3 Days Across Nagasaki’s Wild West | Solo Japan Motorcycle Ride | Project 47 Ep. 5

3 Days Across Nagasaki’s Wild West | Solo Japan Motorcycle Ride | Project 47 Ep. 5

Japan is a unique country 
made up of 47 prefectures. My goal  is to ride them all. This is project 47. It’s about 5:00 a.m. and uh about to 
get on the ferry and go to Nagasaki. So,  as you can see, it’s an absolute gorgeous morning. I’m here in Amakusa and I’m about to go 
over and get on a ferry just over there. All right, let’s go check out Nagasaki. A little off-roading to kick off the morning. Oh man,  I want to get some wind in my uh 
through my jacket so I can uh cool down. It just went from being really 
nice this morning to just insanely hot. All right, so we’re about to get on the 
ferry to Nagasaki. So cheap. Like 18 bucks. It’s kind of cool. It’s pretty 
cool. Check out my new helmet. All right, last one off the boat. Guys 
are waiting to get the next people on. so this is Nagasaki. Like, so we’re up to these houses that 
were buried by a volcano, an eruption. I’m going to go check out this museum, but 
we never know what we’ll find on the way. Is kind of beautiful, is it? Just the rice fields. Ah, riding a motorcycle in 
summer. Nothing like coming   up across traffic lights. Japan is 
also the land of traffic lights. Alright, so this is it. We have arrived. Let’s go check this place out. This is the, you know, the roof of the first 
floor. this the roof of the second floor. and the ash and everything 
came all the way up here. In June of 1991, Mount Unzen erupted violently. Although 43 lives were lost, mainly 
scientists and journalists at the scene,   the people of this village were given 
ample time to evacuate and were saved. The force of nature of a volcano and the the flow 
of this. Look at the size of these rocks, man. I mean, look at that. The size of that boulder 
that was getting thrown and through the air out of a volcano and landing on your house. It’s 
wild, man. Nature is so badass. So violent, man. Look at there’s another house. 
Look at that. This one’s outdoors. There’s another one there. This whole whole area, this whole town 
taken out by that mountain up there. Just drank one of those.You see my shirt, it is soaked! It is so hot! It’s kind of like dangerous hot. Might check out  this castle and then see if we can find after 
the castle just see if I can find somewhere to uh just to chill. So that’s the volcano or it’s 
that one up the back behind the clouds. But I think that’s it from the photo I saw. That 
erupted and just took out this whole zone. I’m definitely getting cooked. Don’t want to make mistakes on the 
bike. I was meant to turn there. Okay. So, I’m meant to turn here. Yep, I went right past the castle. That’s cool. You can go right up to the top, too. 49°C Shimabara castle was originally built in 1624. The Daimyo, Matskura Shigemasa, was awarded the province for his services in the siege of Osaka. This was soon after the Shogun had banned Christianity in 1614. Matsukua, strictly enforced the prohibition against Christianity with mass executions. The castle was later abolished by the Meiji government in 1874, and pulled down in 1876. Today, only the moat and stone walls remain from the original structure. The castle was rebuilt in 1964 with reinforced concrete as a city museum. Alright, Shimabara castle, that was really cool! So, now what we a are gonna do is go and get some lunch. Get out of this heat for a while. All right, we’re here at 
Joyful. Time to get happy. This is what we’re having. 
It’s called the Mix Grill. So, we got hamburger.
Frankfurt…wiener, some chicken, little bit of veg, 
some rice. Sweet. Let’s eat. We’re on the road and we’re heading that 
way. And it looks like rain up there, but it looks like I might be able to make 
it to the uh the memorial park before it closes today. And then my mission is going 
to be figuring out where I’m going to camp. So, two of the campsites I had marked down 
as possibles near the city, are both closed. How beautiful is this? Heaven. What is it about? Like this. I wish 
it could be like that everywhere I go. Just a tunnel of trees,  man. I felt like the temperature dropped 
several degrees just sitting in there. Oh, what an epic road! All right, Nagasaki. Wow! Oh, I don’t know which way to 
look at the view or at the road. Gorgeous! Crossing the mountains was pure bliss. Easily 
like 5°C or 10°C cooler than down below. I rode through beautiful forest roads, sulfur 
spewing mountain towns before finally making my descent. Oh my god. Yeah, I’m not going in there, 
guys. That’s going to make me want to throw up. I wish I could just stay up here at this altitude.   I’m not looking forward to getting down to 
sea level again, especially into a city. On August 9th, 1945, an atomic bomb detonated 500 
m above Matsuyama in Nagasaki City at 11:02 a.m. More than 70,000 lives ended in an instant. This 
is a replica of the bomb that struck Nagasaki. The museum contains images and 
artifacts far too graphic to show. But if you visit Nagasaki,  it’s definitely 
worth coming and paying your respects. May peace prevail on earth. But now, going to get all that gear back on, 
jump on the bike and ride for an hour and a half, maybe 2 hours depending on traffic. Hopefully 
get there before sunset so I can set up camp. As the city gave way to more and more countryside,   riding along the beautiful Omura Bay, I had time 
to reflect on what an amazing day it had been. Sure, it had been one of the hottest days 
I’d ever spent on a motorcycle, and I was pretty close to heat exhaustion more 
than once, but now, on the way to a campsite and a good night’s sleep, I felt amazing. It had 
