Travel Guide of Scenic Byway Kyushu

Q-❸Nagasaki Sunset Highway
Matsuura, Hirado, Sasebo, Saikai, Nagasaki City, and SasaTown (Nagasaki Pref.)－Hidden Christian, Sunset Road, and World Culture Heritage－

From the 17th to the 19th century (Edo period), the Shogunate issued the Edict of National Isolation, and banned foreign travel andtrade. Under these circumstances, trade with the Netherlands andChina was officially approved only at Nagasaki Port. As a result,the Nagasaki region has developed an exotic regional civilization.
The scenic spots of "Nagasaki Sunset Highway" have been
proposed by utilizing these local resources. As shown on the map,
this scenic route extends from Matsuura and Hirado in thenorthern part of Nagasaki Prefecture to the southern part ofNagasaki City via the Nishisonogi Peninsula, and the entire region
consists of remote islands and peninsulas.
The total length of the main route is 280 km, which is the longestof the 15 scenic routes in Kyushu, and is connected by the nationalroads No.204, 202 and 499.
(Access). The main access points are Nagasaki Airport, Nagasaki
Station on the Nagasaki Main Line, and Sasebo Station on theSasebo Line. Nagasaki Expressway andNishikyushu Expressway are alsoavailable.
(Scenic Resources). The area of Nagasaki
Sunset Highway extends from the north tothe south of Saikai National Park. Although the region's landscape resources areabundant, you can list up three main items:(a) Sunset over the East China Sea, (b) History of Hidden Christians, and (c) World Industrial Heritage. They are interesting andimportant to all visitors.
Christianity was introduced to Hirado
Island in the 16th century and spreadthroughout the region. However, the Edo(3) St.Francisco de Xavier MeShogunate promulgated a Christian ban,morial Church. (Hirado City)
stepped on Christ's paintings, and tortured
them to abandon Christianity in somecases. Therefore, their religion has been
kept secret for about 300 years in the Edo
period, and we call them "hiddenChristians".
In the Meiji era (1873), the Christian ban
was officially lifted, Christianity wasrevived, and many churches were built.
The history of hidden Christians, and(7) Sunset of Westrelated assets in the Edo period are an
Sea in Sotome Disimportant heritage of this route, and manytrict, Nagasaki.

(8) Peace Statue of Nagasaki Peace Park in GroundZero. (Nagasaki City).

1(1) Samurai Navy of Matsuura
Party in 15th century.

(2) Hirado Castle for Matsuura Clan. (2) Hirado Harbor which flourished in Foreign Trade in 16th century, and CBD.

places in this area were registered as World Culture Heritage Sitesin 2018.
Another scenic resource is the sunset over the west coast ocean.
In the evening, you can see the wonderful red sunset over the western most horizon of the Japanese archipelago.
The third is "Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution Heritage" of coalmines, shipbuilding and steel-making, which were actively carriedout from the 1850s to the 1910s. The eight assets registered asworld heritage sites are in the Nagasaki area, and account for morethan one-third of the 23 properties in Japan.
By allocating these local resources, the scenic spots of "Nagasaki
Sunset Highway" can be divided into five blocks: Matsuura, Hirado,
Sasebo, Saikai, and Nagasaki. Based on them, you can track thelandscape spots as follows (see map and photos):(2) Reconstruction Building of Hirado-Netherlands Trading Post.

Imari Bay due to the typhoon, and were not occupied. In moderntimes, as evidence of this, remnants and relics of the ships of thattime were discovered and salvaged from the seabed. They are
exhibited at the Takashima History and Folklore Museum and you
can see them.
Another interesting island is Fukushima. The island has
terraced paddy fields (Tanada) and wild camelia trees. On the coast,magma (black basalt), which has solidified through the sandstonelayer, can be found in the shape of funnel or wall.

(1) Matsuura Area facing with Genkai Nada Sea
The Matsuura area consists of a peninsula facing Imari Bay andmany islands. Therefor, there are many regional resources related
to the sea, but here we will introduce the following two islands thatcan be crossed from National Route 204 by bridge.
In the island of Takashima, there was a tragic battle in the 13thcentury due to the invasion of Mongorian army. In other words, theSamurai navy (Matsuura Party) desperately fought the Mongolian
forces in this area, and many Mongolian warships were sunk in(3) Rock Columns in Ikitsuki Isle. (Hirado City)(3) Houki Kyokai Church. (Hirado City)(4) Kujyuku Shima which gather more than 200. (Sasebo City).

(2) Tabira Tenshudo Church. (Hirado City).

(5) Theme Park “Huis Ten Bosch”. (Sasebo City)2

(2) & (3) Hirado Islands Block.
The Hirado area was ruled by
the Matsuura clan in the Edo period, and the base was Hirado Castle. Christianity was introduced to
the Hirado region by Francisco deXavier in 1594, and many people
became Christians. However, inthe Edo period, they suffered forthe prohibition of Christianity.
Asmentionedearlier,
Christianity revived at the end of
the 19th century, most people
returned to Catholicism and built
churches, but some believers didnot. There were Christians
worshiping nature without being
able to obtain a leader under the
Christian ban, but they did not
return. Christians living inIkitsukijima Island and in theKasugamura of Hiradojima Island
still worship Nakanoshima, Mount
Amman, or the graves of martyrs,
while retaining the 16th-century
Christian form.
In addition, there are many interesting sceneries such as the Shiotawara Cliff, Kawauchi Pass, Hirado Castle and the site where aDutch trading house was restored.

