Ancient cultural roots and a history of international trade are backdropped by rolling hills and forested islands
Nagasaki was Japan’s early gateway to trade with the West, and this influence still shines through in its districts of stately European-style homes and a large Christian population. Historically strong links to China and Korea further inflect modern Nagasaki, although the prefecture features tombs and ruins dating back to the third century B.C. Unspoiled beaches and island getaways surrounded by crystal-clear seas that draw swimmers, divers, and sea kayakers, while the island of Tsushima attracts eco-tourists with its flora and fauna.
How to Get There
If you are traveling by air, Nagasaki Airport or nearby Fukuoka Airport are your best options. You can book bus tickets from either one that will take you directly to the city of Nagasaki. Alternatively, you can catch the bullet train all the way from Tokyo—or major cities between—to Hakata Station in Fukuoka. From here you have two options: catch a bus or ride the JR Kamome Limited Express to Nagasaki Station.
If you are traveling to Nagasaki from Fukuoka, you can catch a bus from Hakata or Tenjin, or ride the JR Kamome Limited Express from Hakata Station. To catch a ferry to any of the Goto Islands, purchase a ticket from Ohato terminal, which is located just behind Yume Saito, a popular shopping mall. To get around Nagasaki City, take the tram that goes to all the tourist spots for just 120 yen.
Don’t Miss
• The beautiful beaches of the Goto Islands, offering delicious fresh seafood
• Dejima and Glover Garden, the European-style home to some of Japan’s first foreign merchants
• Scaling Mt. Inasa for one of the top three night views in all of Japan
• Gunkanjima, the eerie, abandoned coal mining island made famous by film
Explore Nagasaki by Area
