• Nagasaki Peace Park - The Nagasaki Peace Park (平和公園, Heiwa Kōen) is a serene area dedicated to remembering the atomic bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, which devastated much of the city and claimed the lives of tens of thousands. The site includes two parks and a memorial museum.

At the heart of the park is the Hypocenter Park, featuring a simple black monolith marking the explosion’s epicenter. Nearby, a damaged pillar from the former Urakami Cathedral, destroyed in the blast, stands as a reminder. Visitors can also view a layer of soil beneath the park’s surface, where remnants like broken roof tiles, bricks, and glass from the explosion remain.

• Inasayama Observation Deck - Mount Inasa (稲佐山, Inasayama) is a 333-meter-high mountain near Nagasaki’s city center.

The summit is accessible by ropeway, bus, or car and offers stunning views of the city. The night views from Mount Inasa are considered among Japan’s top three, alongside those from Mount Hakodate and Mount Rokko. The summit hosts several television and radio antennas and an observation deck with a restaurant.

• Glover Garden - Glover Garden (グラバー園, Glover-en) is an open-air museum in Nagasaki showcasing mansions of several former foreign residents and related buildings. It is situated on the hill where Western merchants settled after Japan ended its era of seclusion in the late 19th century.

The garden’s main attraction is the Former Glover House, the oldest Western-style wooden building in Japan. Thomas Glover (1838-1911), a Scottish merchant, moved to Nagasaki after the port opened to foreign trade in 1859. He later supported revolutionaries who overthrew the Tokugawa Shogunate during the Meiji Restoration. Glover played a significant role in Japan’s early industrialization, being active in shipbuilding and mining.

• Sofukuji Temple - Sofukuji Temple (崇福寺, Sōfukuji) is a temple in Nagasaki affiliated with the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism. Built in 1629 for Nagasaki’s Chinese residents, the temple features Chinese architectural style, offering a unique experience compared to other Japanese temples.

Sofukuji is constructed along a hillside. At the base stands the temple’s two-story entrance gate, Ryugumon (meaning Gate of the Dragon Palace), painted bright red like the rest of the temple. Originally built in 1673, the gate was destroyed multiple times by fire and storms before its latest reconstruction in 1849.

• Dejima - Dejima (出島) was an artificial island in Nagasaki’s port, created in 1636 to separate Portuguese residents from the Japanese and control their missionary activities.

A few years later, the Portuguese were expelled, and the Dutch Trading Station, previously in Hirado, was relocated to Dejima. During Japan’s two centuries of isolation, the Dutch were confined to Dejima as the only Westerners allowed in the country.

Today, Dejima is no longer an island, as the surrounding area was reclaimed in the 20th century. However, many of Dejima’s historical structures remain or have been reconstructed, including residences, warehouses, walls, and gates. The ultimate goal is to restore Dejima to its island status by digging canals around its perimeter.

• Urakami Cathedral - Urakami Cathedral (浦上天主堂, Urakami Tenshudō) is a Catholic church in Nagasaki with a poignant history. Currently a functioning church housed in a large, European-style red brick building, the cathedral contains various relics that survived the atomic bombing.
• Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture - The Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture (長崎歴史文化博物館, Nagasaki Rekishi Bunka Hakubutsukan) is a modern, well-designed museum dedicated to Nagasaki’s history as a major international trading port in Japan. The extensive permanent exhibition spans two floors and is divided into sections, each highlighting different aspects of Nagasaki’s rich history.

During the Edo Period, Japan adopted isolationism, effectively cutting off from the world. At this time, Nagasaki became one of the few ports where international trade was allowed, primarily with the Chinese and Dutch. This made the city Japan’s main gateway to the outside world, fostering a rich economy, culture, and history.

• Nagasaki Gokoku Shrine - A Gokoku Shrine is dedicated to the spirits of those who died for the nation. Before World War II, they were under the Ministry of the Interior’s jurisdiction, but after the war, they are managed by an independent religious corporation.
• Catholic Oura Church - Oura Church (大浦天主堂, Ōura Tenshudō) is a Catholic church in Nagasaki. Built in 1864 towards the end of the Edo Period by a French missionary for the growing foreign merchant community, it is considered Japan’s oldest standing Christian church.
• Kofukuji Temple - Kofukuji Temple (興福寺, Kōfukuji) is the oldest and one of the most significant Chinese-founded temples in Nagasaki. Located in the city’s Teramachi (“Temple Town”) district, it is the birthplace of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism in Japan and boasts many intriguing features.

The temple was established around 1620 by a Chinese monk during a time when many Chinese merchants were trading in Nagasaki. The complex was initially set up as a place to pray for the merchants’ safe sea travel, and its construction is heavily influenced by Chinese architectural styles, offering a distinct experience compared to other Japanese temples.

