Mt. Inasayama Observatory | Review by 一個漸漸喜歡上慢旅的人

When visiting the classic hillside attractions of Glover Garden and Oura Cathedral in Nagasaki, you definitely shouldn’t miss the extremely popular Nagasaki Minamiyamate Pudding Main Store, located on the slope.

I recommend visiting before the lunchtime crowds arrive. Not only can you avoid the packed tourist crowds, but you can also enjoy this local specialty at a leisurely pace in front of the cozy, retro storefront. The pudding has a dense, smooth texture and a rich egg flavor, and you can even see the vanilla seeds. Every bite is full of genuine, delicious goodness. Besides the signature pudding, the shop’s specialty soft-serve ice cream is also very popular. Its silky texture and rich milky flavor keep you coming back for another bite. Japanese ice cream really is unforgettable.

Enjoying a dessert as you stroll along the slope not only perfectly satisfies a sweet tooth, but also adds a sweet memory to this exotic walk through Nagasaki.

Dejima, which preserves the memory of Japan’s only point of foreign trade during the country’s period of isolation, is a man-made island steeped in history. As you stroll around, you can visit faithfully reconstructed Dutch trading houses and warehouses and see how residents lived at the time. There are even staff members walking around in traditional period clothing, instantly transporting you back in time and making the experience feel very immersive.

After the historical tour, I made a special trip to a tucked-away shop nearby called “雪氷らんかん,” run by an elderly Japanese man. Because of Nagasaki’s hilly terrain, the shop looked close on the map, but it took me a while and some effort to find it. The shop serves shaved ice made with real fruit, and I was lucky enough to try the rich Mont Blanc shaved ice that day. Watching the owner slowly and carefully prepare the dessert, with Japanese news playing in the background, I felt the warmth of the local community in the cozy little space. If you visit Dejima, I recommend adding a food stop to your itinerary as well.

I’ve been to Nagasaki twice, both times thanks to riding the TWO STARS 4047, which gave me the chance to visit this city again. The iconic Megane Bridge was included in my itinerary both times. My first visit was in the evening, when the stone arch bridge was reflected on the water in the setting sun, joining with the bridge piers to form a dreamlike pair of glasses. You can also look for the hidden heart-shaped stone in the nearby stone wall, which is a lot of fun. The second time, I went during the day and experienced a different kind of refreshing scenery, with the clear river water and old stone bridge complementing each other.

Although Megane Bridge itself is a small attraction, the surrounding area has an excellent selection of food. Besides stopping by the nearby Nagasaki castella shop Shooken to enjoy my favorite dessert, don’t miss Yossou, known for its century-old chawanmushi tradition and its quaint building that looks like the bathhouse from Spirited Away. This area perfectly combines strolling around the city with classic local food, making it a double treat not to be missed in Nagasaki.