Museum sights in Kyūshū
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Saigō Nanshū Kenshō-kan
Displays at the Saigō Nanshū Kenshō-kan tell of Saigō Takamori and the failed rebellion. Although the Great Saigō had played a leading part in the Meiji Restoration in 1868, in 1877 he had second thoughts about the curtailment of samurai power and status, and this led to the ill-fated Satsuma Rebellion. Kumamoto's magnificent castle was burnt down during the rebellion but when defeat became inevitable, Saigō retreated to Kagoshima and committed seppuku (ritual suicide by disembowelment).
Despite his mixed status as both a hero and villain of the Restoration, Saigō is still a towering figure in the history of Japan. His square-headed features and bulky stature are…
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B
Nagasaki Museum of History & Culture
This large, excellent museum opened in 2005 to focus on Nagasaki's proud history of international exchange. The main gallery is a fabulous reconstruction of a section of the Edo-period Nagasaki Magistrate's Office, which controlled trade and diplomacy. The free English-language audioguide is one of the best in the country.
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C
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
An essential Nagasaki experience, this sombre place recounts the city's destruction and loss of life through photos and artefacts, including mangled rocks, trees, furniture, pottery and clothing, first-hand accounts from survivors and stories of heroic relief efforts. Exhibits cover Japan's military prewar aggression and the postbombing struggle for nuclear disarmament, and conclude with a chilling illustration of which nations still bear nuclear arms.
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Nagai Takashi Memorial Museum
The courage and faith of one man in the face of overwhelming adversity is the subject of this small but quietly moving museum. Already suffering from leukaemia, Dr Nagai survived the atomic explosion but lost his wife to it. He immediately devoted himself to the treatment of bomb victims until his death in 1951. In his final days, he continued to write prolifically and secure donations for survivors and orphans, earning the nickname 'Saint of Nagasaki'. Ask to watch the video in English.
Next door is Nyokodō (如己堂), the simple hut from which Dr Nagai worked – its name comes from the biblical commandment 'love thy neighbour as thyself'.
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D
Hakata Machiya Furusato-kan
Spread over three machiya (traditional town houses), this newly renovated folk museum re-creates a Hakata nagare (neighbourhood unit) from the late Meiji era. The replica buildings house historical photos and displays of traditional Hakata culture, festivals, crafts and performing arts, as well as recordings of impenetrable Hakata-ben (dialect). Artisans are frequently on hand offering demonstrations.
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E
Hihōkan Sex Museum
Among the Kannawa hells, this sex museum spans the lurid to the bawdy: erotic ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), natural and sculpted objects shaped like private parts, and a depiction of Snow White we frankly wish we hadn't seen.
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Shōko Shūseikan
The museum of Shōko Shūseikan, adjacent to Sengan-en, once housed Japan's first factory, built in the 1850s. Exhibits relate to the Shimazu family - in fact most of the 10,000 items are precious heirlooms, including ancient scrolls, military goods and pottery. The art of kiriko (cut glass) has been revived at an on-site workshop.
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F
Dejima Museum
The small museum, a cluster of small buildings, has exhibits on the Dutch and other foreign contact with Nagasaki, and free walking-tour maps of the entire site. Although the island was submerged during 19th-century land-reclamation projects, the trading post, now a national historic site, has been restored.
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G
Fukuoka City Museum
The Fukuoka City Museum displays artefacts from local history and culture, the pride of the museum being an ancient 2.3 sq cm, 109g golden seal with an inscription proving Japan's historic ties to China.
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26 Martyrs museum
Just next door the memorial wall, which commemorates the murder of the 26 Christians who died here in the 16th-century, this musuem houses Christianity-related displays. The memorial is five minutes' walk from JR Nagasaki station.
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Historical Museum of China
This glossy museum of Chinese art spans jade artefacts and Neotlithic archaeological finds to terracotta warriors and Qing-dynasty porcelain, much of it on loan from the Palace Museum in Beijing. There's also a large gift shop.
The jauntily painted Kōshi-byō (長崎孔子廟) shrine nearby claims to be the only Confucian shrine built by and for Chinese outside of China, and the statues of sages in its courtyard certainly make you feel like you've journeyed across the sea. The original 1893 building was destroyed by fire following the A-bomb explosion.
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Nyokodō
Dr Nagai's small hut is preserved as a memorial next door to the memorial musuem also named after him. Dr Nagai Takashi devoted himself to the treatment of bomb victims until his death in 1951.
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Nagasaki Museum of History & Folklore
Exhibits antique household items such as fishing lures, dolls, cookware and so on, which one rarely gets to see. A 'hands on' room allows children of all ages to play around.
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Hong Kong & Shanghai Bank Nagasaki Branch Museum
This historic museum is also worth a peek. It has high ceilings, burnished wood banisters, several displays, and signage in English, French, and Chinese.
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Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Museum
This has a display of dragons and floats used in the colourful Kunchi Matsuri. You'll walk through the museum as you exit hte Clover garden.
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Hirano Library
Near Takegawara Onsen, the Hirano Library is a private institution with historical exhibits and photographs of the Beppu area.
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Kushida-jinja
Kushida-jinja has displays of Hakata festival floats on the grounds, and a local history museum .
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Mitsubishi No 2 Dock building
Has displays about the city's important shipyard.
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Kushida-jinja
Kushida-jinja has displays of Hakata festival floats on the grounds, and a local history museum .
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Shimada Museum of Art
Through the winding backstreets south of Honmyō-ji (about 20 minutes on foot), this quiet museum displays the calligraphy and scrolls of Miyamoto Musashi (1584–1645), samurai, artist and strategist. Current artists' work is on display in adjoining galleries.
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Nagasaki City Museum of History & Folklore
This old-fashioned case museum highlights the connections between Japanese, Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese cultures here in Nagasaki, with antique items relating to daily life, plus a toy display. It's inside the Nagasaki Peace Hall building.
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Miyazaki Science Centre
Only steps away from Miyazaki Station, this interactive science museum boasts one of the world's largest planetariums; some shows also include English translations.
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Kyūshū National Museum
Built into the tranquil hills of Dazaifu and reached through a colour-shifting tunnel, this striking structure (built in 2005) resembles a massive space station for the arts. Highlights include Jōmon pottery, a fascinating Silk Road exhibit, stone carvings of AD 1st-century women with spears on horseback and a delicate 13th-century oil-spot tenmoku tea bowl. Self-guided audio tours and HD video theatre are free, and there's a wonderful 'please touch' section for the youngest visitors. The architect was Fukuoka's own Kikutake Kiyonori, who also built the Edo-Tokyo Museum.
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Hikiyama Festival Float Exhibition Hall
Contains the 14 amazing floats used in the annual Karatsu Kunchi Matsuri. Floats include the Aka-jishi (Red Lion, constructed 1819), samurai helmets, and the auspicious phoenix and sea bream. There's good signage in English, and a video shows festival scenes. It's near scenic Karatsu-jinja, the shrine which sponsors the festival.
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Gamadas Dome Mt Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall
About 3km south of the town centre, this excellent high-tech museum about the 1991 eruption and vulcanology in general is plonked eerily at the base of the lava flow. Get the free English audioguide, and visit the lifelike simulation theatre.
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