Destination guide
Nagasaki
Japan
Nagasaki (長崎) is the capital of Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. Visitors usually come to visit the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, the abandoned town built on a nearby island constructed for coal mining, and the reconstructed 16th-century Portuguese/Dutch trading post.
AI insights
Local-ledAI-written from the Wikivoyage listings, transport section and mostly LOCAL creators' videos on this page
If you plan to visit Gunkanjima, book your boat tour months in advance; if you fail to do so, arrive at the cruise office hours before departure to join the cancellation list, as any available last-minute tickets are allocated exactly 20 minutes before the boat leaves.
Avoid wearing sandals, flip-flops, or high-heeled shoes when touring Gunkanjima, as landing on the island will be refused for safety reasons.
For the best nighttime views of the city from Mount Inasa, prioritize a taxi or car if your budget allows, as the bus route requires a 15-minute uphill walk that can be physically demanding.
Stay in the Shianbashi area if you intend to experience Nagasaki's nightlife; it places you within walking distance of the main entertainment districts, meaning you won't be stranded once the tram service stops for the night.
When visiting the Atomic Bomb Museum, consider stopping at the on-site cafe afterward; the exhibits are emotionally heavy, and taking a moment to sit and process the experience is a helpful way to transition back to your day.
How we vet these picks
Every pick is drawn from real sources — YouTube creators, Wikivoyage, and Wikipedia. We only surface sources that actually exist and that we've checked for authenticity — no filler, no dead-end searches.Watch first
Ranked by views and how well each landed with the people who watched it, judged against the other coverage of this place — plus a local creator where we found one.
【長崎】絶対に外せない観光スポットを20ヶ所一気に紹介します！
Top 5 Things to do in Nagasaki
【長崎観光】はじめての長崎で見逃せない観光スポット７選
JAPAN TRAVEL GUIDE- NAGASAKI THINGS TO DO - Gunkanjima, Atomic Bomb Hypocenter, Mount Inasa
【長崎】絶対行きたい！長崎の定番観光スポット5選！
Best Things To Do In Nagasaki, Japan | Travel Guide 2025
Best time to go
Best window: October–November
June, July and August are the months to avoid — very heavy rain. The window below is when it is genuinely pleasant.
Rated from ten years of daily temperature and rainfall recorded at this destination, via Open-Meteo's ERA5 reanalysis. Hover a month for its real numbers.
Getting around
Getting around
Trams (路面電車 romen densha or チンチン電車 "chin-chin densha") connect most of Nagasaki; they run about every ten to fifteen minutes during the day.
Transport notes from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0.
What to see
Places are listed from Wikivoyage and our own sourced research. Worth it means a second, independent source names the place too; “3 sources agree” means three or more do — and each card names them, so you can check.
Atomic Bomb Museum
Worth itAlso recommended by David Ostrowski
5 minutes by foot from tram stop Hamaguchi-machi of tram line 1 or 3 (destination 赤迫 akasako)
A well-done commemoration of one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century. At the far end of the museum tour, you will find a powerful argument against nuclear proliferation, outlined in several well-designed exhibits.
Vetted sources
Nagasaki Peace Park
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Nagasaki Peace Park is a solemn memorial complex near the hypocenter of the atomic bombing of 9 August 1945. Centered on the iconic Peace Statue, the park commemorates the victims and promotes a message of global peace and nuclear…
Vetted sources
Glover Garden
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Climb the hillside past Japan's oldest wooden Western-style building to panoramic harbor views from the Mitsubishi No. 2 Dock building terrace.
Vetted sources
Peace Park
Worth itAlso recommended by Lonely Planet
Stand before the 10-tonne bronze Peace Statue and dove-shaped fountain commemorating the atomic bombing of August 9, 1945.
Vetted sources
Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan
5-3 Minamiyamatemachi
Built soon after the end of the Japanese government's Seclusion Policy in 1853. It was built in honor of the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, six European missionaries and twenty Japanese Christians who were crucified in 1597 by order of…
Vetted sources
Inasayama
take a bus from Nagasaki Station, or by streetcar to Takaramachi Station, or by bus or taxi to Fuchi Shrine Station
When the weather is clear, this mountaintop offers a full 360 degree view of Nagasaki City and harbor, and is a must-see site. The nighttime view of the city is called the "10 Million Dollar View" and ranked as one of the best 3 city night…
Vetted sources
Museum of 26 Martyrs of Japan
7-8 Nishizakamachi
A monument and a museum stand on the site where 20 Japanese Christians and six European missionaries were crucified in 1597. These martyrs were canonized as saints in 1862.
Vetted sources
What to do
Gunkanjima
Worth itAlso recommended by David Ostrowski
take number 5 (green) tram toward Ishibashi to Ourakaigan-Dori stop, walk 1 minute toward the water
Gunkanjima ("Battleship Island") is a small island completely covered in the ruins of a mining city, abandoned since 1974. Once the most densely populated place on earth, it's now a ghost town, showing the decay of what society leaves…
Vetted sources
Where to stay
Victoria Inn Nagasaki
1-minute walk from Kanko-Dori stop on the No. 1 (blue) tram
Very centrally located, a few minutes' walk from Shianbashi, the shopping arcades, Shinchi Chinatown, and the central Tsuki-Machi tram stop. Spacious rooms, including huge luxury Victorian-styled rooms available on upper floors.
Vetted sources
Richmond Hotel
1-minute walk from Shianbashi stop on the No. 1 (blue) tram
An upmarket business hotel with very modern finishings, in the heart of Shianbashi—if you want to exploit the nightlife to its fullest and not worry about tram service ending, this is your place.
Vetted sources
Casa Noda
5-minute walk from Nagasaki Station, 1 minute from Goto Machi tram stop
The owner is nice and gives very good tips about the local restaurants and temple area. Good English is spoken. Use the map on their website to find it.
Vetted sources
Nagasaki Kagamiya
5-minute walk from Hotarujaya stop on the No. 3 (red) tram
Air conditioning, wifi, laundry available, shared fridge but no kitchen. Photos on the web site provide detail on how to find the location.
Vetted sources
Casa Blanca Guesthouse
7-16 Dōzamachi
Nice guest house in a nice place of the city. Near China town. Cash only. English is spoken.
Vetted sources
Minato Sauna
A sauna/sento (bathhouse) and capsule hotel located two blocks east of Nagasaki ferry terminal. Look for the jolly sailor logo on the and note that despite the clearly arrowed signage, the entrance is actually in the alley to the left.
Vetted sources
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Travel content from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Encyclopedic context from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Videos via the YouTube Data API.