(7) Shitsu Kyoukai Church. (Nagasaki City).

(7) Oono Kyoukaido Church. (Nagasaki City)(9) World Heritage of Hashima Coal Mine (Hashima Isle, Nagasaki). (8) Glover House (World Heritage. Nagasaki)(8) Nagasaki City just after Atomic Bombing.

(8) Night View of current Nagasaki City which has revived.

(4) Sasebo City, and (5) Theme
Park of “Huis Ten Bosh”.
Sasebo City is a naval town.
Warships of Japanese Maritime
Self-Defense Force and US Navyenter and leave Sasebo Port. The
Sasebo Heavy Industries Group,
which is attached to the harbor,(8) “Meganebashi” (Stone Bridge with two(8) Monument for 26 Saints on the Hill of
promotes technological innovation
Arches in Nagasaki City)
Nishizaka. (Nagasaki City)of vessels while maintaining its industrial heritage. Please enjoy theIf you go south from Kujukushima, the popular theme park withsightseeing at Sasebo Port.
the image of a Dutch town,"Huis Ten Bosch", can be found. Due toOn the other hand, About 200 small islands floating in the Goto
the large size and number of shows, a careful tour for the theme
Sea are collectively called “Kujuku Islands”. You can see thesepark may take more than a day.
magnificent views from the hills.
(6) Saikai City in Nishi Sonogi Peninsula.

(8) Nagasaki Harbor which is surrounded by many
Sites of World Industrial Heritage.

(8) Lanthanum Festival in the Chinatown. (February. Nagasaki City)

3(8) Jya-Odori (Snake-Dance) in Nagasaki-Kunchi
Festival. (October. Nagasaki City)In this area, coal mines were operating on the seabed, but they
were abolished in the 1970s. In such a difficult situation, Oshima inSaikai City was reborn as a island of shipbuilding. As a result, theisland becomes more active in fishery and shipbuilding, and you cansee its recovery as you cross Oshima Bridge.
Nakaura Julian Memorial Park in Saikai City is another attraction. In the 16th century, Julian Nakaura visited Europe on behalfof the Mission of Youths to the West in the Tensho Era. After returning home, he supported the hidden Christians as a priest, but
was executed in 1633 at Nishizaka Hill, Nagasaki City.
(7) Sotome Area in Nishi-Sonogi Peninsula.
The coastal area of the Nishi-sonogi Peninsula is a poor Christianvillage with seaside hills and sunsets. In other words, this area isthe stage of the Christian historical novel "silence" written by EndoShusaku. Hidden Christians experienced many difficulties becauseof their faith, in addition to poor land. Jesus spoke to the suffering
Christians and gave them salvation. "I wasn't silent. I was sufferingwith you".
Indeed, the French missionary, Marc-Marie de Rotz (Father DeLo), did a great deal of effort to help them in the late Edo period.
Rescue facility and churches were built in areas of Shitsu and Oonoareas. People gratefully thanked him for his dedication and built
his statue. You can see it on the hillside.

shown in the photo. We also recommend visiting various longbridges.

(5) Saikai Bridges (1955, 2006. Sasebo City and Saikai City)(2) Hirado Bridge (1977, Hirado City)(8) Nagasaki City
Since the Edo period, the Nagasaki region has developed aunique culture that fuses the civilizations of Japan, China and theNetherlands. However, in World War II, Nagasaki was destroyedby the atomic bomb and lost everything. Nagasaki City has overcome the misery after the war and revived as an exotic city.
Therefore, in addition to local nature and history, it is very
important to visit the Nagasaki region and understand the townthat has recovered from the big damage caused by atomic bomb.
Peace Park of Ground Zero and Nishizaka Hill for 26 Saints areworth visiting aside. In addition, Nagasaki is a "World Industrial
Heritage in the Meiji era" and has many historical heritage.
The artificial island "Dejima" that was built for trade in the Edo
period has been rebuilt as a theme park to the present day. An oldarched stone bridge is in the city centre. Also, as shown in the photo,
the colorful lantern festival is held in Chinatown every February,
and the harvest festival "kunchi" at Suwa Shrine is held every
October. The tourist city of Nagasaki is full of attractions, so pleaseenjoy yourself.
(9) Southern Area of Nagasaki Peninsula
Takashima and Hashima for submarine coal mines are located
off the Nagasaki Peninsula and are designated as World Industrial
Heritage Sites. Especially Hashima is called “Gunkanjima (warship island)” (see photo). Many of the mining facilities remain after
the closure, and the process of disappearance can be observed, andmany people can understand the transition and importance of modern industry. In this sense, these heritage sites are unique scenic
spots not found on any other route and are well worth a visit.

(3) Ikitsuki Bridge (1991, Hirado City)(1) Hizen-Takashima Bridge (2009, Matsuura City)(Notes) Long-span Bridges in Nagasaki Sunset Highway.
The route of "Nagasaki Sunset Road" consists of remote islands
and peninsulas. For this reason, in Nagassaki Prefecture, manybridges were built tofacilitate transportation during the post-war
economic growth period. They are bridges across the straits, notriver bridges. While gaining technology from the world, various
types of bridges were built and as the result, eight bridges with alength of 500 meters or more were created. The typical bridges are(8) Ioujima Bridge (2011, Nagasaki City)
Publishing and Copyright:Promotion Conference of Kyushu
Scenic Byways ○C (Copyright 2020. All Rights Reserved).

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