Nagasaki, the City of Hills

My hometown, Nagasaki, is famous as a “city of hills.” My family home was also located high up on one of these hills. When I was a child, going to school was really tough, and I often wondered, “Why was our house built in a place like this?” Climbing up and down the steep slopes every day felt like a real challenge.

In Nagasaki, many houses are built on steep slopes, so sometimes cars can’t even reach the front of the house. In those cases, you have to climb long staircases to get home. For elderly people, this can be quite difficult, but in a way, it might help with staying active (laughs).

The streets here are narrow and winding, often weaving through the mountains. This is why small, compact cars—especially kei cars—are so common in Nagasaki. They are perfect for navigating the tight streets of this unique city.

Although there are many slopes and staircases, that’s also part of Nagasaki’s charm. Walking these streets, you might find that the hills, which once felt like obstacles, now feel like a small adventure. The hills are an integral part of life here and a defining feature of the city’s character.