Home from Away
Location – Sasebo, Nagasaki
Temperature – 7
Traveling northwest from Saga on the train line will eventually lead you to Sasebo, which is nestled near the border of Saga and faces the sea. It is located 50 km from Nagasaki city and hosts an active US Navy base. Some interesting facts about Sasebo include, it is the second-largest city in Nagasaki and, like Nagasaki city, is renowned for the hills that surround it. Due to the proximity of these hills, Sasebo is not particularly bicycle-friendly city and unlike Nagasaki city it does not have a tram line. Like most of Kyushu the climate is sub-tropical it does experience freezing temperatures during the winter and has a fair bit of rainfall due to its coastal position. Sasebo started as a small fishing village and was on the list of 17 cities which were considered potential targets for the atomic bomb. Its population experienced high around the 50’s but is now on the gradual decline.
After a stressful journey, I arrived in the harbour city and was greeted by a beautiful sight. The harbour was adorned with illuminations that seem to be a year-round event, changing with the seasons. Since I visited close to Valentine's Day, everything was themed around love, although some Christmas decorations were still up. The lights make for the perfect location to take some unique photos for a blog or even Instagram worthy!
I arrived late, so the illuminations really stood out. The walkway leading to the main shopping centre was particularly romantic, with red lights strung in the trees framing a white deer on the ground. The entire scene was very photogenic. The lights reflected in the sea, offering photography enthusiasts a great opportunity to capture stunning reflection shots. The lights up near the shopping centre are more themed with love hearts and a light tunnel set up. The small mound with the dinosaurs really stood out to me as why can’t a dinosaur find love? These two clearly had and they had an egg and baby!
The walk was enjoyable, and the city was vibrant. My hotel was conveniently located near the station and offered quite a bit of space for a typical business hotel. Check-in was smooth, despite my late booking; they had everything ready for me, allowing me to collapse onto the bed immediately. The view was beautiful, and Sasebo at night is simply spectacular. One thing I appreciate about this prefecture is its stunning nightscapes. Mount Inasa, which overlooks Nagasaki city, is famous for its breathtaking views at night and is very romantic. In fact, a friend of mine proposed to his partner up there, making it the first proposal featured in this blog! Nagasaki truly deserves the title of "the prefecture of love" that this blog has bestowed upon it.
A reason why Nagasaki can lay claim to several entries on many top 10-night views in Japan lists, is due to its geography. Nagasaki is hoarding all the islands! With 971 islands in its collection Nagasaki has taken the idea of catching them all to a whole new level! In fact, it is just shy of the current Pokémon count! With its many islands and beautiful mountains, there is plenty of elevation allowing people to get gorgeous panoramic views of its cities which tend to be nestled nicely along coastal positions.
So back to Sasebo! I promise I have a Nagasaki fact blog in the works.
My first day in Sasebo was spent exploring the shopping malls and searching for a good American-style diner that served chicken and waffles, as well as macaroni. Living in Japan has its pros and cons, and every so often, I crave familiarity—often in the form of food. Hopes Diner was just that: familiar. It is a cozy little diner with a bar, where classic Western tunes play, bringing back memories of my awkward teenage years. The owners are very friendly and speak excellent English. The macaroni was delicious, and the chicken and waffles provided a refreshing change of pace from the food I had been eating for the past six months.
The atmosphere was very friendly and even the power breaker being tripped was a very charming moment of people laughing and enjoying one of life’s unknowns. I had fun talking to the owners about what I was doing in Japan and my home country. And had fun singing along to songs I knew far too well from my youth.
For dinner, I ironically chose an all-you-can-eat Yakiniku restaurant that’s star feature was serving Saga beef. I have another blog post in the works about Saga Wagyu, and trust me, it’s a culinary experience worth writing about! Saga Ya, located near the harbour, offers various dining courses at different price points. While the cheaper options don't include much Saga beef, you can still enjoy a great experience at those levels. I opted for a mid-priced option and was very pleased with the variety it offered. I had 90 minutes of Saga beef bliss, complete with drinks. The selection of side dishes was nice, and the speed of service was excellent. The highlight of the meal was the diced cuts of Saga beef, which literally melted in my mouth like butter.
The hotel for the second night was Hotel Ubud, another of Japan’s love hotels, which I will review in a later blog post. To summarize, the location is stunning. It is perched on the hills surrounding Sasebo, and the rooms feature large windows and wide sills that offer panoramic views. Sasebo at night is something I want to revisit again maybe during festival season as some of these locations would be beautiful backdrops to see fireworks from.
The last day saw me leaving Sasebo for a trip down to Huis Ten Bosch, but not for the park itself! The next entry of the blog will explore Nagasaki bio park! And a hungry bunch of Capybaras!
Sasebo is an incredible location with a wide variety of food options that I have only begun to explore. I have added the 99-island cruise to my list of things to do, and there are still many dining experiences I want to try. I highly recommend including Sasebo in your travel itinerary if you visit my area! It feels like a home away from home, blending the familiarity of Western food and culture with Japanese traditions. This place truly has many hidden gems to offer.