been an incredible day. What would tomorrow bring? We finished! We made it. We got to the campsite. It’s a beautiful spot! Tent’s setup, the bike, the sunset! Now, it’s time to get out of all this riding gear, cool down, relax. Copy some data and get some sleep! See you guys tomorrow morning! Yew! That was awesome! Good morning guys. Day 2, and, it’s a beautiful one, look at that! Had a little bit of heat exhaustion,  so waking up this morning was 
a bit rough. Let’s go. Day two. All right. I have almost no, you know, 
mental map of Nagasaki Prefecture. So, it’s going to be a bit of an adventure. Wow, there’s the ocean! And look at this road! Oh my god!
This is just beautiful. All right, this is what it’s all about right here. This is riding through Japan. It’s 34°C. and there’s no wind. Look 
at that, the wind’s at 0m/s. That’s nice. I can cross the 
bridge without getting blown off. Wow, that’s cool. That’s ugly over there, but, look at that! Far out! That’s some mad looking currents down there. That’s pretty cool place. 
This is Oshima, Big Island. They’re very creative with the 
naming. So big island, big bridge. We’re on the island of Oshima now. So apparently 
there’s a bus stop shaped like a fish. Oh, there it is. Okay, now that is a bus stop shaped like a fish. All right, that’s wild, man. That’s what people come here to see. All right, so… We’ve seen what we have to see here at Oshima.
Let’s move on. So, we’re heading off now to it’s like 
a I think it’s a ruins of an old fort, but I think it’s from the Second World War. I’m 
not 100% sure. It just kind of looked cool. Uh when I was searching around on Google Maps 
and things that look cool makes me want to go have a look. So that’s what we’re going to 
go do. We’ll figure it out when we get there. Another little inlet there. It’s gorgeous.
All right. Oshima, thank you. Good fun. Oh, super smell of fish just then. Smelt like I just went  past an 
old bucket of prawns or something. Okay, so this should be it just here. Oh, that’s a sharp turn. Okay, this is a parking spot. Okay, let’s go check out this park. I want to see 
this fort. Apparently, it’s pretty cool. Check this place out. Looks like we can actually go inside. How’s that echo? Could you imagine being in here 
during like a bombing raid? The fort was commissioned in 1897 and was used 
during the Russo Japan War and World War I, but never fired a shot in anger. 
It was decommissioned in 1929 and abandoned even throughout 
World War II. Far out, dude. Imagine if you’re operating in 
combat in a place like this. I don’t even know which way to 
go. So, I’m going to go right. Oh, would you look at that. What a trip. Oh, there’s a bat. All right. So, we got bats in here. I don’t want to start another pandemic.
Yeah, look see, it’s another bat up there. All right. Sorry, bats. What a place. Underground bunker. 
But it’s very cool. It’s got bats in it. not much into getting 
rabies, so I’ll uh stay away. As I headed north into the town 
of Sasebo, the heat was brutal! So, I pulled into this cool club 
where you could take a break and   recharge your batteries, so to speak. OK, so, this is my little space. that I managed to find, it’s really good. Got all my batteries and everything charging. Some data copying , so I don’t have to do it all later. Yeah, it’s kinda cool, got to have a shower! They even have ice cream! After that, the plan was to head out to 
the peninsula and check out some old gun   installations. They look like they’re buried 
deep in the mountains and kind of hard to get to. U.S fleet activities. Sasebo, Japan. America! This is super beautiful. Crazy cool road. So, I meant to go up that way? It’s turning into a bit of an adventure. All right. So, apparently it’s just up there. which means that coming down this 
little goat track was a problem. Huh. All right. Well, guess I’m 
going to try turning the bike around. Okay. So, now my boots are 
caked in very slippery mud. So, it’s up there somewhere. I have no idea how I’m going to find it. Okay. So, I don’t see a road up. 
It just kind of terminates. So,   it’s a the bushwhacking hike. If I want 
to go see these old gun installments. I love you guys, but I don’t love you that much. Not in this heat and mud. So, time to keep rolling. Mission failure! Day two turned into a crazy adventure. So, now I’m completely lost. 
Did I come past the graves? I didn’t come past the graves. There’s no way I came through that. New plan! since failed miserably to 
find the things I was looking for. We’re going to try to ride now to the 
most westerly point of mainland Japan. It’s weird though cuz on the map it looks like the 
point I’m planning to go to tomorrow is more west. But that’s what it says. So, let’s do that. Would you look at that view! That is spectacular.
That’s 99 islands or something. I totally want to put the drone up, but 
I can’t because that’s a military base. I rode on. Through rice fields, small towns, 
and across bridges, heading ever west until I reached the most westerly point. Well, at 
least that’s what it said on Google Maps. Ok, so, I’m gonna walk up to the monument to the most western area of mainland Japan. That’s what they call it. gonna go up there now! Looks like a bit of a hike! That’s it, guys. The most westerly part of… mainland Japan. It was a beautiful spot, but the sun was getting 
low. I was exhausted and I needed to camp. I spotted a little beach just 
around the corner that might   work for a stealth camp. I figured, what the heck? All right, see if we can 
get away with stealth camp. Not only could I camp, but 
the spot was spectacular! What a day! Well, it’s 5:00 a.m. The 
weather’s not looking amazing. Hopefully the weather will clear up a little bit, because see, that’s the direction we’re going! Alright,  we’re going to head out to Hirado. I have been wanting to go to this 
zone for the longest time. So,   I’m really excited about actually 
finally getting out there. But I feel like I may be going in the 
wrong direction. I don’t know. I just   have this feeling. It’s so easy to get 
