Bridge, the new symbol of the Port of Nagasaki. It is one of Japan's leading ports. Shipbuilding is the chief industry; steelworks, collieries, fisheries, and electrical machinery plants are also important. Among Nagasaki's landmarks is Glover Mansion, scene of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly.

Sightseeing Overview

If one had to choose one city in Kyushu you MUST visit I would have to say Nagasaki. Nagasaki is a pleasingly situated port city on the island of Kyushu and the capital of Nagasaki Prefecture perfect for sightseeing as it is varied and fascinating. One of Japan's closest port cities to the Asian mainland, Nagasaki has played a outstanding role in foreign trade relations for many centuries and was the most important of only a very few ports open to restricted numbers of foreign traders during Japan's period of isolation. Nagasaki is also a unique place as much of its heritage is provided by the Dutch and the Portuguese.
The main attractions today is the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, a major Nagasaki sightseeing attraction, this is a must visit. Heiwa-Koen – Peace Park is another place to reflect, with its fountain, and huge statue built in 1955, ten years after the bombing. Folk Art Gallery - located behind the Atomic Bomb Museum for those interested in old artefacts, costumes, replica room, as well as an art gallery. Teramachi - Temple Row, there are many shrines and temples you could visit in Nagasaki. As one walks through Kofukuji Temple – established by a Chinese priest in 1623, to Sofukuji Temple, one may come across many similar but spectacular small temples along the route.

Things to Do in Nagasaki
Marvelling what to do in Nagasaki? Not any more, some of the best places one must visit; find the Best Things to Do
1    
      Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is in the city of Nagasaki, Japan. The museum remembers the explosion of the atomic bomb that devastated Nagasaki at 11:02:35am on 9 August 1945.
The first atomic bomb museum was built in 1945. The present museum was opened in April 1996 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bombing.
The second atomic bomb was dropped over the Urakami district of Nagasaki. This bomb killed or injured 150,000 people. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum covers the history of this event in the accessible form of a story. Evaluating the panorama of Nagasaki immediately after the bombing with the appearance of the city today, one cannot help but be impressed by the amazing spirit of survival and the irretrievable strength of the people of Nagasaki.
The museum covers the history of nuclear weapons development and it displays photographs, relics and documents related to the atomic bombing. Videos are also shown. Next to the museum is the Nagasaki International Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. Built in 2003, it has three purposes:
· to remember those who perished in the atomic bombing and to offer a prayer for peace;
· to offer information on international co-operation and exchange activities concerning medical treatment for sufferers of nuclear accidents; and
· to preserve pictures of the deceased, and memoirs and personal accounts of the atomic bombing.
The museum is a touching reminder to all of the horrors of nuclear exposure.
· Address: Location: 7-8 Hirano-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture Japan
· Timings: Hours: May 1-August 31: 08:30-18:30 (August 7-9: 08:30-20:00)
September 1-April 31: 08:30-17:30, Closed December 29-31.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥200, Aged 6-17: ¥100
2. Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park was created to symbolize the wish for world peace and a vow that such a catastrophic war would never be recurred. Built on a low hill to the north of the hypocenter of the atomic bomb blast, this park features the 9.7-meter-high Peace Statue symbolizing the Nagasaki citizens' wish for peace.
Sculptor Seibou Kitamura, a Nagasaki native, created this statue as a symbol of the divine love and mercy of Buddha. The raised right hand points to the heavens to signify the threat of atomic weapons while the left arm is raised horizontally to represent the wish for peace. The figure's eyes are lightly closed in prayer for the souls of the atomic bomb victims.
Every year, on 9 August, the anniversary of the atomic bombing, a Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue and the Mayor of Nagasaki delivers a Peace Declaration to the World. At the south end of the park is a "Fountain of Peace". This was constructed in August, 1969, as a prayer for the repose of the souls of the many atomic bomb victims who died searching for water, and as a dedication to world peace.
Lines from a poem by a girl named Sachiko Yamaguchi, who was nine at the time of the bombing, are carved on a black stone plaque in front of the fountain. It reads: "I was thirsty beyond endurance. There was something oily on the surface of the water, but I wanted water so badly that I drank it just as it was."
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Address: Location: 2400-2 Matsuyama-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8118
· Timings:
· Admission Price: Free admission
3. Glover Garden
Glover Garden is located on the southern slope of a mountain, ensuring that the garden's flowers can be enjoyed in full bloom throughout the year. This exceptional vantage point offers a superb and widespread view of Nagasaki Harbor. The gardens feature the former Glover Residence, which, in totting up to the gardens, was donated to the city of Nagasaki in 1957 by the Nagasaki Shipyard of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and opened to the public.
Built by Hidenoshin Koyama of Amakusa Island and completed in 1863. It has been designated as an Important Cultural Asset. As the house and its surroundings are reminiscent of Puccini's opera, it is also known as the "Madame Butterfly House." Statues of Puccini and diva Miura Tamaki, famed for her role as Cio-Cio-san, stand in the park near the house. This house was also the venue of Glover's meetings with rebel samurai particularly from the Chōshū and Satsuma domains.
The park also includes Ringer House built 1865 for Frederick Ringer and Alt House built for William Alt. The correct treatment of the Tuscan pillars and pediment at the Alt House suggest that this building was designed by a Western architect.
· 
Address: 8-1 Minami-yamate-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 850-0931
· Timings: Hours: 08:00-18:00 (Evening garden viewings offered in summer.)
Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥600, Aged 15-17: ¥300, Aged 6-14: ¥180
4.
