Originally, the island of Dejima acted as a base for the Portuguese sailors. The isolation that an island provides was intended to prevent the spread of Christianity in Japan. In later years, Dejima served as a foreign trade post for the Netherlands and a gateway to the West. The island gives visitors the amazing feeling of traveling back in time and experiencing history firsthand. While Dejima no longer exists in its function as a trading post, it has been painstakingly restored in recent years. Many of the original 19th century buildings have been rebuilt, including homes, stores and warehouses.
