Nagasaki, the port city of Kyushu, is famous as the second target of the atomic bomb in World War 2. Being as Japan’s first gateway to the West, Nagasaki has combined western and Japanese style.
In 2015, the famous abandoned island of Nagasaki- Hashima Island, was formally approved as a world heritage site. It has become one of the most popular sights, so you’d better book the tour and ticket in advance. Now, let’s check places you can not miss when visiting Nagasaki!
Gunkanjima (Battleship Island)
Gunkanjima, an island that has remnants of the miners’ lifestyle during the postwar period of high growth
During the Golden Age of coal mining, people led a crowded lifestyle, with a population density more than 9 times that of Tokyo. The life of those times has remained as it was on a deserted island of abandoned buildings left for 30 years.
5,300 people lived there in the high-growth 1960s with the No. 1 population density in the world Coal was discovered around 1810 on the island of Hashima, some 30 minutes away from Nagasaki Harbor by boat, and some 80 years later in 1890, Mitsubishi bought the rights for the mining areas for the entire island and began coal mining in earnest. The island was called Gunkanjima because its shape resembled that of a battleship. More than half the island was rich in ore, and the remainder was filled with hospitals, schools, temples, shrines, police...
Business hours
- Everyday (10:00 AM ~ 4:00 PM )
Phone
095-895-9300
Price
- Adult: 3600 JPY
- Child: 1700 JPY
Website
www.gunkanjima-concierge.com
Mt. Inasa
Mt. Inasa’s night view has not only been chosen as one of the top 3 in Japan but also as one of the new top 3 in the world
From Mt. Inasa’s observation deck, known as having one of the top 3 night views in Japan and in the world, you can view the beautiful night scape of Nagasaki Harbor. The highlight is the huge 360-degree panoramic view.
The $10 million night view Along with Mt. Hakodate in Hakodate and Mt. Rokko in Kobe, Nagasaki has one of Japan’s top three night views, and such a view from Mt. Inasa’s observation deck is well known. Furthermore, in 2012, it was selected as one of the world’s new top 3 night views along with Hong Kong and Monaco. The view seen from Mt. Inasa is called the $10 million night view, and from the cylindrical-shaped View Tower which is covered all around in glass at the top of the mountain (alt. 333m), you can look at a 360-degre...
Business hours
- Everyday (9:00 AM ~ 10:00 PM )
Phone
095-861-3640
Price
- Free
Website
www.visit-nagasaki.com
Glover Garden
Glover Garden, the residence of a foreign trader who contributed to Japanese history
Contributing to Japanese industry, Thomas Glover cooperated with the nation’s patriots and realized the modernization of Japan. Glover Garden was the residence of foreign traders active during the 1860s, where you can get an unbroken view of Nagasaki Harbor.
The residence of foreign traders has been preserved in its original state Centering on Glover Residence, Ringer House and Alt House which have been nationally designated as Important Cultural Properties, these are 6 facilities which had been located throughout the city as Western-style buildings in the 1860s before being dismantled and restored. These residences of traders who loved and lived in Nagasaki have been preserved in their original state, and the interiors have been recreated to show the lifestyle of that time. Glover Residence is...
Business hours
- Everyday (8:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM )
Phone
095-822-8223
Price
- Adult: 610 JPY
- Child: 180 JPY
Website
www.glover-garden.jp
Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park, pushing forward the hopes for peace from the tragedy of the atomic bombing
Nagasaki was a target for atomic bombing during the Second World War. Nagasaki Peace Park continues to relate to future generations about those tragic conditions and the nobility of world peace.
The Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the Peace Statue During World War II on August 9th 1945 at 11:02 a.m., an atomic bomb fell on Nagasaki and in one moment, many lives were lost and many more suffered the aftereffects. At the bombing’s hypo-center, Nagasaki Peace Park was created to put forward hopes for world peace so that the tragedy of war is never repeated. In this grand park of approximately 18.6 hectares, there are 5 zones: the Zone of Hopes, the Zone of Prayers, the Zone of Learning, the Sports Zone and the Plaza Zone...
Phone
095-829-1171
Price
- Free
Website
www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp.e.jc.hp.transer.com
Dejima
Dejima, the only open trading port for 200 years during Japan’s “Sakoku” (closed country) era
The Edo shogunate feared the spread and colonization of the Christian missionaries. For 200 years, Dejima was the only open base of trade allowed with Holland when Japan was cut off from the rest of the world.
Dejima: The base of exchange for finance, culture and art From 1550, Nagasaki was developed as a trading port with Portugal. However, the increase in followers of Christianity within the country and their unity was becoming formidable to the shogunate, and in 1634, the fan-shaped artificial island of Dejima was built over 2 years to amass and control the Portuguese in one area to prevent the spread of Christianity. Afterward, the Portuguese were expelled from the country and for 200 years, trade and diplomacy between Japan and the outs...
