Dejima
Dejima
During the isolationist foreign policy period (Sakoku) that prohibited Japanese from leaving Japan as well as foreigners from entering the country between 1641-1859, Dejima Island in Nagasaki was the only area in Japan that was open to trade with foreign countries. Dejima is a small, fan-shaped artificial island that is about 1.5 hectares big. At that time, Japan mainly traded with the Netherlands through Dejima. Houses and warehouses on the island were built in a very unique style of architecture, a harmonious mixture of Western elements and Japanese ones. As time went on and the rest of Japan became open to the international world, Dejima’s function came to an end. However, the site was later recognized as an important cultural relic of historical value and began to be restored in the 1950s. Now, you can visit the restored buildings and see a lot of people in classic costumes walking around. It truly seems like a historical theme park. Although located on the modern street of Nagasaki city, when you step inside the gates of Dejima, you will feel like you are going back in time.