Nagasaki is steadily changing into one among Kyūshū’s hottest journey locations. Our someday itinerary will make it easier to plan the right Nagasaki day journey.
Removed from the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, Nagasaki is a staple of Kyūshū island – the right place in your subsequent getaway. With its longstanding historical past and picturesque slopes, Nagasaki is a multicultural metropolis that’s residence to not only one, however two UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
As somebody who used to name herself a Nagasaki native, there’s nothing fairly like listening to the bicoloured tram dutifully clacking alongside its tracks, getting that first style of Champon noodles, or seeing the “10-million-dollar evening view” from Mount Inasa’s observatory after spending a day exploring “the San Francisco of Japan.”
After studying our information to planning the right someday itinerary in Nagasaki, I hope you’ll be prepared to go to the most effective locations in Japan to see, style, and expertise historical past for your self.
Nagasaki Day Journey Itinerary Overview & Map
For those who don’t have sufficient time to learn the total Nagasaki itinerary, you may take a look at the map beneath. It contains every little thing from the information beneath – however learn on for extra insider ideas and further data to make your time in Nagasaki unforgettable.
Nagasaki Metropolis provides among the finest public transportation in Japan. Due to the Nagasaki tram system, in addition to in depth bus and taxi providers, getting round is tremendous simple.
When you may stroll to all the stops on our itinerary, please notice that Nagasaki is legendary for its slopes. So, when you resolve to step off the crushed path (which we are going to in the direction of the top), be ready for a exercise!
For those who’re to see extra of Kyūshū, I like to recommend testing the All Kyūshū JR Pass or regular JR Pass.
The Shinkansen bullet practice is a wonderful solution to journey round Japan at a extra reasonably priced worth. For extra data, learn our JR Pass Guide and cease by the newly remodelled Nagasaki Station.
One Day In Nagasaki Itinerary
Right here’s find out how to see the most effective of Nagasaki in someday:
1. Arive In Nagasaki
Because the completion of the brand new Kamome Shinkansen Line, Nagasaki has turn into a perfect place to go to after spending a day or two in Fukuoka. Due to the brand new bullet practice, commuting time between Hakata and Nagasaki has been reduce down from 2 hours to simply half-hour!
For those who’re coming from Osaka or Tokyo, you can even entry Nagasaki Metropolis through the Nagasaki Airport. It takes about two hours to fly from Tokyo to Nagasaki, whereas you may get there from Osaka in only one hour.
A one-way ticket for a continuous bus from Nagasaki Airport to Nagasaki Shinchi Terminal (Nagasaki Station) prices round 1,000 yen. For those who resolve to take this route, you may board the bus at Platform 4, which is conveniently situated close to the sales space for buying bus tickets.
2. Strike A Pose At The Spectacles Bridge
This wouldn’t be the right Nagasaki day journey if we didn’t begin with “Megane-Bashi” or the Spectacles Bridge. The title comes from the picture mirrored on the water, which appears to be like like a pair of round-shaped glasses. The Spectacles Bridge hangs over the Nakashima River and is joined by seven different stone bridges, every as distinctive and gorgeous as the following.
The bridges aren’t the one spectacles to be discovered on this historic neighbourhood (see what I did there?). There’s additionally a building with a train-shaped facade, a cat shrine, a Buddhist temple that’s residence to a big ginkgo tree, a number of statues of historic figures, public artwork installations, and matsuri (pageant) decorations when you occur to go to throughout the Nagasaki Lantern Festival.
Within the centre of the river, there are stones you may stroll on and pose for the most effective photograph with an iconic Nagasaki image behind you. Keep in mind to maintain an eye fixed out for the “secret” heart-shaped stone as you stroll alongside the riverbank for yet one more place to strike a pose.
There are a lot of attention-grabbing issues to see on this small space, so it’s finest to take your time and luxuriate in strolling round this well-known image of Nagasaki. At any time when I go to the Spectacles Bridge, I ensure to cease by HafH Nagasaki SAI and seize a espresso to take pleasure in whereas exploring.
3. Store Round The Hamamachi Buying Arcade
The Hamamachi Buying Arcade, or just, “The Arcade,” is a well-liked retro-style buying space that’s the gathering spot for Nagasaki locals. From the Spectacle Bridge, it solely takes about 10 minutes to get there.
It’s a ménage of chain eating places, 100 yen shops, second-hand outfitters, stationery outlets, and just about some other type of common Japanese retailer you may consider. And sure, there’s even a cat café and, after all, a Don Quijote.
