Nagasaki City is the largest city within the Nagasaki prefecture. Since the opening of its port in 1570, it has prospered as a window for trade with the West and with China. As a result, it has built a unique culture in which Japanese and foreign cultures coexist. Nagasaki City has two World Heritage Sites; the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution (Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding, and Coal Mining Industries),” which includes Hashima, commonly known as Battleship Island. The second World Heritage Site are the “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region,” which includes Oura Cathedral, the oldest wooden church of Gothic architecture in Japan.
An atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki City in 1945. The city has fully recovered since then, and it is now a thriving international city. Each year, Nagasaki promotes the importance of world peace, and a world without nuclear weapons. Nagasaki Hypocenter Park and The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum are some of the must-visit spots. The scenery of central Nagasaki City, which is surrounded by mountains on three sides, is unique and beautiful. In particular, the night view has been recognized as one of the “The World’s New Top Three Night Views” alongside with Shanghai and Monaco.
2025 marks 80 memorial years since Nagasaki was hit by an atomic bomb. Nagasaki, a place of day-to-day prayer even before WWII, continues to pray for the spirits of the victims of the bombs, and for peace.
A typical sightseeing day would have you visit the Atomic Peace Park, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Nagasaki Hypocenter Park. This are can be accessed by the local trams that run on the streets. Then a visit to the third largest China Town in Japan will also lead you to the slopes of Holland the the impressive Glover Gardens and residence. A visit to the Oura Cathedral is also a must. The Spectacle Bridge and Suwa Shrine are also local and popular areas.
For those with additional time, a day cruise to the Goto Islands will take you to a paradise not many can reach, although the cruise to the island will take approx. 2.5 hours one way. On the island explore the hidden Christian Churches.
Travel inland from Nagasaki City and visit the famous ceramic area of Imari. A stop at a kiln can be educational and you can drive through the tiered rice paddy fields. Sasebo also is a popular destination near Imari and here you can got to the Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort for a short cruise. Walk through Japan’s longest straight-line shopping arcade and also make sure you try the famous Sasebo burger. It is said that it got its start when U.S. Navy officials introduced American recipes into the Sasebo area.
To access Nagasaki, a domestic flight maybe the best option, if you are coming from Tokyo or even Osaka. Or you can take the JR Kyushu Bullet train which links to the Kamome Rapid Train and can get you to Nagasaki from Osaka in approx. 4.5 hours and Hiroshima in approx. 3 hours.
Highlights: Nagasaki Peace Park • Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum • Nagasaki Hypocenter Park • Sanno Shrine and The One-Pillar Torii Gate • Sofukuji Temple • Teramachi Street has 14 temples and two shrines • Mt. Inasa & Nagasaki Ropeway • Japan’s oldest church, Oura Cathedral • Glover Garden and traditional houses • Goto Island and the hidden Christian Churches • Sasebo • Tsushima Islands
Recommended length of stay: 2-3 days