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.

Mostly went for the food, which was often a blend of Japanese and some other culture's cuisine.

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.

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”...

I did get to meet someone famous in Japanese history...

The Glover Garden (the former home of Scottish merchant Thomas Glover) is a pleasant hillside garden offering many pretty views of the area.

This elevator just outside the back gate of the garden was particularly interesting, as this close-up crop from the above image shows:

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.