turned around in this part of Japan cuz it’s just all little peninsulas 
and uh and islands and things. So, one thing you will notice if you visit Kyushu, especially if you get to areas around Nagasaki 
and port towns, you’ll see a lot of churches. A lot of Christianity references and stuff. So, we’re going to swing past 
the church on the way up. Wow, so pretty! Good morning. Wow. Beautiful Japan. Beautiful. This zone is so beautiful. Look at this road, man! Tell me you don’t want to 
be riding this right now. Christianity has deep ties in Nagasaki. Beginning in 1549, with the arrival 
of the Jesuit Francis Xavier in the 17th century, there was a nationwide 
ban on Christianity that lasted over 250 years. The Tabira Catholic Church was built in 1918 
under the leadership of Father Toukichi Nakata. The church is fully functioning and mass 
and other religious events are held on a daily basis. Well, that was pretty cool. 
I’m super stoked. That lady was so nice. There’s signs everywhere 
saying,  you’re not allowed to film. And then she was just like, after we 
talk for a little bit, she’s like, “Ah, no, you’re right.” Um, couldn’t 
take any footage inside, though. We’re about to go across a big red 
bridge. This is the Hirado Bridge. I saw this really cool photo 
of Hirado, this road in Hirado. And I absolutely have no idea 
where that photo was taken. But since I saw that photo, I’ve been 
wanting to come out and ride out here. It’s been on my radar for at least a year 
now, and now we’re finally about to do it. So, this is a cool moment. Alright, I’m going to stand up for this. Oh yeah, baby. Heading into Hirado. What a spot! I dig it. I dig it. Yoooo. Yeah, baby! I’m a happy man. Very happy. Woohoo. Oh, man. All right. So, my mission plan 
today is to check out Hirado. This place I’ve been wanting to see forever. 
Ride the [ __ ] out of the place. and uh find some Nagasaki Chanpon to eat for lunch. Oh, look at this road, man. Stays with no traffic 
like this. This could be a little piece of heaven. Yeah, baby. Oh, this place is just beautiful. Rider’s 
Nirvana, buddy. Rider’s Nirvana, baby. Oh, we’re coming up on the ocean 
view. Oh my god, look at that. Are you kidding me? What a place! Maybe just here? The Kasaga Tanada rice terraces, 
have been selected as an important cultural landscape for Japan. It is 
one representative of agricultural and fishing villages that have been passed 
down from generation to generation. The view of the terraced rice fields that extend 
from the sea to the mountains is a masterpiece. The wind was kicking up kind of strong, so I 
checked the weather forecast and noticed that   there was a fast moving typhoon on its way.
Set to clip the bottom of this peninsula. One  of my goals was to get down 
to the south where I could find   the most westerly motorable road in Japan. I’d been to the most westerly 
point of mainland Japan yesterday. It just made sense to make 
it to this point as well. I needed to get moving if I 
was going to beat that typhoon. Yeah, she’s she’s blowing pretty good up here. I can feel the peak on that helmet. Uh 
just reminding me that nothing’s perfect. Although that view is kind of perfect. You got rice fields, you 
got mountains. Perfect road. It’s crazy to think that just in a 
couple hours there’s probably going   to be a little mini typhoon busting through here. Okay, this is the road. Okay, so it’s turning into another little 
adventure. At least it’s dry this time. Yeah. Okay. This is fun when you’re carrying 
a shitload of gear. I’ll tell you what. If I took a tumble off one of these cliffs,   I could be here for a while. You know, 
no one knows I’m up exactly. I’m up here. So, I’m riding down a crazy trail that I wasn’t expecting to do. With a small typhoon approaching. By myself… in Nagasaki, Japan. I never would have picked that this was 
going to be how I would spent part of today. All right. What a place to be. Another thing I didn’t expect to find was all this trash! Look at that! All over the beach, just garbage everywhere! It’s insane man! We gotta do something about this folks. Gotta do something about all this plastic in the oceans! Hey fishing industry, get your […] together! Hey guys. So, I got to get out of here. I 
can’t stick around too long. Just out there, that’s the edge of the storm that’s coming 
in. It’s like a little typhoon. Feel it.   It’s cool air starting to come through 
real fast now. So, I probably only got like an hour or so before this place turns into 
gale force winds and a hell of a lot of rain. So, time to roll. All right, so I just found a place, 
a restaurant, a Champon Restaurant. It looks like it’s the only one around. 
It looks like it’s really good, but… it’s closing at 2:00 p.m. and it 
takes about an hour to get there. I got to get out of here 
before that storm comes in. And if I want to eat some 
Chanpon, I’ve got one shot. Chanpon is a noodle soup thing. It’s kinda like a ramen. All right. Chanpon hunt is on! I’m kind of hungry.
When I say kind of, I mean really, really hungry Apparently, it’s just here somewhere. I have arrived currently. I don’t see it. I’m going to get that Wow, what a cool place! I’m super stoked that they let 
me come in cuz, I am starving. This is unbelievably good! With that weather moving And 
uh it looks like we might… I might be making a run to get out of this part 
of Nagasaki and head over into Saga Prefecture, which is going to be our next video. Hint , hint. Thank you for  watching and most of all, happy riding. So good, this food. Thank you for watching. Making Project 47 is 
a life dream, but costs run up pretty quick. If you’re enjoying the journey, why not join 
as a Team Rider? For just a buck a month,   you get access to a whole bunch of 
behind the-scenes clips and this cool membership badge. Hit that membership link and 
let’s keep rolling together. Happy riding, folks.