The Confucian Temple, the Chinese Museum of Successive Generations
This is the only Confucian mausoleum constructed by the Chinese outside China in 1893, Renovated in 1982 with the support of the Chinese government, the Temple and Cemetery of Confucius in Qufu, Shandong Province, this temple is a unique structure that blends the architectural styles of both Southern and Northern China. Even today the land on which it stands is Chinese territory and the land rights controlled by the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo.
A building at the rear of the shrine houses the Museum of Chinese History and Palace Museum. It features large illuminated photographs of the old Silk Road and models of early Chinese inventions such as the world's first seismograph. Displayed on the second floor are more than 80 treasure-class articles of varying antiquity on loan directly from the Chinese National Museum and Palace Museum in Beijing.
The entire mausoleum contains 20 compilations, in 500 sections, for a total of over 16,000 characters of The Analects of Confucius carved into marble imported from Hualien, Taiwan. The shrine was extensively renovated in 1982, standing outside the shrine are 72 statues representing the 72 followers of Confucius.
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Address: 10-36 Oura-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
· Timings: Hours: 08:30-17:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥525, Aged 12-17: ¥420, Aged 6-11: ¥315
5. Kofukuji Temple
Tōmeizan Kōfuku-ji is a Ōbaku Zen Buddhist temple established in 1624 in Nagasaki, Japan. It is an important cultural asset designated by the government and is located between Kintetsu Nara Station and Nara Park. It is Japan's oldest Chinese temple of the Obaku sect.
One can enter the complex from any direction as the complex is no longer enclosed. On the other hand, the conventional entrance to temples in Japan is from the south. While, the Nandaimon (Great Southern Gate) of Kofuku-ji no longer exists, you will know that you are close to the ancient entrance when you are near the five-storey Pagoda that dominates the complex, the five story pagoda is Japan's second tallest. Also, a three story pagoda, at 50 meters, Kofukuji's pagoda is both a landmark and symbol of Nara. It was first built in 730, and was most recently rebuilt in 1426.
The Eastern Golden Hall (Tokondo) was originally constructed in 726 by Emperor Shomu to speed the recovery of the ailing Empress Gensho, and is dominated by a large image of Yakushi Nyorai (the Healing Buddha). Rebuilt in 1415, the Tokondo also houses a 12th-century wooden Monju (Bodhisattva of wisdom), long worshipped by scholar monks and today by students; and guardians and assistants of Yakushi.
The temple's Treasure House (Kokuhokan) is one of the highlights, with displays of statues and artworks originally contained in the temple buildings. Among the most notable treasures are an 8th-century statue of Ashura (one of Buddha's eight protectors) carved in the 8th century, an even older bronze head of Yakushi Nyorai, and 12th-century carved wooden statues of priests with strikingly human facial features. There are also two octagonal buildings at Kofukuji: the Hokuendo (Northern Octagonal Hall) and the Nanendo (Southern Octagonal Hall). The Hokuendo was built in 721 by the Empress Gemmei and the Emperor Gensho in honor of the first anniversary of the death of Fujiwara Fuhito. The current building dates from 1210 and is only open during special periods in the spring and fall. The Nanendo (Southern Octagonal Hall) is temple on the West Japan 33-temple pilgrimage route, founded in 813 by Fujiwara-no-Fuyutsugu, the present building dates from 1789.
· 
Address: Banchi 48 Noboriōji-chō, Nara-shi, Nara-ken
· Timings: Hours: 08:00-17:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥200, Aged 12-17: ¥150, Aged 6-11: ¥100
6. Mt. Inasa
Mount Inasa is a hill to the West of Nagasaki, rising 333 meters above sea level in the centre of Nagasaki; Mount Inasa Park in the Inasa mountain range is a natural park beloved by the residents of the city. It is renowned for its displays of azaleas in the spring. The summit features a glass-enclosed circular domed lookout from which one can enjoy a 360-degree view of the spectacular scenery. On clear days, one can see Mt. Unzen, the Amakusa area, and the Gotoh chain of islands.
Short walks from the cable car station are several buildings that house transmitters for TV and radio stations that serve Nagasaki and the surrounding area. Furthermore, there is an observation platform that is popular with tourists as it provides spectacular views of Nagasaki's 10 Million Dollar Night View. This is also a common place for young local couples to break off relationships.
The summit can be reached by a ropeway operating from Fuchi Shrine. The picturesque scenery and natural beauty of Nagasaki's mountains and coastline are all here to enjoy - including the tour boats entering the Port of Nagasaki, the historical settlements of foreign residents, and the rows of buildings in each district.
· 
Address: Inasamachi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 852-8011
· Timings: Open 7 days a week throughout the year (except for annual maintenance in early December).
Ropeway Travel Time: 5 minutes from Fuchi Shrine to Inasa Sancho Station
Hours: March 1-November 30: 09:00-22:00
December 1-February 28 (29): 09:00-21:00
Departures every 15-20 minutes.
· Admission Price: Fares: Round trip: ¥1,200 , One way: ¥700
7. Spectacles or Meganebashi Bridge
Meganebashi or Spectacles Bridge, over the Nakashima River was built in Nagasaki in 1634 by the Chinese monk Mozi of Kofukuji Temple. It is the oldest stone arch bridge in Japan and has been designated as an Important Cultural Property. It received the nickname “Spectacles Bridge” because its two arches and their reflection in the water create the image of a pair of spectacles. In 1570, during the period of national isolation when Dejima was established upon the opening of the Port of Nagasaki, the Nakajima River's importance to trade made it the central artery of the city.
