Traditional Japanese diner called Gaiseki-ryori(會席料理) after onsen bathing in Unzen(雲仙) is just unforgettable.

I needed some fresh air. It was one summer day when its everyday atmosphere was getting hotter and wetter, making me helpless. I felt like a polar bear at a zoo in Equatorial Guinea. This symptom means, “It’s time to go out and kick some ass”; thus, I headed to Nagasaki-ken(長崎県), Japan, in August 2009. It supposed to be only 3 days of refreshing, but gave me a lot more days of relief, dreaming of some exotic days there.

Seriously, don’t go there in August! It’s bloody hot and wet; wet like seawater-salty wet! Temperature during daytime is easily more than 30 Celsius, and stickily salty sea-wind makes you quickly eager for at least 10 beers at the spot.

Its effect itself is, however, just for sure; as soon as you come back to your hometown(providing that your hometown is locating more Northern than Nagasaki), you will fall in love (again) with your home – Home sweet home, mother!

Excepting these weather facts, Nagasaki-ken is one of the most recommended regions in Japan, both for longer “voyage” of 1-2 weeks and shorter hop-and-hop trip of 3-5 days. It has wide range of touristic and historic places, and the best Japanese hot-spa, or onsen(温泉; literally meaning hot spring). Plus, the sunset in Nagasaki port overlooking from Inasadake(稻佐岳) hilltop would be one of the beautifulest in the World, possibly.

Hot srping from the hell in Unzen(雲仙)

Hot srping from the hell in Unzen(雲仙) - hot and smelly due to sulfur in it.

Day 01 - 08 August 2009

  1. Incheon Airport [ICN - 인천공항; Incheon Gonghang] - South Korea
  2. Nagasaki Airport [NGS - 長崎空港; Nagasaki Kuko] – Japan
  3. Unzen(雲仙)
    : onsen bathing and traditional Japanese diner called Gaiseki-ryori(會席料理)
    : staying at Fukiya Hotel(富貴屋ホテル) – in a typical Japanese style room with nice view over onsen area; food as great as its room. [Rate] 8/10

Day 02 - 09 August 2009

  1. Unzen(雲仙)
  2. on the Road
  3. Nagasaki(長崎)
    : Walking around historic area and enjoying sunset from Inasadake hilltop
    : staying at Nagasaki ANA Hotel Gloverhill(長崎全日空ホテルグラバーヒル) – nothing beats its closer location to Gloverhill; meanwhile everything else is challengeable. [Rate] 5/10
Nagasaki sunset overlooking from Inasadake(稻佐岳) hilltop

Nagasaki sunset overlooking from Inasadake(稻佐岳) hilltop; always crowded with lovers.

Day 03 - 10 August 2009

  1. Nagasaki(長崎)
    : Gloverhill and a-bomb memorial area
  2. Nagasaki Airport [NGS - 長崎空港; Nagasaki Kuko] – Japan
  3. Incheon Airport [ICN - 인천공항; Incheon Gonghang] - South Korea

Transportations

  • Getting There & Away
    1 hour of direct flight between Incheon Airport(ICN), South Korea ↔ Nagasaki Airport(NGS), Japan. Cheap last minute tickets from/to Japan are abundant and easy to get in Seoul.
  • Getting Around
    Rent-a-car from Toyota rent-a-car under http://rent.toyota.co.jp/top.asp (in Japanese) and http://rent.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html (in Eglish). English reservation is available through international phone call to Japan, and it’s very easy. Rates are reasonable.