9-image panorama — map & image data — nearby photos
Nagasaki Bay
from Thomas Glover's house
or click through to a 13,000-pixel-wide version
We spent a rainy weekend in Nagasaki (長崎). Nagasaki, Japan is most famous internationally for its place in mid-20th-century history, but for hundreds of years it was most famous as the only foreign gateway into Japan, and as such it has a unique and colorful old-world international vibe along the twisty streets sewn over its steep hillsides. It has particularly strong Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese influences.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 60mm — 1/100 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Streetcar Tracks
along with the hills and the international vibe, calls San Francisco to mind
Mostly went for the food, which was often a blend of Japanese and some other culture's cuisine.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 38mm — 1/160 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Cheesy “Netherlands Pot”
かまど番屋の「オランダ鍋」
Unlike Kyoto's purposefully-laid-out gridwork of streets (which is quite rare in Japan), Nagasaki's streets have developed organically by many combined cultures over hundreds of years, branching into and around the many nooks and crannies of the very hilly area.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 52mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 250 — map & image data — nearby photos
View from the Hotel
Most areas of Japan try to have a confection that they're known for, so that visitors buy it to bring back as a representative gift for family and co-workers. Nagasaki's is castella (カステラ), a simple spongecake.
I had plenty of yummy castella on the trip, but I somehow neglected to venture into this “Castella Shrine”...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
“Castella Shrine”
unholy offspring of shameless marketing and cultural touchstones
I did get to meet someone famous in Japanese history...

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 31mm — 1/400 sec, f/3.5, ISO 4000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Me and Ryooma
The Glover Garden (the former home of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover) is a pleasant hillside garden offering many pretty views of the area.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26mm — 1/400 sec, f/3.5, ISO 500 — map & image data — nearby photos
Enjoying the View

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/400 sec, f/5, ISO 900 — map & image data — nearby photos
Swarm
the fish have trained humans to provide food

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 34mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 2000 — map & image data — nearby photos
Elevator Door
This elevator just outside the back gate of the garden was particularly interesting, as this close-up crop from the above image shows:

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 24mm — 1/400 sec, f/11, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Elevator Shaft

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 58mm — 1/1250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
View From an Opposing Hill

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 26mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 140 — map & image data — nearby photos
Same View as Above
from 149 years ago

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 70mm — 1/250 sec, f/2.8, ISO 6400 — map & image data — nearby photos
Sculpture Detail
outside a restaurant with heavy Chinese influences

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 42mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 1600 — map & image data — nearby photos
My Omelet
Fumie found an amazing flight+hotel deal for our trip. Adding an extra night at the hotel cost just $30 per-person, but that includes an amazing breakfast buffet that by itself goes for a well-worth-it $23. The trip was an excellent value.

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 28mm — 1/640 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
ANA Crowne Plaza Gloverhill
our hotel, next to the aforementioned Glover Garden

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 100 — map & image data — nearby photos
Merge

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 55mm — 1/400 sec, f/2.8, ISO 640 — map & image data — nearby photos
Chinese Influence

Nikon D4 + Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 66mm — 1/400 sec, f/8, ISO 800 — map & image data — nearby photos
Typical Path
narrow, winding, steep
Thanks for your spectacular shot and introduction of Nagasaki, a city exuding exotic vibe.