On July 23, 1982, a disastrous deluge washed away six of the ten stone bridges over the Nakashima River. Meganebashi was badly damaged but fortunately almost all the original stones were retrieved and the bridge was restored to its original appearance. There is a similar but larger “Spectacles Bridge” in Isahaya Park. This bridge, along with Edo's Nihonbashi Bridge and Iwakuni's Kintaikyou Bridge, are considered the three most famous bridges in Japan.
Spectacles Bridge was the inspiration for the Double Bridge of the Imperial Palace and also these stone bridges were only constructed on roads that lead to temples when one stands at Teramachi.
· 
Address: Furukawa-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
· Timings:
· Admission Price: Free of charge
8. Gunkanjima (Warship Island)
Hashima Island, commonly called Gunkanjima or Gunkanshima; meaning Warship Island, is one among 505 uninhabited islands in the Nagasaki Prefecture and is located on the open sea 19 kilometres southwest of the Port of Nagasaki. The island was populated from 1887 to 1974 as a coal mining facility. The island's most notable features are the abandoned concrete buildings and the sea wall surrounding it. It has been administered as part of Nagasaki, Nagasaki since 2005; it had previously been administered by the former town of Takashima.
The island has a 10-meter high breakwater and a variety of closely built structures, including steel-reinforced high-rise apartments that giving it an appearance of a marine fortification similar to the battleship Tosa. As a result, it came to be known as “Warship Island.”
The group of buildings fell into ruin and the island remains in a desolate state. Landing is prohibited here; those interested in seeing Warship Island up close can take a cruise to the island. Cruises are available from the Port of Nagasaki and the Nomozaki Peninsula.
Today it is empty and bare, which is why it is called Ghost Island and noted Singer-songwriter Okazaki Ritsuko was born on Hashima Island. Currently, sightseeing boat trips around the island are provided by two operators; Yamasa-Kaiun from Nagasaki Port, Kyodo Co. from Nomo Island. As of April 22, 2009, the island is open once again for public visits, with Yamasa Kaiun providing transportation to the island from Nagasaki.
· 
Address: 2960-3 Takahamamachi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 851-0503
· Timings:
· Admission Price:
9. The Nomozaki Ocean Health Village
One can easily relax with a view of the ocean and unwind oneself where the hot spring tension falls away. There’s an outstanding provision that combines lodgings and a hot spring recreation facility with an imposing view of the magnificent ocean. All rooms present here offer an ocean view, so one will never tire of enjoying nature at its fullest. Lodgings of this facility are optional for those sightseeing on the Nomozaki Peninsula.
Nomozaki, 25km south of Nagasaki, may not be on most visitors’ itineraries when coming to Japan but, with warm sunny weather from March to November, two beaches, plenty of shrines, an onsen with a sea view, a karoke box, family-run restaurants as well as year-round traditional festivals, the four machi, or villages, that make up Nomozaki town have a lot to offer the more adventurous traveller wishing to get off the beaten track and see something of the ‘everyday’ Japan.
Waters of these hot springs are rich in iron, and the sodium bicarbonate fountains are effective at enhancing beauty, as the high iron content is said to be good for women’s health. The bath facilities also offer hot water baths, a sauna, and a Jacuzzi. The high point of any visit is the chance to relax in the hot waters while gazing at the calm sea. The only hotel in Nomozaki is found at the Nomozaki Ocean Health Village and a house restaurant that offers the Nomozaki specialties of Nomonaji horse mackerel and Ise shrimp, as well as specialty cuisine highlighting seasonal ingredients.
And during the summer, one can enjoy sea bathing from the private beach in the front of the establishment and also one is allowed to camp on the beaches and if one gets talking to residents in the local bars and restaurants more often than not, they will offer you a futon mat on their floor, so happy are they to welcome foreign visitors to their town.
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Address: Location: 692-1 Nomomachi
· Timings: Hours: 10:00–21:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Fees: Bathing / Adult: ¥400 , Aged 4-11: ¥200 Lodging Rates / Adults: from ¥5,520 , Aged 4-11: from ¥4,200 , Infants: No charge
Sofukuji Temple
Sōfuku-ji is a Ōbaku Zen temple that was built by the Chinese monk Chaonian and the Chinese residents of Nagasaki who hailed from Fujian Province constructed this Chinese Temple in 1629 as the family temple of the Chinese from Fujian Province who settled in Nagasaki. This Chinese Temple remains a cultural property of Western Japan. Two of its buildings have been chosen as national treasures. The red entrance gate and other structures in the confines are rare examples of the architecture of South China during the Ming dynasty.
The goddess of the sea, Maso, is enshrined in the Masodo, along with other life-sized statues in the main hall and in the temple grounds is a large cauldron made by the resident priest Qianhai to cook gruel for people who were starving during the famine of 1681. The Chinese Bon Festival is held here from July 26 to 28 (by lunar calendar), with Chinese coming from all over Japan to participate in the ritual for the dead.
This temple is of a unique pedigree; apart from the temples of Kyoto and Nara, it is distinctive for housing so many cultural assets in one temple in Western Japan. The "Daio" of the national treasure Daiohoden signifies the Sakyamuni Buddha. The Sakyamuni Buddha is enshrined as a principal image of Buddha, it is called Daiohoden.
