Nagasaki Museum of History & Culture

The museum has many interactive displays, artifacts and images of the city of Nagasaki. The museum goes from when Nagasaki first became a city in the 1600's documenting the arrival of the Europeans and trade partnerships that where set up. The museum also illustrates the life of the Dejima Fort and the development of Chinatown in Nagasaki. On the other side of the museum is the magistrates office which illustrates the life of the Magistrate and the politics of Japan during the Edo Era. The museum also has many buildings and a beautiful art display in the museum of pottery. The museum is mostly in Japanese but you can get an audio tour for the Magistrates Office for free in English.

For Teachers the museum relates to the Grade 8 Social Studies Curriculum Outcomes of:

Values and Attitudes:

"8.1.3 appreciate how models of governance and decision making reflect a society’s worldview

8.1.4 appreciate how a society’s worldview shapes individual citizenship and identity 


Knowledge and Understanding: 

8.1.5 analyze the effects of cultural isolation during the Edo period by exploring and reflecting

upon the following questions and issues:

• In what ways did Japan isolate itself from the rest of the world? 

• How did the changes resulting from isolation affect Japan economically, politically and

socially during the Edo period? "  

(From the  Grade 8 Social Studies Program of Studies)