My private go-to store for getting omiyage or souvenirs is the Ishimaru Bunkoudou Flagship store. Every ground sells a unique kind of stationary merchandise and there are six flooring in whole.
For breakfast or lunch, most locals would inform you to go to Fujio. This café has unique counter seat-style seating that sells the most effective sandos (sandwiches) in Kyūshū. It has been open since 1946 and remains to be going sturdy.
4. Say Your Prayers At Suwa Shrine
Earlier than you step off of the town tram at Shindaikumachi Station, the very first thing you’ll discover is the large white torii gate that guards Suwa Shrine. That is Nagasaki’s premier Shintō shrine. If you’re coming from the street-level entrance, you’ll come throughout a number of of those giant stone torii gates and can cross by two big stone lanterns that gentle up at evening.
Suwa Shrine has traditionally hosted a lot of Nagasaki’s most well-known festivals, such because the coming-of age-festival for youngsters (shichi-go-san) and the Nagasaki Kunchi Pageant. The Kunchi pageant is among the most well-known cultural festivals in all of Japan and has been celebrated for practically 400 years. It’s held yearly from October seventh by the ninth.
A whole lot of individuals collect on the shrine’s method to observe the well-known Dragon Dance, put on traditional Japanese clothes, and eat conventional pageant meals like takoyaki (grilled octopus balls).
Suwa Shrine is a wonderful place to see Nagasaki’s well-known slopes. The shrine additionally provides English-translated omikuji (fortune) and there’s even a soba-noodle store on the premises. There’s additionally a small zoo close by, referred to as Nagasaki Park Animal Square.
If you’re down for extra city exploring, behind Suwa Shrine is a avenue referred to as “the unusual road” that has a number of giant bushes rising within the centre. For those who hike one other quarter-hour up the hill, there’s Tateyama Park, which provides much more breathtaking aerial views of Nagasaki (actually).
5. Escape The Noise At Matsumori Tenmangu Shrine
For those who’re trying so as to add a extra lowkey and fewer touristy place to your itinerary, then I might advocate visiting Matsumori Tenmangu Shrine. It’s solely a five-minute stroll from Suwa Shrine and is extra discreet. It rests in a quiet neighbourhood away from the crowds.
The shrine is residence to a lovely stone torii gate in addition to a flock of free-range chickens. Matsunomori Tenmangu Shrine has 5 smaller shrines which are carved from wooden and have fantastically intricate particulars.
There are a number of giant camphor bushes on the premises which are thought of sacred and are marked by shimenawa rope. There’s additionally a cannon shell, which was donated by a Meiji Interval Conflict Minister.
Matsunomori Tenmangu Shrine is a wonderful selection if you’re travelling solo or just wish to discover some peace and quiet within the confines of Nagasaki Metropolis.
6. Discover Glover Backyard’s Historic Home On The Hill
Our someday itinerary in Nagasaki wouldn’t be full with out making a cease over at Glover Backyard. The park rests atop of Minami-Yamate hill, overlooking Nagasaki’s picturesque harbour and Megami Suspension Bridge, the longest cable-stayed bridge in Kyūshū. Every time I go to, I’m reminded of the view of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.
Glover Backyard will get its namesake from Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish service provider who settled in Nagasaki along with his household throughout the Meiji Interval (1863). The Glovers’ residence is so effectively preserved, it stays one of many oldest examples of Western structure in Japan, together with close by Oura Church, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Web site.
The reward store for Glover Backyard is situated contained in the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Center, which is the year-round residence for the Kunchi Pageant Dragon Boats.
On the backside of the hill lies the Gunkanjima Digital Museum. Gunkanjima, or “Battleship Island,” was featured within the 2012 James Bond movie Skyfall and was lately highlighted on the Overseas in Japan YouTube channel, which boasts 2.85 million followers on the time of writing.
For those who resolve so as to add Glover Backyard to your good someday itinerary, my private advice can be the Prayer Hill Picture Book Museum. Pictures usually are not allowed inside, which is an entire travesty as a result of the within is so cute – it appears to be like like one thing proper out of a kids’s e-book itself!
For 500 yen, you may entry the second-floor gallery which frequently shows work from well-known kids’s e-book artists from world wide and is bound to be a candy addition to your journey.
7. Calm down At Nagasaki Seaside Park
Thus far, this Nagasaki itinerary contains 400-year-old shrines, glasses-shaped bridges, and a Western-style home up on a hill. Now it’s time to speak about Nagasaki Seaside Park, which is the right place to take a break after a protracted day of strolling.
