Japan’s oldest stone bridge is no place to make a spectacle of yourself unless you want double vision. Built in 1634 and carefully restored using recovered stone after the 1982 floods – 537mm of rain in 3 days flooded the city killing 299 people. The Spectacle Bridge is a good selfie spot and a fine meader along the 10 river crossings.
We got there after a 5am departure from Busan for a 40 minute flight. Immediately Japan is different, even from the road. Small holdings amid low rise housing and small fields. Lots of products on sale from vending machines. And back to a civilised driving on the left.
Why do Japan drive on the left? For old and new reasons. Samurai warriers were right handed so they carried their swords on the left. To avoid conflict of clashing swords when passing on narrow paths, they grew accustomed to walking on the left. Them British engineers consolidated this when invited in to build Japan’s [railway] infrastructure in the 19C. It was passed into law in 1924.
After a 2hour drive we arrive in the centre of Nagasaki. Founded by the Portugese would you believe in the 16C and then grew as a port between then and the 19C, based on sugar amongst other things. The population is some 400000, so like a large Cardiff.
Of course the reason most of us have heard of it was the plutonium bomb (Fat Boy) of 9 August 1945, killing 35000, about 10% of the population. Rebuilt and reconstructed, it remains an important port.
It also has a high density of temples, many dating to the 17C. Buddhism seems to have many sects. Inscrutable.
Tomorrow bike rebuilding and an explore.
Travelling reflections 