Fat Man Atomic Bomb: Nagasaki City

The Fat Man Atomic Bomb is the code name for the atomic bomb that was detonated over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945.  It was the second of two nuclear weapons to be used in warfare to date (the other being The little Boy over Hiroshima) and its detonation caused the third man-made nuclear explosion.

The Atomic Bomb was an implosion type weapon with a plutonium core compared to Hiroshima that was a Uranium type weapon therefore its intensity and detonation impact was expected to be many times more powerful and destructive than that of Hiroshima days earlier.

At the moment of the explosion there was a brilliant flash of light, ten seconds later an enormous roar sounded and a fearful blast swept across the area.  Sharp rays of heat emitted massive amounts of radiation all over Nagasaki within seconds and because there were no barriers to the spread of radiation huge amounts of Nagasaki, were destroyed almost instantaneously.

People didn't feel anything abnormal, as this radiation didn't produce sound or heat but in actuality it had permeated deep into their bodies and affecting them greatly.  The temperature directly under the explosion was estimated to be somewhere from 3,000 to 4,000 degrees Celsius.  The force of the blast and the heat rays unleashed immediate destructive power and then fires broke out which severely damaged one third of the buildings in the city with all buildings inside a 2 kilometer radius of the explosion burnt to ashes.

Please check out the Fat Man Atomic Bomb at the Nagasaki Peace Park Museum on the map below.

 

Below are a few photos that I took from the Nagasaki Peace Park Museum that shows the full destructive powers of the Nagasaki Fat Man Atomic Bomb and its course of destruction.

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

The Fat Man Bomb

 English Subtitles

Interactive displays

Teary stories

Interesting displays

Click on the video below to see more about the Atomic Bomb Museum in Nagasaki.

Mojiko Station- Kitakyushu: Fukuoka Prefecture

Well if there are train enthusiasts out there and this is your thing, then I have found the right place for you to visit and its right here in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture.

Mojiko Train is a throw back to the good ole days.  The Station is built in a Neo Renaissance style and is designed to impact feelings of nostalgia with the public.  Mojiko Station was first built in 1914 and is one of only a handful of Wooden Built Stations that still exists in Japan today.

It was a real pleasure to walk around the area which is now aptly called Mojiko Retro.  There are many old restored buildings and a rather beautiful boardwalk with fabulous water views.  However the real magic is inside the Station itself.  Many old pictures hanging on the walls, videos to be viewed and waiting rooms that are designed to transport you back in time to a period where train travel was the highlight of ones trip.

Interestingly enough, there is a Starbucks in the Station that also shows many older styles of Logo`s from its beginning days, so if you are a Starbucks fan then this will just add to your satisfaction levels.  There is also a nice restaurant upstairs and although I didn`t eat here I have been told by many people that the food is excellent and as an old fashioned feel to it.

Overall, I was rather delighted with this visit and plan to make it a regular attraction on my Fukuoka Day Tours itinerary.

Please look here to see Mojiko Station on a map:

 

Please click on the pictures below to enlarge:

Starbucks Logos

This is Mojiko

Old styled rooms

Retro Styled

Please click on the video`s to see more of Mojiko Station:

Fukuoka International Cruise Terminal: Fukuoka City

If you arriving into Fukuoka on a Cruise Ship then the chances of you arriving at the Fukuoka Cruise Terminal at the Central Hakata Wharf are probably 99.99% so.

The new Cruise Terminal was recently constructed to handle the larger volumes of Cruise Ships coming in from China, Mainland Asia and from destinations from around the world.  All the big Cruising companies berth at Fukuoka, with a total of 237 Major Ports of Call in 2019, Fukuoka can be classified as a very popular and easily accessible location for the hundreds if thousands of visitors it has had over the years.

I took a peek the other day at its facilities on one of the rare days off and I can tell you I was very surprised at its modern and convenient location.  Taxi`s, buses, private pick up`s and drop off`s, convenience stores, money exchange facilities, a nearby (1 minute walk) Drug store to grab some health necessities are all within the Hakata Ports radius.

I will come on another day and check out the logistics when a Cruise Ship has docked as I want to be willing and ready for my 1st Fukuoka Tour.  At present I have the Full Day Driving Tour which can accomodate up to 7 passengers but I also have the half day walking and public transport Gourmet and Culture Tour.  Stay posted as I will have updates on both tours and its features in the next couple of weeks or so.

In the meantime please look below to see the Fukuoka Cruise Terminal on a map:

 

Please click on the photos below to enlarge.

Nagasaki Peace Park: Nagasaki City

The view of this peaceful park

Nagasaki Peace Park was born from the infamous day forever etched into history and the minds of those associated with this disaster.  The death toll was 74,000 people, with another 75,000 suffering injuries. Within a 1 kilometer radius of the hypocenter almost 90% of the people died.  Burns caused by the heat rays of the atomic bomb were severe, with the surface skin being completely burned and falling off thus leaving tissue and bone exposed.  People were thrown by the force of the blast and countless pieces of glass and other debris pierced their skin.  The radiation penetrated deep into people's bodies causing them to suffer injuries and diseases such as cancer and leukemia to this very day.

Remnants of the Urakami Cathedral

The original target for the bomb was the city of Kokura but obscuring clouds necessitated changing course to the alternative target, Nagasaki.  However because of poor visibility due to cloud cover the bomb missed its intended detonation point which was the Mitsubishi Shipyards and exploded over the suburban area of Urakami,  in effect killing mostly women and children and not the factory manufacturing area of War Machinery.  In many ways it is this misfortune that will label Nagasaki forever in history!

Nagasaki Peace Park today is a very peaceful place to stroll about and reflect on this frightening event in mankind's history.  Let's hope that the mistakes of the past are never repeated again and the world can live peacefully without Nuclear threats of destruction.  A walk around this solemn but special place always provides me with the strength and resolve that the mistakes of the past happen again and we should always do everything humanly possible to make this happen as a human race.

Our private Nagasaki Tours will finish the day here at the Nagasaki Peace Park as its a great place to fully reflect on what a great day was had.

Check out the Nagasaki Peace Park on this map below:

 

Symbol of Peace

Haunting image of Mother and Baby

                          

Please have a look at the video below to see more of the Nagasaki Peace Park: