Sofukuji Temple belongs to the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism. Originally built in 1629 for Nagasaki's Chinese residents, the temple is constructed in a Chinese architectural style and feels somewhat different to other temples in Japan.
Sofukuji is built along the slope of a hill. At the bottom stands the temple's two-stories tall entrance gate, Ryugumon (lit. Gate of the Dragon Palace). Like the rest of the temple, it is painted bright red. The gate was originally built in 1673, but was destroyed several times by fire and storms before the most recent reconstruction was completed in 1849.
Located further up the hillside, the temple's inner grounds contain several halls and a number of impressive artifacts such as statues and a temple bell that dates to 1647. The Buddha Hall was designed and cut in China before the pieces were shipped to Nagasaki and erected here in 1646. It remains one of the oldest buildings in the city.
The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is a remembrance to the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. Next to the museum is the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. The bombing marked a new era in war, making Nagasaki a symbolic location for a memorial. These locations symbolize the nuclear age, remind visitors of the vast destruction and indiscriminate death caused by nuclear weapons, and signify a commitment to peace.
The museum covers the history of the event as a story, focusing on the attack and the history leading up to it. It also covers the history of nuclear weapons development. The museum displays photographs, relics, and documents related to the bombing.
Oura Cathedral is the oldest wooden church of gothic architecture existing in Japan. It was built in 1864 by a French missionary, and was thus known by the people of Nagasaki at the time as the “French Temple”. This church was dedicated to the 26 martyrs who had been executed on Nishizaka Hill; the bronze statues in Oura Cathedral and on Nishizaka were built to face each other. This church has been designated as a national treasure.
One important story of this church is the “Discovery of the Flock”. In March 1865, hidden Christians from Urakami came to the cathedral and told the priest, Father Petitjean, that they were of the same faith as he was. When the Pope at the time heard the story of the Christian faith that had survived the centuries of harsh persecution, he was greatly moved and declared it to be the “Miracle in the East”.
