The city of Hirado is located on Hirado Island in the northwestern part of Nagasaki Prefecture. It prospered as a castle town ruled by the feudal lord Matsu’ura. In 1609, the Hirado Dutch Trading House was established there, and as the area had an excellent natural port, Hirado became the central stage for trade with other countries, such as China, Holland and Portugal.

Early Western traders were accompanied by Christian missionaries, and the religion gained a bit of a foothold in Hirado and across Nagasaki Prefecture. However, as the religion’s influence grew, the Tokugawa Shogunate responded by expelling missionaries and banning Christianity for more than two centuries. Some Christian in Hirado continued to practice their religion secretly until the ban on Christianity was lifted in the Meiji Period.

Sasebo is the second-largest city in Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

With beautiful ocean scenery, the port town has a bright and hospitable atmosphere. Since a U.S. military base is located in Sasebo, there is a lot of Americanized shops to be found there.

Sasebo is home to the U.S. Navy base, Fleet Activities Sasebo or FAS, as well as a base for the Japan Self Defense Force. Sasebo is very English ready for travels and a great place to slow down and enjoy Japan. While most Japanese cities are very busy Sasebo is calm and Japanese at the same time.

About 15 minutes out of town, by train, is the area’s largest tourist attraction, Huis ten Bosch (Hausu ten Bosu), a Dutch-themed amusement park.

It was in honor of the 26 martyrs that the Oura church was built in 1864, at a time when Japan put an end to sakoku (the country being completely closed to foreigners) and when Christianity became permitted once more.

French Jesuits, members of the Paris Foreign Mission, were at the initiative of its construction: Ferret Louis and Bernard Petitjean, arrived from Paris with the ambition to relighting the torch of Christianity in Japan.

Oura was originally a small wooden church, more modest than the one that replaced it in 1879 and which now stands at the foot of Yamate Hill: a Gothic chapel with stucco and wood, sporting an octagonal steeple, which was probably built on the model of a Belgian church, of which the two missionaries brought a plan with them during their Japanese visit. This is the first western style building to have received the title of National Treasury (1933).

The city of Nagasaki, which for years prospered as a port of trade with Portugal, was also the window through which Christianity first arrived in Japan.

However, in 1587, Toyotomi Hideyoshi (the daimyo who unified Japan) decreed a ban on Christianity. This resulted in an incident known as “the execution of the 26 saints”. 26 Christians were rounded up in the cities of Kyoto, Osaka and Sakai, brought to Nagasaki via an overland route in large two-wheeled wagons, and executed at Nishizaka.

This marked the first significant incident of martyrdom in Japan and triggered the period of pervasive persecution and martyrdom that followed. In more recent history, Nagasaki became the second city after Hiroshima to be destroyed by an atomic bomb towards the end of World War II.

Unzen-Onsen is a hot spring town located in the treasure of nature, Japan’s oldest national park.

The town is divided into three areas: “Furu-yu,” “Shin-yu,” and “Shojigoku.” Each displays a unique atmosphere with white vapour emanating from the blowholes called “Unzen Jigoku,” the Hell of Unzen. It is a strong acid containing sulfur, which is said to have excellent antiseptic qualities and work, particularly well for making the skin beautiful.

The hells were once used to execute Christian rebels after the failed Shimabara Rebellion. Set along the paths is a monument dedicated to the said Christian martyrs who died in the hells. But today, its spring water has, the more pleasant task of warming up holiday makers in the Ryokan baths around town.

The Shimabara Peninsula is a popular hot spring and hiking destination that lies to the east of Nagasaki City.  Formed by the volcanic eruptions of Mount Unzen at its center, the peninsula was the site of several deadly volcanic eruptions, including recent eruptions in the 1990s  in which several people were killed and some outskirts of Shimbara City were destroyed.

The Shimabara Peninsula is also known for the Shimbara Rebellion, a significant peasant uprising during the Edo Period that involved many local Christians.

Kumamoto is the capital city of Kumamoto Prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan.

The city’s most famous landmark is Kumamoto Castle, a large and in its day, extremely well fortified Japanese castle. With its large castle grounds and a variety of buildings, Kumamoto Castle offers its visitors one of the most complete castle experiences in Japan. With about 800 cherry trees, the castle becomes a popular cherry blossom spot usually in late March and early April.

Dazaifu was established in the late 7th century and served as the administrative center of the entire island of Kyushu for over 500 years.

The city was built slightly inland from Hakata,  whose port was one of the main points of interaction between Japan and mainland Asia. Although the imperial court ruled the country from the Kansai Region, Dazaifu was pivotal for Japan’s diplomatic relations and organizing the country’s defenses.

Nowadays, Dazaifu is a small, quiet city on the outskirts of the large city of Fukuoka, from which it is perfect for a day trip. There are a number of temples and shrines, the most famous of which is the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine as well as sites related to Dazaifu’s role as the region’s administrative center, such as the Government Office Ruins.  In 2005 the massive Kyushu National Museum was opened to the public, making a great new addition to the city’s attractions.

Located in southern Japan, Fukuoka is unhurried. It is Kyushu’s largest and one of Japan’s ten most populated cities.

Because of its closeness to the Asian mainland (closer to Seoul than to Tokyo), Fukuoka has been an important harbor city for many centuries and was chosen by the Mongol invasion forces as their landing point in the 13^th century.

Today’s Fukuoka is the product of the fusion of two cities in the year 1889, when the port city of Hakata and the former castle town of Fukuoka were united into one city called Fukuoka.  The city is a great place to experience modern Japan. The locals are proud of the city’s bike paths, local baseball team – the Softbank Hawks, annual sumo tournament, festivals, and zen gardens.  No wonder Fukuoka was listed as the 12^th Most Liveable City in the World in 2013.

There is a charm about Fukuoka that one just has to experience.