Nagasaki, a historic port city on Japan’s Kyushu Island, is a captivating blend of East-meets-West culture, tragic WWII history, and stunning natural landscapes.
Known for its unique fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch influences, Nagasaki offers travelers a deeply moving and visually stunning experience.
How to Plan a Trip to Nagasaki
Hotels & Flight Tickets
Hotels in Nagasaki:
Trip.com | Expedia
Discounted Air Tickets:
Trip.com | Expedia
Transportation from FUK airport to Nagasaki
Here’s a detailed guide on traveling from Fukuoka Airport (FUK) to Nagasaki City, including the fastest, most scenic, and budget-friendly options:
By Direct Limousine Bus
Route: Fukuoka Airport (International Terminal) → Nagasaki Bus Terminal
Duration: ~2.5 hours
Cost: ¥2,600 one way
Frequency: Every 1-2 hours (06:50 to 20:30)
Buses are comfortable with free WiFi and luggage storage.
By Train
Route: Fukuoka Airport → Hakata Station → Take the Kamome Limited Express → Nagasaki Station
Total Duration: ~2 hours
Cost: ¥5,390 (reserved seat)
How to Board: Airport to Hakata Station: Take the Fukuoka Subway (Kūkō Line) from Fukuoka Airport to Hakata Station (5 min, ¥310).
Hakata to Nagasaki: Board the Kamome Limited Express (direct train, 1h55m).
Scenic coastal views, especially around Omura Bay.
By Taxi/Private Transfer
Duration: ~2 hours
Cost: ~¥30,000 (for 4 passengers)
Best For: Groups/families
By Rental Car
Route: Fukuoka Airport → Nagasaki via Nagasaki Expressway
Distance: ~160 km
Duration: ~2.5 hours
Tolls: ~¥3,500 (ETC discounts available)
Huis Ten Bosch ハウステンボス
This Dutch-themed park (named after the Dutch royal palace) goes beyond kitsch to authentically recreate 17th-century Netherlands using traditional materials and techniques.
The brick buildings were made with clay from Nagasaki’s islands and fired using historical methods, while the canals follow authentic Dutch hydraulic engineering.
The park’s highlights include working replicas of Dutch windmills grinding local flour.
A Delft blue pottery workshop using 400-year-old techniques, and seasonal flower fields that rival the Netherlands’ own Keukenhof.
At night, the “Kingdom of Light” transforms the canals into glittering reflections using millions of LEDs.
Address: 1-1 Huis Ten Bosch-machi, Sasebo
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 22:00
How to Get There: Train: JR Limited Express to Huis Ten Bosch Station (1.5 hrs from Nagasaki).
Mount Inasa 稲佐山
Regarded as one of the world’s top three night views alongside Hong Kong and Monaco, Mount Inasa’s 333-meter summit offers a 360-degree panorama where geography tells Nagasaki’s story.
The harbor’s natural amphitheater shape made it ideal for trade, while the clustered lights reveal how the city rebuilt around its hills after 1945.
The view changes dramatically with the weather; fog creates a “sea of clouds” effect, while clear nights reveal constellations once used by Portuguese navigators.
The observation deck’s circular design represents a pocket watch – a nod to Japan’s first Western-style clockmaker, who lived in Nagasaki.
Address: Fuchimachi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: Ropeway: 09:00 – 22:00
How to Get There: Bus: From Nagasaki Station, take the Shuttle Bus to the ropeway station.
You can reach the summit via ropeway (5 min), hiking trail (1 hr), or taxi.
Nagasaki Chinatown 新地中華街
Japan’s oldest Chinatown (established 1641) developed unique fusion flavors during the Edo Period when Chinese traders were restricted to this enclave.
Unlike other Japanese Chinatowns, Nagasaki’s retains distinct Fujianese influences in its temple architecture.
The nearby Shinchi district reveals layers of history: 17th-century stone warehouses now housing boutique cafes, hidden courtyards where merchants stored illicit goods.
The old “Tōjin Yashiki” (Chinese Residence) walls are incorporated into modern buildings.
Foodies should seek out kakuni manju (braised pork buns) at century-old shops or try the unique “Turkish rice”, a Nagasaki-original dish combining pork cutlet, spaghetti, and rice, reflecting the city’s multicultural influences.
Address: 10-13 Shinchi-machi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: Varies by restaurant (Most open 11:00 – 21:00)
How to Get There: Tram: Line 1 or 5 to Tsuki-machi Station, then a 5-minute walk.
Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) 軍艦島
This abandoned coal-mining island presents a post-apocalyptic vision of Japan’s industrial revolution.
When Mitsubishi developed it in 1890, Hashima Island became the world’s most densely populated place – its concrete apartment blocks (Japan’s first) housed thousands of workers in conditions that inspired dystopian films.
