One Legged Torii Gate: Nagasaki City

The One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki City (gate entrance of a Shrine) is well known as one of the unanticipated consequences of the atomic bomb blast on August 9, 1945.  The epicenter of the bomb's destructive force was located approximately 800 meters from the Shrine and as a result, one support column was knocked down but the other somehow remained standing, even though it was rotated about 30 degrees on its pedestal base, and facing another direction than its original position.

Just to stand here now and see the remnants of the bomb and its effects on Nagasaki makes one realized how significant life really is. "The One-Legged Torii bears the scars of traumas past and still stands with determination" is a famous quote I once heard that really resonates with me and provides me inspiration whenever I am going through a tough time and need to re-evaluate what is really important in life.

The One Legged Torii Gate a real find and a place that pictures just don't do justice.  A little word of warning though, the actual location is situated above the road level and quite an amount of stair climbing is involved in getting to the place in point.

Pictures can be taken from below and will give you a sense of the power of the atomic explosion all those years ago but of course to get up close and personal and to touch the monument will give you so much more of a connection.  You will just have to conserve the amount of stairs you climb during the day and save them all up for the last and biggest climb of them all, you won't be disappointed!

Our Private Nagasaki and Shimabara Tours nearly always visits this site at the end of the day before returning to the Nagasaki Port which is only 10 minutes away.

Check out the One Legged Torii Gate in Nagasaki on this map below:

 

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

Lots of stairs

Great story

In all its glory

Still standing

Destroyed column

English info

Please check out the One Legged Torii Gates in the videos below: