Kyushu and Shikoku, two islands two different worlds

Yesterday I spent the entire day wandering around the streets of Nagasaki, the former only connection to the European world during the Japanese so-called sakoku (closed-country) policy period. Therefore the European influence can be seen anywhere, starting from food, historical architectural buildings and the oldest Christian church that can be found in Japan. Apart from that there is still this dramatic event that shocked the world in 1945, when 1/3 of Nagasaki was wiped out. Therefore there are many reminders of this tragic incident, the most impressive and moving that being the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum.
At last I spent my day close to the Nagasaki harbour in the Glover garden, where historical buildings of the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century are well preserved. I was hoping to see the sunset in the Nagasaki harbour but unfortunately it was cloudy so no sunset at all.
Today I travelled to the smallest of Japans 4 islands, which is called Shikoku. This island still seems to be living in the 19th century. Much more untouched scenery and old traditional houses can be seen here. The highlight of today was the visit of a traditional and supposedly oldest onsen (hot spring with an attached bathhouse) in Matsuyama. The water had a relaxing temperature of around 40 to 45 degrees and it felt like being somewhere in Japan in the 19th century.
My next days I will spend one night in Matsuyama and then head deeper into the untouristic area of this island called the Iya-Valley where I will spend 2 days hiking and whitewater rafting. Therefore I will continue this blog on Thursday or Friday when I get to Tokyo, my final destination in Japan.