Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki Prefecture boasts a population of 1.34 million and is made up of approximately 970 islands. The Prefecture is steeped in history and each area tells a different side of the history, such as the Iki Island – mention is made of a country called “Iki” (Iki-koku) in the Gishi Wajinden (Legends of the Wa People” chapter of the ancient Chinese text Record of the Three Kingdoms, Goto) – was the last port of call on the Japanese missions to Tang China, Tsushima island – an important location that played a vital role in the Japan-Korea diplomatic relationship and friendship, Hirado and Nagasaki – both helped to act as a bridge to the Western world, and Shimabara Peninsula – where Christianity flourished. Furthermore, remnants of the industries that helped build a foundation for the modern industries that Nagasaki currently has can be found all across the prefecture. Nagasaki is also home to many cultural properties, including the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, “Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution” and the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region”.