This is a walking tour that takes you through the city center of Nagasaki, covering both iconic landmarks and hidden gems you wouldn't discover without a guide. The city center of Nagasaki is compact, making it perfect for exploring on foot. Of course, if you get tired, we can always take a taxi or tram!
This tour does not include a visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. If you would like to visit, please check out my other tour, "One-Day Nagasaki Tour: Peace Memorials and Hidden Gems."
This itinerary can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Send me a message with your requests!
Meeting Point
Somewhere in the city center
- If it is in the city center, I will come to pick you up (e.g., your hotel, JR Nagasaki Station, or the Nagasaki International Cruise Ship Terminal). * It costs approximately 1,500 to 2,000 yen per taxi to get to Suwa Shrine or the Tateyama District from a location in the city center.
(Optional) Tateyama District
Nagasaki is known as "the city of slopes"! Let's start exploring local areas by walking down the slopes! Enjoy the great views of Nagasaki’s sloping areas and catch a glimpse of local life.
Note:
There are a few stairs to climb (just a little) and (mostly) descend in this area, so if you’re not confident in your legs, feel free to skip this part.
Suwa Shrine
Suwa Shrine is the most famous shrine in Nagasaki. It is very beautiful and photogenic, offering a wonderful opportunity to capture memorable photos.
Admission: Free (*Donations are appreciated via the offering box.)
*As of December 1, 2024. Please refer to the official website for more details.
Shindaiku-machi shopping street
A super local shopping street where you can truly experience everyday life in Nagasaki. It's located near Suwa Shrine.
(Optional) The Observation Deck on the 19th Floor of Nagasaki City Hall
From this observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Nagasaki. The scenery before you vividly showcases Nagasaki as both a "port city" and a "city of slopes."
Admission: Free
*As of December 1, 2024. Please refer to the official website for more details.
(Optional) Teramachi Street
Teramachi Street, as the name suggests ("teramachi" means "temple town"), is a street lined with many temples, hosting 14 temples and 2 shrines. Among them, the Chinese style Kofukuji Temple, well-known for its vermilion gate, comes highly recommended.
(Optional) Kofukuji Temple
Kofukuji Temple is famous for its Chinese-style architecture and its striking vermilion gate. Admission fee is 300 yen per person.
Admission Fees:
- Adults: ¥300
- Junior High and High School Students: ¥200
- Elementary School Students: ¥100
*As of December 1, 2024. Please refer to the official website for more details.
Naka-dori shopping street / Hamanomachi shopping street
Nakadori Shopping Street is the oldest shopping street in Nagasaki, with a history of 400 years. It is lined with unique and local shops such as Japanese sweets stores, tea shops, fruit vendors, and more. Enjoy strolling and shopping around!
Lunch at Local restaurant
Let's enjoy lunch at a local restaurant!
Lunch is approximately ¥1,000 to ¥2,000.
Shianbashi / Doza area
The Shianbashi (Doza) area is Nagasaki's largest bar district. The bars may be closed during the day, but it’s the perfect time to take a stroll through this unique area! Let me guide you through this ultra-local spot with its distinct atmosphere—an experience that’s hard to find without a local guide.
Nagasaki China Town
Nagasaki China Town, one of Japan's three major Chinatowns, is a lively area filled with Chinese restaurants, shops, and temples. Famous for dishes like champon, it showcases the city's multicultural heritage.
From around chinatown, it costs approximately 1,000 yen per car to take a taxi back to the cruise ship terminal.
(Optional)Nagasaki Seaside Park
Nagasaki Seaside Park is a spacious urban park along Nagasaki Harbor. It features lush green lawns and walking paths, making it perfect for picnics and strolls. Visitors can relax while enjoying harbor views.
(Optional) Local coffee shop
I'll take you to my favorite coffee shop. (Don't worry if you can't drink coffee; there are other drinks on the menu as well.) Let's enjoy some relaxed time.
The former Nagasaki Foreign Settlement
The former Nagasaki Foreign Settlement is a historic area showcasing 19th-century Western influence. Key sites include Oura Church, Japan's oldest surviving Christian church, and Glover Garden, a picturesque collection of Western-style homes and gardens that reflect the lives of foreign residents of the era.
Glover Garden Admission Fees:
- Adults: ¥620
- High School Students: ¥310
- Elementary and Junior High School Students: ¥180
*As of December 1, 2024. Please refer to the official website for more details.
Admission Fees:
- Adults: ¥1,000
- Junior High and High School Students: ¥400
- Elementary School Students: ¥300
*As of December 1, 2024. Please refer to the official website for more details.
