The blast pressure was so intense that the missing half of the torii was blown away in the direction of the hypocenter.
The two camphor trees standing behind the gate are designated as natural monuments by Nagasaki City.
Despite their severe scarring and loss of foliage after the explosion, the camphor trees sprouted new buds the following spring.
The shrine was originally established in 1638, though the atomic bomb destroyed the main hall.
The one-legged gate is officially registered as a Significant Atomic Bomb Relic by the Nagasaki municipal government.
The Sanno Shrine one-legged Torii Gate stands as a primary survivor of the 1945 atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Located approximately 800 meters from the hypocenter, the blast destroyed half of the original stone gate, leaving only one pillar standing. The structure remains in its post-bombing state as a permanent memorial to the city's destruction and subsequent recovery. Two camphor trees near the gate were also heavily damaged by the heat and blast wave but survived, later becoming symbols of resilience. The site serves as a somber reminder of the events of August 9, 1945. It is situated within the residential Sakamoto neighborhood.
From the street-level path directly in front of the gate to capture the full contrast of the single pillar against the sky.
Visit in silence to respect the site's status as a memorial.
Combine this visit with a trip to the nearby Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
Look closely at the stone to observe the physical scars from the explosion's heat.
Do not climb on the gate or the damaged historical structures.
Maintain a quiet, respectful tone; photography is permitted but avoid intrusive behavior toward worshippers.