• The Confucian Temple, the Chinese Museum of Successive Generations - The Nagasaki Confucius Shrine (孔子廟, Kōshi-byō) is one of the few shrines in Japan dedicated to the esteemed Chinese philosopher Confucius. Built in 1893 by Nagasaki’s Chinese community, the vibrant shrine also houses a museum at the rear.

Visitors are greeted by a small garden with a bridge and pond at the entrance. The ornate Chinese-style buildings feature yellow roofs. The shrine’s courtyard is flanked by 72 sages, life-size stone statues weighing around two tons each, depicting Confucius’ disciples. Visitors are encouraged to find a statue resembling a relative.

• Oura Catholic Church - Oura Church (大浦天主堂, Ōura Tenshudō) is a Catholic church in Nagasaki. Constructed in 1864 towards the end of the Edo Period by a French missionary for the growing foreign merchant community, it is regarded as Japan’s oldest standing Christian church.
• Twenty-Six Christian Martyrs Monument - The Twenty-Six Martyrs Monument and adjacent museum (二十六聖人記念館, Nijūroku Seijin Kinenkan) in Nagasaki honor the twenty-six Christians executed on February 5, 1597. The group included both foreign missionaries and Japanese laymen. Missionary activities were banned at the time, and Japan’s ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi staged the execution as a warning.

The monument is situated in a small park on a hill near Nagasaki Station, offering pleasant views of the city. A straight red line runs from the monument across the park’s plaza towards the Oura Church on the opposite side of the city, which is also dedicated to the 26 martyrs.

The museum behind the monument is dedicated to the martyrs’ memory and Christianity in Japan. Its interior resembles a church with stained-glass windows, creating an atmospheric setting for viewing the exhibits. Artifacts related to Christianity in Japan, including old documents, statues, and jewelry, are on display, with many explanations available in English.

• Dutch Slope - The Dutch Slope (オランダ坂, Oranda-zaka) is a stone-paved street ascending a hillside in Nagasaki where many foreign traders lived after the city’s port opened to foreign trade in 1859. Since the Dutch were the only Westerners allowed in the country for the previous two centuries, “Dutch” became synonymous with everything Western for a time.

A few former residences remain in the area today. Among them, Higashi Yamate 13 is open to the public. Once home to a prosperous European family, this old Western-style house is well-preserved, with much of the original furniture and room layouts intact. An upstairs balcony offers lovely views of the surrounding area. A cafe is located on the ground floor.

• Spectacles Bridge (Meganebashi) - Meganebashi (眼鏡橋, lit. Spectacles Bridge) is the most notable of several stone bridges spanning the Nakashima River in downtown Nagasaki. The bridge is named for its resemblance to a pair of spectacles when reflected in the river, making it a popular tourist attraction and an important cultural property.

Originally built in 1634, the bridge’s construction was overseen by the Chinese monk who later became the resident priest of Kofukuji Temple, located a short walk away. The bridge, along with many others along the river, was severely damaged by floodwaters in 1982 but has since been repaired using recovered stones.

A stone walkway along the riverbank offers a pleasant stroll with beautiful views of the water and bridges. The walkway has a peaceful atmosphere and is accessible by steps from street level at various points along the river.

• Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum - The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum (長崎原爆資料館), situated near the hypocenter of the August 9, 1945 bombing, chronicles the destruction caused by the atomic bomb and the city’s recovery. The museum displays artifacts such as a melted rosary, a clock stopped at 11:02 a.m., and personal belongings of victims. Through photographs, survivor testimonies, and exhibits, it illustrates the horrors of nuclear warfare and advocates for peace. Facilities include audio guides, a library, a video room, and barrier-free access. The museum serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of war and the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and lasting global peace.

• Licensed Local English Speaking Guide
• Meet up with guide on foot within designated area of Nagasaki
• Customizable Tour of your choice of 2-3 sites from ‘What to expect’ list

• Transportation fees, Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
• Private Vehicle
• You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
• Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Explore Nagasaki with a government-licensed and experienced English-speaking guide! Your guide will help you efficiently enjoy a full-day walking tour of Nagasaki and introduce both modern and traditional sides of this dynamic and ancient Japanese city.

Your guide will pick you up in the morning at your hotel in Nagasaki and take you to visit Nagasaki’s famous sites.

Along with atomic bombing of Nagasaki during WWII, this city’s history features many prominent events. You can learn about this and other interesting aspects during this Half-day walking tour accompanied by your private guide.

Note1: You cannot visit all the sites on the itinerary. You must choose at maximum 3 sites to visit and inform your guide of your choices.
Note2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

• This is a walking & public transport tour. Pick up is on foot.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.