Business hours
- Everyday (8:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM )
Phone
095-829-1194
Price
- Adult: 510 JPY
- Child: 100 JPY
Website
nagasakidejima.jp
Meganebashi (Spectacles) Bridge
Japan’s oldest arch bridge, known as one of the nation’s top 3 bridges
Built under the aegis of a monk and shopkeepers during the era when Christianity was banned, Meganebashi Bridge was the first of a group of stone bridges to be built over the Nakashima River and retains the flavor of the old Nagasaki.
Japan’s oldest arch bridge, Meganebashi was built in 1634 by the Japanese monk Mokusu of Kofuku-ji Temple. It was established as Japan’s very first stone arch bridge with a length of 22m, a width of 3.65m and a height of 5.46m down to the water surface, and it became a national standard in terms of stone bridge technique. The bridge and its reflection on the river created an image of two circles so that it resembled a pair of glasses, thus giving rise to the name of Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge). It is famous for being one of the...
Oura Church
Oura Church, where a miracle in religious history occurred with the discovery of Christian believers for the first time in 250 years
This was the place where, 250 years after Christianity had been prohibited, it was discovered that there were underground followers of Christ. It was a miracle in religious history.
The official name is the Church of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan Continuing from Hideyoshi Toyotomi, the Edo Era Tokugawa Shogunate continued the ban on Christianity, and from the 1639 seclusion policy, all missionaries were ousted from the country. However, during the Bakumatsu Era when Japan was opened, a foreign settlement in Nagasaki was established, and in 1864, Oura Church was completed for the foreign residents. Officially, it was named the Church of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan in honor of the 26 saints who had been executed in 15...
Business hours
- Everyday (8:00 AM ~ 6:00 PM )
Phone
095-823-2628
Price
- Adult: 300 JPY
- Child: 200 JPY
Website
en.wikipedia.org
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium
An aquarium specializing in penguins which you can observe right beside you
There are plenty of highlights including Japan’s largest penguin pool, a penguin petting beach on Tachibana Bay, the King Penguin Parade and a virtual theater where your own drawn pictures swim across the screen.
An aquarium which is the world’s largest in the kinds of penguins. The aquarium boasts the abundant presence of 9 of the 18 species of penguin which live on the Earth. Starting with the smallest penguin in the world, the Little Penguin, you can encounter the other 8 species at the aquarium: Gentoo, King, Cape, Chinstrap, Humboldt, Rockhopper, Macaroni and the Magellanic Penguin. 70% of the 180 penguins here have been raised at the aquarium, which has been highly praised for its breeding prowess and handling technique. Lots of events such...
Business hours
- Everyday (9:00 AM ~ 5:00 PM )
Phone
095-838-3131
Price
- Adult: 510 JPY
- Child: 300 JPY
Website
penguin-aqua.jp
Kazusa Dolphin Watching
An encounter rate of 99%! See a pod of wild dolphins within just 15 minutes
A popular cruise where you can closely see a pod of 300-strong bottlenose dolphins between Shimabara Peninsula and the Amakusa Islands from the ship.
Be impressed by the large group of wild dolphins A cruise where you can appreciate the sight of approximately 300 wild dolphins living in the strait between Nagasaki Prefecture’s Shimabara Peninsula and Kumamoto Prefecture’s Amakusa Islands. Departing from Kazusa Fishing Port, you can encounter wild bottlenose dolphins within 15 minutes. Since the dolphins reside there permanently, you can see them throughout the year, meaning a 99% encounter rate. Because they are wild, feeding the dolphins isn’t possible, but you can...
Business hours
- Everyday (8:30 AM ~ 5:00 PM )
Departure times for the ship are 10am,11:30am,1pm,2:30pm and an additional 4pm trip from April-September only
Phone
0957-87-4640
Price
- Adult: 2500 JPY
- Child: 1500 JPY
Includes boarding fee, passenger insurance and consumption tax
※Prior reservations are recommended
Nagasaki Chinatown
A Chinatown in Japan where you can enjoy Chinese cuisine, born in Nagasaki
Chinatown has a history shaped in Nagasaki, which developed as a trading port. Original Nagasaki dishes such as champon and saraudon were born here. The highlight is the Lunar New Year Lantern Festival.
Nagasaki Chinatown was born at the end of the Edo Era. Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown is one of the three big Chinatowns in Japan, standing alongside Yokohama and Kobe. There are brilliant chuukamon gates at the entrances in all four directions, and 250m into the area, there is a cozy crossroads where about 40 Chinese restaurants are located. The origins of Chinatown came from many Chinese people moving to this area due to the abandonment of Chinese settlements at the end of the Edo Era which had been built on reclaimed land for storehouses for tra...
Phone
095-829-1314