· 
Address: Location: 7-8 Kajiya-machi
· Timings: Hours: 08:00-17:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥300, Ages 12-17: ¥200, Ages 6-11: ¥100
11Oura Catholic Church
Established 1865, this church is officially known as "Oura Catholic Church, The Church of 26 Martyrs." It was built by the French priest Bernard Petitjean of Fier who had been dispatched by the Foreign Missionary Church of Paris to dedicate prayers to the 26 saints martyred on Nishizaka hill. The church was constructed in the Gothic style and is Japan's oldest existing wooden church.
The wooden construction, stained glass windows and the oil painting "Martyrdom of the 26 Saints" on the wall to the right are the main features of the church. The white marble statue of the Virgin Mary at the entrance was built in commemoration of the dramatic discovery of the "Hidden Christians" - those who had gone underground after the Shimabara Rebellion of the 1630s.
It was selected a National Treasure in 1933. French stained glass was installed in the interior some 100 years ago, but most of this was seriously damaged in the atomic bomb blast. It has since been restored with some pieces of other stained glass from that period. Today, the church remains a popular place for worshippers and tourists alike, drawn to its unique, elegant European style.
· 
Address: 5-3 Minami-yamate Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture 850-0931
· Timings: Hours: 08:00-18:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥300, Aged 12-17: ¥300, Aged 6-11: ¥200
12 Urakami Cathedral
St. Mary's Cathedral, often known as Urakami Cathedral after its location, is a Roman Catholic Church located in the district of Urakami, Nagasaki, Japan. When the government repealed its prohibition of Christianity, the adherents of Urakami who had regained their freedom took on the building of a church as their first project.
The frontal twin spires stood 64 meters high were constructed in 1875. When completed in 1925, it was the largest Catholic Church in East Asia.
In 1914, this impressive structure was commemorated as Asia's leading Romanesque-style cathedral of brick construction and in 1980 it was remodelled to more closely resemble the original French style. It featured Angelus bells from France in the front pair of towers, but these were unfortunately destroyed in the atomic bombing of 1945.
Statues and artefacts damaged in the bombing, including a French Angelus bell, are now displayed on the grounds. The nearby Peace Park contains remnants of the original cathedral's walls. What remained of the cathedral is now on display in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
· 
Address: 1-79 Motomachi, Nagasaki Prefecture
· Timings: Hours: 09:00-17:00, Closed Monday
· Admission Price: Free of charge
13 Dejima
This is Japan's first Protestant Seminary, built in the 19th century, and was renovated in 1998, becoming the Nagasaki Dejima Museum of History. Inside the museum the culture of Dejima during the Isolation Period, including such examples as Japan's trade with Portugal, England and Holland and the eating habits seen at the Dutch Trading House, is displayed in models and graphics. Currently some 10 buildings throughout the area have been restored, and you can experience life as it was at that time at this newly enclosed fan-shaped “Dejima.” There is also a miniature model of Dejima which was reproduced on a scale of 1/15 to show what the area was like before being reclaimed in 1904.
Dejima Protestant Seminary is a restored and preserved wooden two-storey building constructed in 1877. Dejima is also the Centre of Culture highlights the island's function as a window on cultural exchange and it contains exhibits of archaeological finds on Dejima.
There are many Chinese restaurants and stores selling Chinese goods throughout the area, allowing you to enjoy a bit of Chinese flavour in Nagasaki. During the Chinese New Year this place serves as the centre of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, which is the feature winter event in Nagasaki. The whole area is decorated with many Chinese lanterns, drawing crowds of people.
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Address: 9-15 Dejima-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
· Timings: Hours: 09:00-17:00, Open 7 days a week throughout the year.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: (Common admission ticket for Dejima Museum of History Main Building, Annex, and Second Storehouse) Adults: ¥300, Aged 6-17: ¥150

14 Yasuragi Iojima
It represents one of the many stunning aspects of Iojima such as the clear oceans, white sandy beaches, and fresh seafood. The grand name “Yasuragi Iojima” symbolizes their focus on health and healing. The presence of Natural hot springs amid outstanding resort facilities in Yasuragi Iojima is a resort lodging facility which opened in July 2003 with “healing” as its theme. It uses hot spring facility with usage of natural hot water rising from 1,180 meters underground.
Yasuragi Iojima includes three hotels and a cottage that can be used as a holiday house, and the meals are creative seasonal cuisine made with fresh marine products and in summer, the outdoor barbeque is very popular. Also offered are effective aesthetic treatments and massage facilities, as well as tennis courts, playgrounds where children can play even on rainy days, and various activity facilities.
One can easily enjoy bathing packages, meal excursions, and aesthetic plans. Furthermore, the “one night with two meals” lodging plan is updated every two months to accommodate seasonal cuisine.
· Address:
· Timings: Open 7 days a week throughout the year. Hours: Hot springs 06:00–24:00, Lounge: 06:00–22:00, Restaurant: 11:00–21:30
· Admission Price: Fees: Bathing / Adult: ¥980, Aged 6-11: ¥480 (Includes return ticket between Iojima and Ohato, as well as drop-off and pick-up upon your return to the Port of Iojima.), Lounge: No charge, Lodging: One night, including two meals, from ¥9,000
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5 Endo Shusaku Literary Museum
The Shūsaku Endō Literary Museum is located in the Sotome district in the north-western part of the city of Nagasaki and is dedicated to the life and work of Japanese novelist Shusaku Endo. Sotome is famed as the home of the hidden Christians and served as the scene for Endo's novel Silence.
Established in May 2000, the museum displays Endo's books, manuscripts, letters, photographs and favourite possessions including his writing desk, his Bible and rosary, and a statue of St Maria inherited from his mother and kept at his bedside throughout his life.