Much like Kyoto’s well-known Kamo River, Nagasaki Seaside Park is a spot for locals to retreat after a protracted week of exhausting work. On the weekends, and sometimes even on weekdays, you can see {couples}, households and associates gathering right here to observe the departure of the cruise ships just like the Diamond Princess (which, enjoyable truth, was inbuilt Nagasaki Port by Mitsubishi!), or take pleasure in watching the sundown behind Mount Inasa.
Inside strolling distance of Seaside Park is Dejima, a man-made island that was as soon as the segregated residence of the Dutch and Portuguese merchants. There’s additionally a boardwalk, which hosts Attic Coffee and some eating places that vary from upscale seafood to Italian-inspired eating.
Nagasaki Seaside Park is the right place to take a seat down on a blanket, have a picnic, or just stroll round and really feel the nice vibes of the town alongside the locals. You probably have an additional day or two so as to add to your itinerary, I extremely advocate spending a day right here. There’s nothing higher than watching all the ships go by!
8. Get “Spirited Away” In Shinchi Chinatown
Shinchi Chinatown has a wealthy and sophisticated historical past with the town of Nagasaki. Previously, Chinese language foreigners residing in Nagasaki have been segregated into their very own districts. Just like the European foreigners at Dejima, they weren’t allowed to depart or work together with Japanese locals.
At present, this lantern-filled district has hundreds of tourists yearly. Many cruise ships carrying overseas vacationers dock at Nagasaki Port and one of many first locations cruise-ship goers take a look at is Chinatown (and the Studio Ghibli Retailer that simply so occurs to even be in Chinatown).
Shinchi Chinatown can be the most effective place to strive Nagasaki Champon, a neighborhood dish that’s well-known for its historic significance as a Chinese language-Japanese fusion dish. The thick broth and hearty noodles make it the right seafood-flavoured dish throughout the chilly climate months.
Pork buns are a preferred possibility for vacationers to strive as effectively. If you wish to style the actual Champon, skip Ringer Hut and go straight to Kozanro Chukagai Shinkan. It’s a neighborhood restaurant that’s so common, you may must make a reservation upfront; the meals is that good!
If you need to be taught extra concerning the historical past of Chinese language folks in Nagasaki, you may take the tram from Shinchi Chinatown to the Nagasaki Koshibyo Confucius Shrine. It’s near Glover Backyard and can be the place the Historic Museum of China is situated. The shrine homes a lot of attention-grabbing artefacts, equivalent to pottery and artwork.
9. Dive Into Nagasaki’s Nightlife
Nagasaki has a nightlife tradition that’s paying homage to visiting the native bars in your hometown, however you continue to get away with by no means having the identical evening twice. It’s on a a lot smaller scale than the rambunctious nightclubs of Fukuoka or Osaka.
For those who’re not too exhausted from a day of sight-seeing, and also you’re within the temper for a chilly beer on faucet or thirsting for a candy non-alcoholic substitute, LOCAL is the right place to settle in for the evening and begin up a dialog with the regulars who go to there.
This spring, LOCAL celebrated their seventh anniversary because the premier foreigner-friendly bar that’s joined by Bar IWI and Daisyhill Nagasaki. The vibes at LOCAL are immaculate, and it’s my go-to place after I’m within the temper to relax, however nonetheless wish to maintain the occasion going.
The center of Nagasaki’s nightlife is Shianbashi. The bars listed below are well-established and are inside view of the Hamamachi Buying Arcade. Nonetheless, it’s with a heavy coronary heart that I need to inform you {that a} date has been set for the demolition of this historic web site.
On a extra optimistic notice, instead of the well-worn bars and nightclubs, a public park will likely be created, together with a restored riverbed. Fortunately, there are nonetheless loads of different locations to remain out late in Nagasaki.
10. Stand Amongst The Stars At Mount Inasa’s Observatory
There isn’t a higher place to conclude our good Nagasaki itinerary than from 333 meters up within the air at Mount Inasa’s Observatory. Locals and vacationers alike flock to the highest of the mountain to catch a glimpse of the solar sinking into the ocean.
The radio towers situated atop Mount Inasa glow each evening. For those who can’t make it to the highest, don’t fear, you may nonetheless benefit from the illumination from Nagasaki Seaside Park or the Dejima boardwalk!
