Narutaki-juku, school of European sciences in Tokugawa Japan
Narutaki-juku is a historic site in Nagasaki closely connected to the Rangaku school, a movement for studying Western science and technology. The grounds include restored buildings and display rooms where original manuscripts, instruments, and objects from that era can be viewed.
The place emerged during the Edo period when Japan was isolated under Tokugawa rule, yet scholars in Nagasaki still pursued Western knowledge sources in secret. This hidden scholarship evolved into the Rangaku movement and later shaped Japan's modernization after the country opened in the 19th century.
The site takes its name from a historic post station and now represents a center for studying Western knowledge that was quietly pursued in Japan during the Edo period. Visitors can walk through rooms where scholars gathered Western books and instruments, reflecting how intellectual exchange happened despite isolation policies.
The site is easy to explore on foot and most information plaques are in Japanese and English. It helps to learn about the Rangaku movement beforehand to better understand and appreciate the displays.
The grounds preserve a fascinating aspect of Japanese history: a time when knowledge exchange had to happen at any cost, even when the government forbade it. The physical spaces tell the story of people whose intellectual curiosity was stronger than the political restrictions of their era.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