This literature museum was established in May 2000, with the cooperation of Mr. Endo's widow, on a rise that commands a view of the calm Sea of Sumonada. It contains more than 25,000 exhibits as well as the traces of Mr. Endo's life. It also displays items connected to Mr. Endo's literature and the exhibition room features some of Mr. Endo's precious possessions - such as his original manuscripts and stationery - as well as his work desk. His main novels are Silence and The Life of Jesus.
The museum looks out over the Gotō Sea and Shitsu Culture Village, where a monument stands to Silence. It is inscribed with the words "Humanity is so sad, Lord, and the ocean so blue."
· Address: Location: 77 Higashi Shitsu-machi
· Timings: Hours: 09:00-17:00, Closed December 29-January 3.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥350, Ages 6-17: ¥200
1
6 Memorial to the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan
The Twenty-Six Martyrs Museum and Monument were built on Nishizaka Hill in June 1962 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the canonization of the Christians executed on the site on February 5, 1597. The Memorial Relief of the Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan was constructed concurrently with the adjoining Saint Filippo Nishizaka Church.
The Memorial Hall that stands quietly behind the life-sized bronze statues of the 26 saints is divided into two themes - things handed down from Christian times and things created today in order to clarify history. The museum's collection includes important historical articles from Japan and Europe as well as modern artistic works on the early Christian period in Japan. The displays are arranged chronologically into three periods: the early Christian propagation, the martyrdoms, and the persistence of Christianity underground during the persecution. The exhibits include examples of “Fumie” or treading images.
Exhibitions include a letter by the priest Nakaura Julien from the Tenshou youth facility, letters addressed to Portugal's King John III from Saint Francis Xavier, the record of the battle of Shimabara, the Maria Kannon sculpture, and a bronze Pieta from the 16th century, as well as frescoes and Japanese paintings.
· Address: Location: 7-8 Nishizaka-machi
· Timings: Hours: 09:00-17:00, Closed December 31-January 2.
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥250, Aged 12-17: ¥150, Aged 6-11: ¥100
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7 Nagasaki Museum of History & Culture
The Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture in Nagasaki, Japan is one of the few museums in Japan devoted to the theme of "overseas exchange". The museum holds 48,000 items in its collection, including historical documents and arts and crafts that tell the story of Nagasaki as the sole window opened to foreign countries during the period of national isolation. The exhibition mainly comprises three zones - historical culture, the Nagasaki Magistrate's Office, and project exhibits.
The permanent historical culture zone contains exhibits of valuable materials on the theme of recent historical exchanges with Portugal, the Netherlands, Spain, China and Korea. It also features a hands-on workshop experience with a collection of exhibits of Nagasaki's traditional industrial arts of exceptional quality and quantity, all perfected through international trade and assembled in one building. It also focuses on “Nanban” and the introduction of Christianity. The museum shows the role Nagasaki played in post-restoration Japan in the diplomatic sphere, as well as being at the forefront of modern medicine, printing, ship building and industrial technology.
The Nagasaki Magistrate's Office Zone contains a reconstruction of part of the Tateyama Government Branch of the Nagasaki Magistrate's Office. It also includes entertaining re-enactments of courtroom scenes from the period. Two must-see exhibits are the important cultural properties - crime notebooks from the Nagasaki's Magistrate Office and "trample tablets" used in Christian persecution.
· Address: Location: 1-1-1 Tateyama
· Timings: Hours: 08:30-19:00, open throughout the year, except the 3rd Tuesday of the month (or 3rd Wednesday if 3rd Tuesday is a national holiday).
· Admission Price: Entrance Fee: Adults: ¥600, Aged 15-17: ¥400, Aged 6-14: ¥300
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8 Nagasaki Chinatown
Nagasaki Chinatown, also known as Shinchi Chinatown, is Japan's oldest Chinatown, established as early as the 17th century. It is one of the three great Chinatowns in Japan along with the ones in Yokohama and Kobe.
Over the centuries, the inhabitants of Shinchi Chinatown have bequeathed the city of Nagasaki which a Chinese panache not felt in any other of Japan's major cities.
Today, you will find approximately 40 different stores selling Chinese merchandise and restaurants serving Nagasaki-style Chinese food. Presently, Nagasaki's Chinatown is best known for its restaurants and their two most famous local noodle dishes, Champon and Sara Udon. Restaurants typically open between 11:00 and 15:00 for lunch and from 17:00 to 21:00 for dinner.
Every year during the season of the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) in early February, the Nagasaki Lantern Festival centred on this Chinatown is conducted. It is indeed a major event of Nagasaki as this festival used to take place only in Chinatown, it turned out into a festival involving the entire city of Nagasaki where more than 15,000 Chinese lanterns and a variety of decorations are displayed while people dressed in fancy Chinese costumes parade through the streets.
· Address: Shinchi-machi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken
· Timings:
· Admission Price: Free of Charge
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9 Kazagashira Park
Kazagashira Park is located on the top of a steep hillside overlooking Nagasaki City. The view from atop the hill especially the sunset and the sunrise are absolutely stunning overlooking the city and the bay.
About 20 minutes by bus from Nagasaki Station, Ryoma Sakamoto is standing on the hill of Kazagashira Park, over viewing Nagasaki Port. This is a statue of `Ryoma ga Yuku, in a popular novel written by Ryotaro Shiba. Here’s what is written; when the ship arrived at Nagasaki Port, Ryoma couldn’t help getting so excited and said, ‘Nagasaki is my hope, and from here, Japan will change.’ He, not only contributed to the revolution of Japan, but also established the first company in Japan, here in Nagasaki, with the help by Mr. Glover.
