Suwa Shrine (諏訪神社), Nagasaki

After leaving Siebold Memorial Museum, we went to Suwa Shrine, home to the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival. It is located in the northern part of the city, on the slopes of Mount Tamazono-san, and features a 277-step stone staircase leading up the mountain to the various buildings that comprise the shrine. Suwa shrine was established as a way of stopping and reverting the conversion to Christianity that was taking place in Nagasaki. In modern times it remains an important and successful center of the community.

The shrine complex stands at the top of a long staircase.

A view of the city from the shrine.

Many torii gates line up at Omotesando, a long staircase approaching to the shrine.