Holland Hill

Speaking of Nagasaki's slope, it is ``Holland Hill''. Located near the entrance of Higashi-Yamate from Shinchi Chinatown is the widely known ``Holland Hill''. Sandwiched between Higashiyama Tekou Jusanbankan and Katsusui Women's University, the landmark is the large stone monument at the foot of the slope that says ``Holland Slope''. The stone-paved slopes, which are remnants of foreign settlements and have an exotic feel, will liven up your travel mood.
During the Edo period, Nagasaki was the only city in Japan that traded with the West. Perhaps due to the influence of the Dutch living on Dejima, even after the opening of the country, non-Oriental people were collectively referred to as "Holland-san." Apparently, the slopes in foreign settlements came to be called ``Holland Slope'' because it is a hill that many people pass through.
In fact, there are other Dutch slopes in Nagasaki city. If you go down the aforementioned ``Oranda Saka'' to the east, you will come to ``Oranda Saka'' with the same name. This is a slope along the ``Higashiyamate Western-style housing group''. If you look at it more broadly, you could call it one "Holland Slope," but it has a different feel, slope, and other aspects, so please enjoy it as "another Dutch Slope."
On the other hand, there is also ``Holland Slope'' in the Maruyama area, which runs into the train street from Sofukuji-mae. The name of this place is "Maruyama Oranda Saka". It is located on a narrow alley that leads to Maruyama. There are various theories about its origin; one is that it was once the road for Dutch residents living in the settlement to go to a Western restaurant called Fukuya, and the other is that during the isolation period, Maruyama was the only place where women were allowed to go. It was the road that prostitutes took to the Dutch mansion."
Both hypotheses are suitable for the quiet townscape, and should bring to mind scenes from that time.
Of course, this is a story from the Edo period, before the settlements were established. In other words, this slope can be said to be the original "Holland Hill".
 

Prayer Hill

``Kenenzaka'' is located along the back alley of Oura Cathedral. It is a cobblestone road built in the early Meiji era, about 150 meters past the popular tourist attraction "Prayer Triangle Zone", and the remains of the settlement era still exist, creating a quiet and calm atmosphere. This is a slope with historical value.
It is a famous spot that has often appeared as the setting for stories such as the movies ``Kaika'' and ``Going to Meet Pekoros's Mother'' and the anime ``From Tomorrow in the Colorful World.'' It is also a pilgrimage spot for movies and anime. It's worth it.
At the foot of the slope, there is a ``Triangle of Prayer Zone'' where Oura Suwa Shrine (shrine), Myokoji Temple (temple), and Oura Cathedral (church) are adjacent, creating an unusual scene where shrines, temples, and churches face each other across the slope. You can also meet.
It is also known as the slope that writer Shusaku Endo loved very much.

Fighting Hill

Right near Central Park in the center of Nagasaki City, between the Nagasaki District Public Prosecutors Office and the Nagasaki District Legal Affairs Bureau, is a stone staircase called Kenkenzaka. This is known as the place where the ``Fukahori Incident'', also known as ``Nagasaki's Chushingura'', occurred.
The time is Genroku 13 (1700), the era of Tsunayoshi, the fifth Tokugawa shogun. A commotion broke out between officials of the Nagasaki Kaisho and samurai from the Fukahori domain of the Saga Nabeshima domain who were walking on these stone steps, and the mud from the melting snow broke out, leading to an attack by the Fukahori domain, resulting in deaths on both sides. To…. This incident occurred one year before the attack on the Ako Roshi, and it is said that the Ako Roshi modeled themselves on the actions of this Fukahori feudal retainer.
 

Dondon Slope

If you walk towards Minami-Yamate/Glover Garden for about 13 minutes to the southwest, you will see Dondon-zaka. It is a stone-paved slope with an exotic scent that overlooks Nagasaki Port, which was selected as one of Nagasaki City's ``Top XNUMX Slope Sceneries''.On both sides, the beautiful red brick ``Maria Garden'' and several Western-style buildings still exist. It retains a strong trace of the settlement, and has a very exotic atmosphere.
The most popular theory is that the name comes from the sound of water flowing down when it rains. There is a groove called a ``triangular groove'' on the side of the old cobblestone pavement, and you can see that the groove was dug into a U-shape or a triangle to adjust the speed of water flow. This is an idea unique to Nagasaki, which has a lot of rain.
When you climb up this hill and look back, you can see Nagasaki Port and the "Giant Cantilever Crane", one of the components of the World Heritage Site.
It's a quiet and relaxing spot known only to those in the know, and you can enjoy the night view at your leisure.
 

Aioi Jigokuzaka

Right next to the Ishibashi tram stop, there is a slope that leads to Glover Garden, and its name is ``Aioi Jigokuzaka''. The sign posted at the base says "223 steps, 100Kcal (70Kcal up/30Kcal down)". When you think of this as climbing uphill, the name "Hell" makes sense.
50m south of this slope is the rare diagonal elevator "Glover Sky Road". If you ride this and go up to the second gate of Glover Garden at the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the scenery of Nagasaki from the round window on the way, so if you want to avoid the challenge of going to hell, try using the Glover Sky Road.