Nagasaki
Save31 hand-picked places in 9 lists. Tick the categories you want to see on the map.
Only have a day? See 2 ready-made day plans ↓10 places on the map
Rainy day
- 1
Moving museum documenting the 1945 bombing and its aftermath.
3 tips
- Allow 1.5 hours
- Audio guide available
- Emotionally heavy content
📷 Photos
- 2
Solemn memorial hall for atomic bomb victims with a hall of remembrance.
3 tips
- Free entry
- Descend the glass tower
- Next to the Atomic Bomb Museum
📷 Photos
- 3
Museum on Nagasaki's role in foreign trade and cultural exchange.
3 tips
- Reproduced magistrate office
- Allow 1.5 hours
- Near Suwa Shrine
📷 Photos
- 4
Modern riverside art museum designed by Kuma Kengo.
3 tips
- Rooftop garden is free
- Cafe with canal view
- Check exhibition schedule
📷 Photos
- 5
Restored Dutch trading post on a fan-shaped island, Japan's window to the West.
- Tip: Allow a few hours
2 tips
- Ticket covers all buildings
- Nearby tram stop Dejima
📷 Photos
- 6
Memorial to Christians executed in 1597, with a small museum.
3 tips
- Near Nagasaki Station
- Short visit
- Quiet and respectful
📷 Photos
- 7
Japan's oldest surviving Gothic-style church, a National Treasure.
3 tips
- Closed to visitors during services
- Stained glass is the highlight
- Near Glover Garden
📷 Photos
- 8
Rebuilt cathedral, a centre of Nagasaki's Catholic community.
3 tips
- Respect services
- Look for the damaged bell
- Quiet visit
📷 Photos
- 9
Vivid red Chinese-style Obaku Zen temple founded in 1629.
- Tip: Go early
2 tips
- Small entry fee
- Photograph the red gate
📷 Photos
- 10
Japan's first Obaku Zen temple with a distinctive Chinese design.
3 tips
- Peaceful setting
- Small fee
- Near Megane Bridge
📷 Photos
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Before you go: Nagasaki tips
Transportation
- Ride the streetcar: Nagasaki's tram network reaches most sights, including Peace Park, Dejima and Glover Garden; a day pass saves money.
- Take the Shinkansen: The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen links Nagasaki to Takeo-Onsen, with a relay train onward to Fukuoka.
- Use the ropeway: The Mt Inasa ropeway takes you up for city views without a long walk or drive.
Security
- Mind the slopes: Nagasaki is hilly with steep stairs; wear good shoes and take care on wet steps.
- Prepare for typhoons: Late summer storms can stop trains, ferries and tours; follow alerts and keep plans flexible.
- Check Gunkanjima tours: Landing on Hashima Island depends on sea conditions, so tours may be cancelled at short notice.
Saving
- Get a tram day pass: If you plan several rides, a one-day pass is usually cheaper than paying per trip.
- Eat champon: Nagasaki's signature noodle soup is filling and affordable at local shops in Chinatown and beyond.
- Grab konbini meals: Convenience stores offer tasty, budget-friendly snacks and meals throughout the day.
Weather/Clothing
- Pack rain gear in early summer: The rainy season around June and July brings heavy showers, so bring an umbrella.
- Prepare for humid summers: Summers are hot and sticky; light breathable clothing and water are essential on hilly walks.
- Bring a jacket in winter: Winters are mild but chilly and windy, especially at viewpoints like Mt Inasa at night.
Cultural
- Visit the Peace Park respectfully: The Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park are places of remembrance; be quiet and considerate.
- Learn the trading history: Dejima was Japan's window to the West for centuries; the restored island tells this story.
- Try castella: Nagasaki's famous sponge cake, introduced by Portuguese traders, makes a classic souvenir.
Local Hacks
- See the night view: Mt Inasa's night view is among Japan's most famous; go just before sunset to see both day and night.
- Time it for the Lantern Festival: Around Chinese New Year, thousands of lanterns light up Chinatown and the city centre.
- Catch Kunchi in October: The Okunchi festival brings dramatic dragon dances and floats to Suwa Shrine and the streets.
1-day itineraries in Nagasaki
Only have a day? Each one keeps you in one area, from morning to late afternoon, with lunch nearby.
Day 1 of 2
Megane Bridge and around
🕘 9:30–17:00📍 5 stops
- 1Megane Bridge
- 2Nagasaki Chinatown
- 3Dejima
- 4Glover Garden
- 5Oura Church
Day 2 of 2
Nagasaki Peace Park and around
🕘 9:30–16:15📍 5 stops
- 1Urakami Cathedral
- 2Nagasaki Peace Park
- 3Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall
- 4Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
- 5Sanno Shrine One-Legged Torii