Must-visit in June! Nagasaki city with a romantic atmosphere created by hydrangeas

Nagasaki city brims with colorful hydrangeas from late-May. “Nagasaki Otakusa Festival” is held now, so you can see  many historical spots covered with beautiful hydrangeas, such as Dejima and Siebold Memorial Museum, Glover Garden and Megane Bridge. Do you know Nagasaki’s hydrangea is a symbol of Siebold’s dramatic love story? Let’s stroll Nagasaki while seeing picturesque scenery filled with hydrangeas unique to June!

“Nagasaki Otakusa Festival’ allowing you to feel Siebold’s love

“Nagasaki Otakusa Festival” is a hydrangea festival hold until 16th June. About 20 different types of 3,500 hydrangeas color the whole Nagasaki city. Nagasaki’s Hydrangea was loved by Philipp Franz von Siebold, the German doctor who introduced Western medical science to Japan and laid the foundations for the study of Japan in Europe at the Edo era. He met and fell in love with Otaki-san (Taki Kusumoto) here, and they had a daughter, but Siebold was ultimately deported and separated from his beloved wife and daughter. After he returned to his home country, he named the hydrangea he brought back from Japan ‘Otakusa’ and introduced it to Europe. Then, this festival started to be called ‘Otakusa Festival.’ By the way, he could be reunited with his family 30 years later. In addition, you can enjoy not only viewing hydrangea which is a token of their love but also eating local food including ‘Nagasaki Soppu (soup)’ at 4 restaurants around Nagasaki station. 

Take a break time at “Kyu-Jiyutei” with viewing the sea and hydrangeas

Wanting to take a break time in the middle of strolling around Nagasaki, you should head to “Kyu-Jiyutei” in Glover Garden. It used to be ‘Jiyutei,’ the first Western restaurant in Japan. After having been relocated and reconstructed at the present place, it became an instagrammable coffee house with a retro atmosphere. Sit on an antique chair and enjoy a rich Dutch coffee extracted for 24 hours while viewing Nagasaki Bay and hydrangeas. When you’re hungry, please try Castella of Nagasakido, an old-established Castella specialty store, with coffee together.