The area becomes particularly festive during the spring, when the cherries bloom and people stake out places beneath the trees for revelry. A statue of the legendary warrior Ryoma Sakamoto is located on the park's observation platform. To reach the park, you could take a bus, but if you have the strength, consider hiking the steep stairs through Temple Row and up the hillside.
· Address: 3 Irabayashi, Nagasaki Japan 850-0802
· Timings: Monday to Sunday from 12:00 a.m to 12:00 a.m
· Admission Price: Free of Charge

Hollander Slope
It is a part of foreign settlement and a monument to the “Ruins of the Protestant Church of England” underlying in the stone wall at the initial point of the slope rising to the mission school and the Kaisei Senior high School Gymnasium that stands on a hill in the Higashi--yamate neighbourhood.
This is the site of Japan’s first Protestant Church of England, built in 1862. During which, the people of Nagasaki referred to all non-Asians as “Hollanders,” probably because of the influence of the Dutch who lived on Dejima. Even after many foreign residents from various countries other than the Netherlands had immigrated to Nagasaki subsequently Japan’s opening and the foreign settlement period.
Accordingly, the entire slope was called “Hollander Slope” at that time, perhaps because many Minami-yamate residents used the slope when they went to worship. Now, only the stretch from Kwassui Women's College to Kwassui Slope and the stretch in front of Jokoin is known as “Hollander Slope.”
· Address: Higashi-yamate-machi Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
· Timings:
· Admission Price: Free of Charge
Activities – Overview
Around mid January – mid February there’s Chinese lunar New Year held by Nagasaki's Chinese community, where large lanterns are displayed on street corners and in the shopping arcades. Venture throughout Chinatown or along the river in the evening to see some of the 20,000+ lanterns displayed in the city. Many of the lanterns are shaped like animals or figures from Chinese mythology, and the major lantern every year represents the corresponding zodiac animal (e.g., 2008 featured Rats, 2007 featured Pigs, etc) and O-Kunchi is Nagasaki’s biggest and one of Japan's more popular festivals, taking place early in October. This festival is based around the descent of the city's patron kami from their home high up in the Suwa Shrine, features choreographed routines with giant, cumbersome floats, sake, and a general feeling of celebration.
Finding food will not be a problem during O-Kunchi, as the streets are lined with thousands of vendors hawking takoyaki, yakitori, and grilled corn on the cob.
Activities – Generic
Although all of Japan celebrates O-Bon in August, Nagasaki puts an inimitable and thunderous spin on the day of ancestor worship, if one heads down to the harbour for the main festivities that involve far more alcohol and fireworks, is generally considered very safe.
· A quick boat ride to Iojima is the easiest way to get to a beach. From Nagasaki harbour to Iojima is about 1500 yen and about 10-15 minute another 500 yen gets you in. The boat ticket allows a visit to the hot springs in the hotel on Iojima so that visitors can relax and freshen up.
· A quick outing into Shianbashi, or Shianbash for short, is a must when you visit Nagasaki. This area of Nagasaki displays debauchery, full of numerous Snacks and drinking establishments.
· If one happens to be in Nagasaki between March and June, then one might take a walk with Saruku-Chan, more commonly known as Saruku-Haku, these guided tours allow the Sarukist to experience the history of Nagasaki in a very special way, by walking it! Available with orators teaching in either Japanese or English, these walks are quite a learning experience. These walks require a bit of multitasking, one must be able to listen, walk and look at the same time. The course sizes range from just a few miles to a monstrous 13 mile stroll.
· Gunkanjima (Hashima), is a small island completely covered in the ruins of a mining city, abandoned since 1974. Once the most densely populated place on earth, it's now a ghost town. Visitors may wish to note that many Korean workers lost their lives to the mines of this island as a result of the forced labour programs during Japan's occupation of Korea. Gunkanjima is about 15 km away from Nagasaki and is reachable by a ferry tour since 2009. A cheap and reliable two-hour cruise around the island is available but you must probably want the visit course which includes a guided walk on the island and explanations in Japanese. The full package costs 4300 yen and takes 170 minutes. Boats leave twice daily at 9 am and 1.10 pm and can be booked an hour beforehand. Be aware that due to the precarious nature of the Gunkanjima dock, these tours are cancelled frequently for bad weather. Those of you thinking of jumping the fence and having a free saunter, think again, as all patrons are not only forced to sign a very specific no-fence-jumping waiver, but have to wear the same list of said rules around their necks at all times.
Excursions & Tours – Overview
There are many places to see and explore in Nagasaki, and a tour is the perfect way for travellers to see as much as possible in a short timeframe. A stop at the Nagasaki Tourist Information Centre as soon as you get off the train at Nagasaki Station in Daikoku-machi is a great idea, which can get you going as soon as you get into town.
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium is an interesting place, with a huge amount of very instructive English descriptive material - IF YOU LIKE OR LOVE PENGUINS - GO! There is an astounding number of penguin species there. The bus ride to the aquarium is quite attractive. One can surely enjoy the tiny ponds along the path to the aquarium as well as a walk along the pleasant beachfront near the aquarium, and if one’s hungry, there's a Lawson Station convenience store near the bus stop.
Huis Ten Bosch is a Dutch-themed park located in nearby Sasebo, which one can access with the Kamome train line. For those who have already toured the Netherlands, there is probably not much of a draw, but if you are interested in the uncanny Japanese ability to faithfully reproduce the works of other countries (they even imported the bricks from the Netherlands), it is worth a visit.