The eerie ruins tell poignant stories: a school desk still facing where the blackboard was, collapsed stairways that once connected entire communities, and the swimming pool built to improve worker morale.
The island’s dark history includes wartime forced labor that only became openly discussed in recent years.
The circling boat tour offers perspectives on how the concrete battleship withstands typhoons through ingenious wave-break designs.
UNESCO’s listing has sparked debate about preserving versus restoring the fragile ruins.
Address: Tours depart from Nagasaki Port
Opening Hours: Tour-dependent (book in advance)
How to Get There: Cruise: From Nagasaki Port (50 min).
Sofukuji Temple 崇福寺
Built in 1629 by Chinese immigrants from Fujian Province, this Obaku Zen temple preserves Ming Dynasty architecture rarely seen even in China today.
The “Dragon Palace Style” main hall features intricate bracketing designed to withstand typhoons, while the ceiling’s painted dragons appear to follow visitors, an optical illusion created by master artisans.
The temple’s treasure house contains rare artifacts. A sutra box that survived a 17th-century shipwreck, portraits of the “Four Sleepers” (figures from Chinese folklore), and a bell cast from melted-down coins donated by Chinese merchants.
The camphor tree in the courtyard is said to be descended from one brought by the temple’s founder as a sapling.
Address: 7-5 Kajiya-machi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 17:00
How to Get There: Tram: Line 1 to Sofukuji Station, then a 5-minute walk.
Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium 長崎ペンギン水族館
Focusing on penguin conservation, this facility pioneered techniques for breeding temperate species like Humboldt penguins.
Their circular “Penguin March” pool allows birds to swim continuously as they would in ocean currents, while the underwater tunnel offers rare eye-level viewing.
The aquarium’s research programs track penguin migration patterns using GPS, with live displays showing the current locations of tagged birds.
Interactive exhibits explain how Nagasaki’s currents create ideal conditions for penguins.
The same Kuroshio Current that once brought Portuguese ships now brings subtropical marine life.
Unique experiences include “Penguin Physicals”, where you can observe health checkups, and the “Happy Feet” program, rehabilitating injured wild penguins.
The rooftop garden recreates a South African penguin habitat using Nagasaki’s native plants.
Address: 3-16 Shukumachi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: 09:00 – 17:00
How to Get There: Bus: From Nagasaki Station (20 min).
Glover Garden グラバー園
This hillside complex represents Nagasaki’s cosmopolitan golden age when it served as Japan’s only open port. Glover House showcases ingenious 19th-century adaptations: verandas designed for typhoon winds, hybrid Japanese-Western joinery, and Japan’s first modern sewer system.
Scottish merchant Thomas Glover’s story inspired Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, though the reality was more complex. He smuggled samurai to Britain, helping to overthrow the shogunate.
Nearby Oura Church, built in 1864 by French missionaries, hides fascinating secrets. Its seemingly European facade incorporates Japanese cypress wood and hidden rainwater channels.
The adjacent museum reveals how local “Kakure Kirishitan” (hidden Christians) preserved their faith for 250 years without priests, using disguised Buddhist statues and oral traditions.
Some families only revealed their secret Christian heritage when this church was built.
Address: 8-1 Minamiyamate-machi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00 (Last entry 17:30)
How to Get There: Tram: Line 5 to Oura Tenshudo-shita Station, then a 5-minute walk uphill.
Nagasaki Peace Park & Atomic Bomb Museum 平和公園&原爆資料館
Nagasaki’s Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum stand as powerful reminders of the devastation caused by the August 9, 1945, atomic bombing.
The park’s centerpiece is the 10-meter-tall Peace Statue, symbolizing a prayer for world peace, with one hand pointing to the sky (the threat of nuclear weapons) and the other extended in prayer.
Nearby, the Atomic Bomb Museum displays harrowing artifacts. Melted bottles, charred clothing, and photographs of the aftermath, while also educating visitors on nuclear disarmament.
The Hypocenter Park, a short walk away, marks the exact spot where the bomb detonated.
It’s a place of reflection and hope, with annual peace ceremonies and thousands of paper cranes sent worldwide.
Address: 7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki
Opening Hours: Atomic Bomb Museum: 08:30 – 17:30 (Last entry 17:00)
How to Get There: Tram: Take Line 1 or 3 to Matsuyama-machi Station, then a 10-minute walk.
Nagasaki is a city of contrasts. Where history, culture, and nature collide. Whether you’re exploring WWII memorials, Dutch trading posts, or breathtaking night views, this city leaves a lasting impression.
Hotels in Nagasaki:
Trip.com | Expedia
Discounted Air Tickets:
Trip.com | Expedia
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