Ending Point
Somewhere in the city center (I will take you to your desired destination.)
This tour can be customized to meet your needs and preferences. Click below to send me a message with your requests.
- Guide Fee
- Pick up Fee
- Taxi fare (Guide & Customers)
- Public transportation fees (Guide & Customers)
- Admission fees to facilities (Guide & Customers)
- Lunch (Guide & Customers)
*In Japan, taxis typically accommodate a maximum of four passengers. Therefore, for tours with four guests, the group size becomes five including the guide, requiring the use of two taxis.
* This tour involves a lot of walking, so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
* Please let me know in advance if you have difficulty walking, use a wheelchair, or have similar needs.
* Please let me know in advance if you have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions.
Hi! I'm Sho! I live in the center of Nagasaki city and work as a YouTuber, podcaster, and tour guide specializing in sharing the charms of Nagasaki.
Actually, I was born and raised in Yokohama, near Tokyo, and worked for about 5 years in Tokyo. However, I fell in love with the culture and history of Nagasaki and moved here in 2020.
Nagasaki has a rich history of international exchange and friendship, established about 450 years ago as an international trading port in Japan. Since then, many people from all over the world with diverse cultures and values have visited this city. I love these stories and histories of Nagasaki.
Nagasaki is often associated with the sad history of the atomic bomb, which is, of course, an important part of this city's history, but Nagasaki has much more than that. I'm looking forward to introducing you to the many charms of Nagasaki!
Scott S.
“Excellent and personable ”
Sho was a fantastic guide. Very knowledgeable about the places he took us and we had lots of great conversations about Christian history in Nagasaki. He also took us to some of his favorite places to eat and cafes and recommended local Nagasaki sweets for gifts. All around great experience.
Shonosuke S.
Hi Scott! Thank you so much for joining the tour and for visiting Nagasaki, the city I love! I really enjoyed visiting many Christian-related sites with both of you and having such great conversations. I’m glad to hear you also enjoyed my favorite lunch spot and café. Please come and visit Nagasaki again anytime!
Tom H.
“Nagasaki tour”
We had a great time with Sho. He was so knowledgeable and so fun to be with. He took us all around Nagasaki by taxi cab. Exactly the way we wanted to go because it was fast. Every time it was time to get a cab he had two taxis that showed up just right on time. He was a great leader. He took us to a wonderful restaurant. Possibly the best of the trip. I highly recommend Sho. So easy to get along with and so overwhelmingly sensitive to where we were. I highly recommend Sho to give you a tour of Nagasaki. He is absolutely nothing but fun and made our day incredibly special.
Shonosuke S.
Hi Tom! Thank you so much for your amazing review, and for visiting Nagasaki, a city I truly love. I hope you had a smooth journey back home to the U.S. after your trip. I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed the tour in Nagasaki! It meant a lot to me that you took such a deep interest in the city's history and made the effort to explore places like the Tateyama Air Raid Shelter and the Nagasaki Museum for Human Rights and Peace (formerly the Masaharu Oka Nagasaki Peace Memorial Museum). I'm also really happy to hear that you enjoyed the food! Please do come back to Japan and to Nagasaki again sometime. You’re always welcome here!
Jeff T.
“One of our favourite guides we have ever had....”
We had the absolute pleasure of touring Nagasaki with Sho — or “Showtime,” as we affectionately called him — and what an unforgettable experience it was. Sho’s vibrant and positive energy was contagious from the start. He made our family feel so welcomed and cared for, with a level of attentiveness and kindness that was truly inspirational. Sho’s deep knowledge of Nagasaki was exceptional. He didn’t just guide us through the city’s highlights — he introduced us to hidden gardens and lesser-known gems that brought the city to life in such a unique and personal way. His passion for both the city and for making us feel at home was clear in everything he did. Flexible, insightful, and genuinely joyful to be around, Sho was more than just a guide — he felt like part of the family by the end. I honestly wish we could adopt him and bring him on every trip with us. If you're visiting Nagasaki, I cannot recommend Sho highly enough. He is truly a gem.
Shonosuke S.
Hi Jeff! Thank you so much for your kind and amazing review. Although it poured rain on the day of the tour, thanks to all of you it turned into such a fun day that the weather didn’t stand a chance. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed my favorite spots in Nagasaki. I honestly also wish I could come along on every trip with you lol. Thank you for letting me be part of your wonderful family time. Your family was so lovely that it made me hope I can have one like yours someday. I hope your fantastic journey continues and brings you many more wonderful memories! See you again!
$374/ per group