Nagasaki

Travel Guide

Nagasaki
Suwa Shrine
Oura Church
Sanno Shrine
Ryukyu Islands which includes a city and street scenes

Modernized during the Meiji period, this southern Japanese city has an intriguing history of Dutch trading, Christian missions and the atomic bomb.

The Japanese city of Nagasaki is known for having been bombed in 1945, but its development prior to that time is fascinating. Visit the revitalized city to explore its earlier trading and industrial past and experience its welcoming modern culture, with a future looking toward world peace.

Built around a protective harbor facing the South China Sea, early Nagasaki was a natural spot for sea trade, beginning in the early 1600s. Tour the restored buildings of Dejima, a manmade island where a Dutch trading post stood for 218 years. Visit the nearby Nagasaki Kameyama Shachu Memorial Museum which tells additional stories of the modernization in Nagasaki that led early industrialization across the country. Nearby, the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture relates development of East/West relations.

Stop at the Oura Catholic Church overlooking the harbor. In this 1864 gothic church, foreigners and early Japanese Christians were allowed to practice their faith freely. Next door, the Glover Garden contains the former residence of Thomas Glover, a Scottish merchant whose efforts in mining and shipbuilding influenced modernization.

From the port, take a boat ride to Gunkanjima, an island that was once a coal mine. As you pass the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Nagasaki Shipyard, notice the giant cantilever crane, installed in 1909 and still in operation.

Largely because of its shipbuilding and industrialization, Nagasaki was the target for the second atomic bomb during World War II. Tens of thousands of people died. Honor those individuals and the city’s prayers for peace at Peace Park. Here, a tall monolith in Hypocenter Park marks the center of the explosion. The Peace Statue, Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall For the Atomic Bomb Victims are nearby.

At night, take the ropeway, bus or car up Mount Inasa to look down upon the lights of the city reflecting in the harbor. Before leaving, visit the beach at Iojima Island to enjoy some sunshine.

Fly to Nagasaki from Tokyo in about 2 hours.

Where to stay in Nagasaki

Nagasaki Chinatown showing signage and street scenes

Nagasaki Chinatown

5/5(11 area reviews)

Nagasaki Chinatown is noteworthy for its shopping, and you can make a stop at top attractions like Nagasaki Dejima and Hamanomachi Arcade.

Nagasaki Chinatown
Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum

Dejimamachi

While visiting Dejimamachi, you might make a stop by sights like Nagasaki Dejima and Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum.

Dejimamachi
Belleview Nagasaki Dejima
Belleview Nagasaki Dejima
3 out of 5
1-20 Edo-machi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki
The price is ₩49,106 per night from Jul 8 to Jul 9
₩49,106
₩59,425 total
Jul 8 - Jul 9
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and parking (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.6/10 Excellent! (934 reviews)
"Beautiful, peaceful and clean property. I love it. One days i'll be back!"

Reviewed on Jun 9, 2025

Belleview Nagasaki Dejima
Hotel Wingport
Hotel Wingport
3 out of 5
9-2 Daikoku-cho, Nagasaki, Nagasaki
The price is ₩57,878 per night from Jul 8 to Jul 9
₩57,878
₩63,670 total
Jul 8 - Jul 9
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast (surcharge), and daily housekeeping. Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean rooms ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (813 reviews)
"If you are looking for a cheap but comfortable stay for business purposes or for a very short stay, this place is very good. It’s close to the main station, with restaurants nearby. Staff are helpful and very polite"

Reviewed on May 14, 2025

Hotel Wingport
Candeo Hotels Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
Candeo Hotels Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
3 out of 5
Dozamachi 3-12, Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is ₩110,625 per night from Jul 14 to Jul 15
₩110,625
₩121,687 total
Jul 14 - Jul 15
Stay at this 3-star spa hotel in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, a full-service spa, and breakfast (surcharge). Our guests praise the helpful staff and the clean ...
9/10 Wonderful! (615 reviews)
"Good place near Chinatown and the port. Public bath on the roof and breakfast were big pluses for this property. Room was fine, ten minutes from the train station by streetcar. About as expected by Candeo standards. Breakfast can be crowded if a tour group in staying at the hotel, they eat at the ..."

Reviewed on Jun 8, 2025

Candeo Hotels Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Grand Base Nagasaki City
Grand Base Nagasaki City
2.5 out of 5
2 39 Tamazonomachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
Stay at this apartment in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, parking (surcharge), and slippers. Popular attractions Shofukuji Temple and Nagasaki Museum of History and ...
8.2/10 Very Good! (98 reviews)
"The place is not well labeled, so if you’re driving by yourself it’s a little difficult to find. Also, the security pad to get into the building requires you to wait before it clicks open. Would’ve been nice to know that. Parking in front is all in Japanese."

Reviewed on Mar 1, 2025

Grand Base Nagasaki City
Grand Base Urakami
Grand Base Urakami
3 out of 5
7-7 Kawaguchimachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki Prefecture
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, slippers, and climate control. Popular attractions Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (46 reviews)
"This hotel is amazing!! We were glad it was our last hotel as we would have been very disappointed with all of our other hotels in other cities if we would have started with this one! 4 separate beds, a nice living room area, a nice bathroom, and small kitchen. The only suggestion is some kind of ..."

Reviewed on Jun 6, 2025

Grand Base Urakami
GRAND BASE Nagasaki Nakamachi
GRAND BASE Nagasaki Nakamachi
3 out of 5
5-11 Nakamachi, Nagasaki, Nagasaki
Stay at this 3-star apartment in Nagasaki. Enjoy free WiFi, slippers, and climate control. Popular attractions Fukusaiji Temple and Nakamachi Church are located ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (33 reviews)
"The room overall was nice with the separate washroom and traditional shower, a kitchen, and a TV. The only bad part was the cleanliness of the couch and beds. The couch had an unlimited amount of stains from who knows where. The beds also had a bit of a stench to them, but you get used to it after ..."

Reviewed on May 17, 2025

GRAND BASE Nagasaki Nakamachi
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

Reviews of Nagasaki

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
24
5 - Excellent 52%
4 - Good
19
4 - Good 41%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
3
2 - Disappointing 7%
1 - Terrible
0
1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Compared to Tokyo, Yokohama, Hiroshima......more relaxed, laid-back and “small-towni-ish”. Great place to stroll around and relax. Public trans makes city easy to see..

4/5 - Good

Darby

so hard to find a money changer.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

This is an extremely interesting city to visit to learn about both Japanese and world history. It is a very easy city to get around in and people were very helpful.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler

Nagasaki is beautiful place with mountains and the sea. It has many sight seeing spots, and we asked questions, people answered kindly every time.

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler

I had to open the windows to let air In because odor in room was very bad

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler

Very nice city with much to do. English is limited (compared to Tokyo and Osaka) but people are incredibly friendly and helpful

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