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An Introduction to Nagasaki Prefecture

Past and Present

Nagasaki Prefecture has served as a base for exchange between Japan and foreign countries since early in Japan's history, linking Japan to China, Korea, and the more distant countries of the west. During the long period of national seclusion (1641 - 1859), Nagasaki was the only port in this country allowed to remain open for foreign trade, and against this background were laid the foundations of Nagasaki's unique and colorful character. For centuries, Nagasaki has been a welcoming place for foreign cultures and this legend lives on today in the open-minded, hospitable spirit of its people.
Nagasaki prefectures is located at the western extremity of the Japanese archipelago, and has a land area of 4,112 km², including some 600 outlying islands that make up 45% of the total area of the prefecture. Only 10% of the land area is "flatland" and 58% of the total area is comprised of forests.
The climate in Nagasaki is typically warm and rainy with an average annual temperature of 16.6^o Celcius and annual precipitation of 2,000 mm. According to the October 1, 1990 National Cencus, there were 1,562,000 people in the prefecture living in its eight cities, 70 towns and 1 village.

Major Cities

1. Nagasaki City
   Nagasaki City has a population of 437,000 and it is the political, economic and cultural center of Nagasaki Prefecture.
   Nagasaki is filled with enough attractions to provide even its life-long residents with a plethora of historical, cultural and scenic spots to explore many ways. Nagasaki can lay claim to the title of the most historically international city in all of Japan.
   Those who live in Nagasaki soon discover that most of the city is built onto the sides of the surrounding mountains and can be explored by navigating the city's characteristically narrow and winding streets. The city is divided into 348 different neighborhoods ("machi"), and instead of having just one "downtown" area. Nagasaki conveniently possesses several districts where many shops and other facilities are located in clusters. The largest of these are Sumiyoshi, Hama-no-machi, and Shindaiku-machi. The Urakami district has been known by that name since the days of the Christian settlement there, and lies in the Northern part of the city.

2. Sasebo City
   The population of Sasebo is 250,000 and it is the second biggest city of Nagasaki prefecture. Sasebo city is an about 90 minutes train journey away from Nagasaki city.
   Sasebo was just a small village, population 3,700, before 1886 when the Japanese goverment built a navy base here. Afterwards, Sasebo grew larger and larger. By the end of World War II the population became more than 300,000.
   It was after the end of World War II, that excellent natural view of the 99 islands was made open to the public because the zone was strictly restricted from a military viewpoint
   After World War II, efforts have been made for development of tourism capitalizing on the resources of sea and islands of natural beauty.

3. Isahaya City
   Isahaya is a quiet, pleasant city with (despite a population of 90,000) a strong rural atmosphere. Historically, during the Edo period. Isahaya was a stopover and communication centre on the old road to Nagasaki City. Today it maintains an important position as the major "crossroad" in Nagasaki prefecture, being the centre of arteries that run south to Nagasaki City, east to the Shimabara peninsula, northwest to Sasebo and northeast to Fukuoka. From this activity it has acquired the nickname of the "hub of Nagasaki-ken". Isahaya is also important as an agricultural centre having the largest flat plain in Nagasaki (in Ono-machi) and the first (est. 1907) agricultural high school in the prefecture.

   
   Reference datum:
   Nagasaki Foreign Students Guide,
   by Nagasaki Area Conference for Promoting Friendship with Foreign Students - March 1995.