To get to Mount Inasa, you may take a bus or automobile (there are a number of parking tons situated close to the summit). Nonetheless, to get the most effective expertise, I like to recommend taking the Mount Inasa Ropeway (open till 10PM). The glass automobile permits 360-degree views of Mount Inasa and provides passengers a front-row seat to Nagasaki’s dazzling evening view. A really romantic sight, certainly!
To entry the ropeway, you may take the tram to Takaramachi Station after which stroll quarter-hour to Fuchi Shrine Station (the ropeway station is definitely situated inside the precincts of a shinto shrine. Fairly cool, proper?). Typically the ropeway is closed for upkeep functions, so make sure to give your self time upfront to hop on a bus in case the station is inaccessible.
Lastly, yet one more particular heart-shaped easter egg awaits inside the “10-Million-Greenback Night time View.” There are extra hearts hidden all through the observatory, so have enjoyable looking for them as you anticipate the celebrities to come back out.
How Many Days Do You Want In Nagasaki?
When you can see among the primary highlights in Nagasaki in someday, I like to recommend spending at the least two days in Nagasaki when you have the time.
For those who spend one other day in Nagasaki, we’ve acquired some extra suggestions beneath. It’s a good suggestion to download Google Maps too – the app will make it easier to discover a few of these spots as they’re fairly actually the definition of “off the crushed path.”
Additional Issues To Add To Your Nagasaki Itinerary
For those who resolve to spend some additional time in Nagasaki, ensure you take a look at the next spots.
Wakamiya Inari Shrine is a improbable spot that holds many surprises. Not solely is it nice for photographs (there’s a scenic stroll up beneath vermillion gates and a fantastic view of Nagasaki’s well-known slopes), however it’s also the place a really distinctive autumn pageant is held.
Through the Takengei pageant, acrobats carrying fox masks climb 10-metre-high bamboo poles and throw mochi rice muffins at spectators whereas performing numerous aerial acts. The pageant is held yearly on October 14th and fifteenth.
The Statue of Sakamoto Ryōma. For those who’re down for some city climbing (and also you wish to actually heat up these glutes), then proceed on up the hill from Wakamiya Inari Shrine and also you’ll finally discover the bust of one among Japan’s most well-known samurai, Sakamoto Ryōma. Nagasaki truly has three statues devoted to Ryōma-san.
One of the best views are discovered close to those situated up on the hill. For those who don’t wish to miss out, but in addition don’t really feel like mountaineering, you may take a taxi to the parking zone close to the highest. These are among the finest ones:
The Glover Sky Road is one among my favorite locations to go after I wish to actually see Nagasaki’s distinctive topography up shut. After taking the tram to the final cease, which is Ishibashi Station, stroll about 5 minutes up the hill and you’ll come throughout an outside elevator that’s tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood.
Whereas the elevator itself is a sight to behold, the views from the highest are even higher. For those who observe the brick path and go up the second elevator (that’s proper, there are two), you’ll arrive on the secondary entrance to Glover Backyard.
Nonetheless, when you flip proper earlier than getting on the elevator, the trail will proceed and you’ll quickly discover the doorway to a really beautiful, ivy-covered avenue often known as “Prayer Slope.” For those who aren’t certain you’re in the correct place, don’t be afraid to examine Google Maps!
Is It Value Visiting Nagasaki?
Sure, Nagasaki is unquestionably price visiting. There are tons of nice sights to see, scrumptious meals to style and historical past to find out about.
If you’re visiting Nagasaki for the primary time, I like to recommend visiting the Atomic Bomb Museum. The epicentre close by Peace Memorial Corridor is devoted to the victims of the 1945 dropping of the atomic bomb and tells the tales of the survivors.
Just like the Peace Park of Hiroshima, the expertise is each sobering and informative. If you need to honour the victims however wish to go to the museum one other time, the close by Peace Park is a lovely public out of doors house that you may go to in lieu of the museum. Personally, I like taking a look at all of the monuments which have been donated by nations from all around the world.
The folks of Nagasaki advocate for world peace and carry a robust sense of native satisfaction for his or her folks and their metropolis. Though they’ve gone by experiences that just a few others perceive, they’re all the time pleasant and alluring to those that are respectful of their historical past and their tradition, which is why I’ll all the time maintain coming again to Nagasaki.
Conclusion – One Day In Nagasaki
Nagasaki actually has all of it – hidden gems, scrumptious native delicacies, and even a Chinatown. From the highest of Mount Inasa to the stone steps beneath the Spectacles Bridge, there’s all the time one thing new to expertise in one among Kyūshū’s most well-known cities.
Why not strive coming for a go to and see what Nagasaki is like for your self?