When Nagasaki residents need a day or two to get away from it all, a good number of them move to Iki, a fairly large island located off the northern shore of the prefecture. The island has a number of onsen (hot springs), ryokan (inns) and other quiet, peaceful lodgings for those that stay overnight. Especially valued by visitors to the island is its seafood. The best time to visit Iki is in the summer.
Tobishima Iso Fishing Park is located in Takashima-machi, about 35 minutes from Nagasaki Harbor by boat. The fishing pier is 120 meters long and can accommodate 150 people. There is an admission fee, and fishing gear can be rented here. Nearby is a bathing area and a tennis court where people can not only play for free but borrow equipment free of charge as well.
Nagasaki Biopark, is a little away outside of the city. This is perhaps the world's largest and best petting zoo, where one can feed and pet animals like capybara, flamingos, mara, and wallabies. From Nagasaki Station, hop on the Ogushi bus line, and ride north until you reach Kamedake. Follow the signs with the cute animals, and the Bio Park will be on the right approximately 500 meters down the road.
Restaurants – Overview
Adding to the benefit from an abundant availability of seafood and local delicacies, Nagasaki boasts an only one of its kind cuisine that benefits from Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese influences.
Restaurants
· Sanseigo
Excellent Chinese food at a reasonable price makes this restaurant a fine choice from among the several dozen located in the China Town area. A sign outside the door displays the staples: varieties of noodle-based dishes, such as Nagasaki champon. Try the gyoza or harumaki for only JPY300. Beer and other drinks are available.
· Ninniku-y
Cuisine: Italian
The name of this restaurant exactly means “garlic shop,” and the food is mainly Italian, and some of it is deeply loaded with garlic. There are of course other dishes available, like salad and certain meats.
· Gajo
Cuisine: Breakfast & Brunch
Gajo is a small dessert cafe with milkshakes and similar selections on its menu. Drinks are available as well--like coffee--but most people go for the desserts.
· Nagasaki Tonkatsu Seiyohtei
Cuisine: Japanese
Tonkatsu or fried breaded cutlets of chicken, pork, etc. are a speciality fare here. There are more exotic ones wrapped in bacon, cheese, or shiso leaves before they are fried. Two different sauces—hot and sour--go with each meal, which includes rice and other side dishes.
Other top restaurants of Nagasaki are:
· Yosso
· Kozanro
· Shikairo
· Suisanshokudo
· Guriruasutoria
· Little Angels
· Sushi Katsu
· Torin
· Obinata
· Shooken
The popular ethnic food culture of Nagasaki City is:
Castella - its type of sponge cake introduced to Japan by Portuguese missionaries in the mid-16th century. It is believed to have been developed in Spain and Portugal. “Nagasaki castellan” remains immensely popular as a souvenir of Nagasaki.
Chanpon - Nagasaki chanpon was created when Chin Heijun, a Chinese restaurant owner in Shikairo, for visiting Chinese students who lived frugally at the time. It includes locally abundant ingredients and seafood such as squid, oysters, and shrimp harvested from Nagasaki's coastal waters. Also characteristic is the unique flavor achieved by adding Chinese lye to the noodles, which is normally included in the skins of Chinese dumplings.
Shippoku - Shippoku cuisine is an original creation of the Chinese living in the Chinese quarter. The chief characteristic of Shippoku cuisine is jikabashi, the seating of the diners around a lacquered round table on which the food is served in one dish, with all diners serving themselves.
Chinese Sweets - More than a dozen types of products are customarily made, the most well known being the gold money cake, yoriyori, and moon cake. The yoriyori is also known as mafa (hemp flower), which was handed down from the Peking region in ancient times. Its name comes from its shape, which resembles that of hemp thread, known as yoriyori in Nagasaki.
Kamaboko - The basic ingredients of kamaboko are fresh local fish such as lizardfish, horse mackerel, and sardines.
Shopping – Overview
Nishi-Hamanomachi – One can access this massive enclosed shopping arcade from up to four streetcar stops, the easiest of which are the ones marked “Hamanomachi.” There are abundant restaurants, coffee shops, clothing stores, hair salons, and multi-level electronics stores.
Youme Saito - To be found next to Dejima Wharf in downtown Nagasaki, this multi-storey shopping plaza offers a range of stores and services, including a Starbucks, travel agent, a grocery store in the basement, and of course, a grand selection of clothing stores.
AMU Plaza – Next only to the Nagasaki station tram stop, AMU Plaza houses several stores that might interest people, together with a book shop and with a huge arcade.
Chitosepia – Found next to the Chitose-machi tram stop, with several clothes stores on the second and first floor as well as an arcade on the second floor. Several restaurants are in the basement as well as a grocery store. The restaurants include Japanese food, a curry restaurant and an Italian restaurant.
Seiyu – It is the shopping centre of Seiyu. Haagen-Dazs ice cream shop and a McDonald's are right in front. With almost anything anyone could want, from book store to clothing stores to electronic stores, Seiyu has it all.
Attractions – Overview
One can never detach present-day Nagasaki from the calamitous events of World War Two; Nagasaki has a special history within Japan. The foundation of the modern metropolitan area was built by Portuguese commercial concerns in the 16th century. Nagasaki swiftly became a vital port city and hub of furious cultural exchange. Travellers to Nagasaki can get a rich taste of this matchless bequest via a number of extra special points of interest. The top five must see places of Nagasaki are:
· Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum
Nagasaki Peace Park puts it in frosty standpoint with bare stats on lives lost and property damage as a result of the nuclear blast. Seibou Kitamura’s graceful sculpture is what that stands out. Just beyond the park is the excellent Atomic Bomb Museum.
· Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
Visit this Museum of History and Culture to find out more about the metropolis before the “Fat Man” fell from the sky. The facility has a collection of close to 50,000 objects.
· Hashima/Gunkanjima
Hashima/Gunkanjima is 15 km from Nagasaki proper, with a purpose-built coal mine and industrial hub, the island is now a major tourist attraction. A non-profit group wants UNESCO to etch this place as “The Way to World Heritage Gunkanjima” on the World Heritage List.
· National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims
This is the brainchild of architect Akira Kuryu, this inventive space is a place to reflect the evil that man is capable of and hopefully, meditate on our combined prospects for peace.
· Glover Garden
Built for renowned Scottish merchant Thomas Blake Glover in 1863, this landmark is the oldest Western style house left in Japan and is the most popular attraction in Nagasaki.
Travelling to Nagasaki
Overview
By Flight
Both of Japan's major air carriers serve Nagasaki Airport. JAL and ANA offer nonstop flights from Haneda Airport in Tokyo and Osaka's Itami Airport. ANA also offers nonstops to Nagasaki from the new Nagoya Centrair Airport and Naha Airport in Okinawa, while JAL operates from Nagoya Airport in Komaki. In 2005, a new low-cost carrier, SNA (Skynet Asia Airways), began flights from Tokyo's Haneda Airport. Buses connect the airport to the Nagasaki train station (1 hour, ¥800).
Finding flights to Nagasaki can be a particularly tricky process, as the city has no connecting flights linking it with Japan's main international hubs at Tokyo Narita or Osaka Kansai.
Instead, the regular domestic flights serving Nagasaki operate in and out of Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Itami. A limited range of connecting flights is also available via Seoul (South Korea) or Shanghai (China).
By Train
JR Kyushu runs the Kamome Limited Express train service from Hakata station in Fukuoka once or twice every hour. The one-way ride takes about two hours and costs ¥4,910, although it's recommended to buy nimai-kippu (discount two tickets) for ¥6,000 or yonmai-kippu (discount four tickets: recommended if two people travel) for ¥10,000 (5,000 yen for round-trip per person). Connections to the Kamome can be made from the rest of the country via the Shinkansen (Hiroshima, 3 hrs; Okayama, 4 hrs; Osaka, 4 ½ hrs; Tokyo, 7 hrs). From Kagoshima-Chuo station in Kagoshima, Nagasaki can be reached via the Kyushu Shinkansen and Kamome in about 3 ¾ hours.
Sleeper Trains
One can travel overnight from Tokyo to Nagasaki; nevertheless one will have to take three trains: the 10 p.m Sunrise Seto/Sunrise Izumo overnight service to Okayama, the Shinkansen from Okayama to Hakata, and the Kamome from Hakata to Nagasaki. This will take a total of 13 hours, and if one’s willing to constantly change trains, you will be rewarded as your journey will double as lodging.
Lodging charges currently range from ¥9450 for a B solo to ¥10500 for a B single, to ¥16500 for an A single deluxe. If one really wants to travel on the cheap side, ¥3660 gets you your own floor space.
By bus
The Holland overnight bus runs from Kyoto and Osaka Umeda to Nagasaki (11 ½ hours from Kyoto, ¥11300; 10 hours from Osaka, ¥11000). An additional bus, the Roman Nagasaki, runs from Osaka Hankyu Bus Terminal to Nagasaki at the same cost and time.
The Princess Road and Etranger overnight buses run from Kobe Sannomiya (10 hours, ¥10500) and Himeji (9 hours, ¥9580).
Flights
Airport Information
Nagasaki airport is situated in Omura city, at the centre of Nagasaki Prefecture. And it takes about 40-60 minutes from Nagasaki city by car.
(Minutes from airport)
From Nagasaki: about 40-60 minutes / Form Sasebo: about 70 minutes
From Isahaya: about 30 minutes / From Shimabara: about 90 minutes
Airport Services
· There is an Information Desk providing information on the Airports' facilities and transport to and from the Airport located on the 1st floor.
· There’s an ATM (Automatic Teller Machine).
· Business Lounge (Azalea) is a public lounge open for all passengers. Charged at 1,050yen for the first 2 hours.
· Smoking Room - No smoking is allowed inside of Nagasaki Airport Passenger Terminal.
Please use a smoking room.
· Observation Desk - For send off and to see airplanes, feel free to enter the Observation Deck. There are grassed areas too.
· Massage Room (Kyushu Ryouin Nagasaki Airport branch) - Offer relaxing massages for your tired shoulders, waist and legs after a long flight.
· Coin Locker - There are 'key-less' lock system coin lockers.
· Foreign Exchange - At the Information Desk located on the first floor, they offer foreign exchange (US$ only).
· Internet Room - Internet corner is in two places (A total of five computers). Use them for your latency time at the airport or gathering information of trip.
· Free Wi-Fi [FREE SPOT] - There are 2 Wi-Fi spots. Location: 2nd Floor Business Support Centre,
2nd Floor, ‘Azalea’ Business Lounge.
· Business Support Centre - Open for your business needs, Location: 2nd Floor.
· Baby Care Centre - There are 3 baby change facilities at the Airport, 2 of which offer hot water for milk.
· All Purpose-Rest Room - The multipurpose restroom is accessible to wheelchair users, and also to the pregnant women, elderly people and a person with a small child.
· Install barrier free elevator - The airport building is equipped with the barrier free elevators. And the textured paving blocks are also installed.