3 days, 1 motorcycle, and Japan’s wild west coast. Ride with me across Nagasaki — from historic castles and eerie abandoned forts to racing a typhoon at the edge of Japan. This is Project 47: Episode 5 Nagasaki, my Motorcycle Adventure Mission to ride every prefecture of Japan.

Over these three days, I’ll take you from historic castles and a somber visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum to exploring eerie abandoned forts and racing a typhoon to reach the most westerly point of mainland Japan. It’s a journey filled with unexpected discoveries, a frantic search for ramen, and unforgettable moments of solo camping.

✨ Japan Motorcycle Adventure Highlights:

Riding to historic Shimabara Castle & exploring a town buried by a volcano

A somber and powerful visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Discovering a 19th-century abandoned fort (complete with bats!)

A scenic ride to the most westerly point of mainland Japan

Riding the beautiful Kasaga Tanada rice terraces

Racing a typhoon across the Hirado peninsula.

Finding Japan’s most westerly road

Stealth camping by the sea at sunset

📍 Filmed in: Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
🏍️ Motorbike: Triumph 400X Scrambler

Watch the full Project 47 series journey here:

Want to see behind-the-scenes? Join Team Riders for just ¥140 / $1 a month for exclusive clips + a membership badge.
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https://www.instagram.com/RideThruJapan/

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