Project 47: Episode 5 — Nagasaki Prefecture (Solo Motorcycle Journey Across Japan)
I underestimated the Japanese summer. Riding a motorcycle across Nagasaki Japan sounds like a dream, but in August, the temperature hit 49°C, turning this ride into a battle for survival.
In this episode of Project 47, I cross into Nagasaki Prefecture hoping for a scenic tour, but the elements had other plans. From the villages buried by the Mt. Unzen volcanic eruption to the heavy silence of the Atomic Bomb Museum, this ride pushed me physically and emotionally.
This wasn't just a highway cruise. I explored abandoned underground forts from 1897 filled with bats, stealth camped on remote beaches to escape the heat, and pushed to the absolute westernmost point of the mainland. But just as I found "Rider's Nirvana" on the coastal cliffs of Hirado, the weather turned, and the race against an incoming typhoon began.
This isn't a travel guide. This is the reality of solo adventure touring when the road fights back.
Join the Ride Thru Japan:
This is Project 47—my solo motorcycle journey to rediscover the real Japan across all 47 prefectures. No tour guides, no script, just the road.
The Journey:
[00:00] - The 5AM Ferry: Entering the Oven
[02:15] - Buried Alive: The Mt. Unzen Volcanic Disaster
[05:30] - Shimabara Castle & The 49°C Heat Crisis
[08:45] - Escaping to the Cool Mountains (Tree Tunnel)
[10:20] - Ground Zero: The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
[14:15] - Camping Struggles & Sleeping by the Sea
[16:30] - Into the Darkness: Abandoned 1897 Underground Forts
[19:45] - The Most Western Point (Mission Failures & Stealth Camping)
[23:10] - Rider’s Nirvana: Hirado’s Rice Terraces
[26:30] - Racing the Typhoon & The Trash Reality
[29:00] - The Final Reward: Hunting for Nagasaki Chanpon
Locations visited:
📍 Nagasaki Prefecture
📍 Mt. Unzen Disaster Memorial Hall
📍 Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
📍 Shimabara Castle
📍 Hirado Island & Tabira Church
📍 Filmed in: Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan
🏍️ Motorbike: Triumph 400X Scrambler
Watch the full Project 47 series journey here:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvmfZhaoecygo5CoOwI7k06tKIk6CYe15&si=e6SkE1skbKTwHwEw
Want to see behind-the-scenes? Join Team Riders for just ¥140 / $1 a month for exclusive clips + a membership badge.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7QUavyzNZwmN69oLfZxsUQ/join
Follow the journey on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/RideThruJapan/
🇯🇵 About Project 47:
Project 47 is a solo motorcycle documentary series covering all 47 prefectures of Japan. This Japan road trip explores the real country beyond the tourist trail. From motocamping spots to hidden rural shrines, this series captures the essence of solo travel in Japan. If you enjoy cinematic motovlogs, Japan travel guides, or long-format motorcycle road trips (like Long Way Round or Harley Davidson travel diaries), welcome to the journey.
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