Travel Plan for First Timers in Nagasaki

In atomic bomb-scarred Nagasaki, there is a park on a hill which is close to the center of the bomb blast. The 9.7m-high Peace Statue which was built for world peace is known as a symbol of Nagasaki.

Walk over to the ground zero area where the atomic bomb had fallen over Nagasaki. It is now a park where a cenotaph has been erected. You can see the ground and the wall of Urakami Cathedral that had been left behind in the bombing.

You can learn about Nagasaki and its history of the atomic bombing through the years along with materials that had actually been irradiated in the blast. Also available is the history of Nagasaki, before and after the bombing, along with changes in the current development of nuclear weapons and the aspirations for peace.

Megane Bridge, which is located over the river flowing through Nagasaki, shows a view that is overflowing with the atmosphere of the city. It is also known as Japan’s oldest stone bridge, and is a good spot to take that commemorative photo.

This is a popular area where you can fully enjoy dishes that are particular to Nagasaki which has thrived since ancient times as an international port. Within this hub of exchange between the cultures of East and West, a unique food culture was born. Including dishes such as chanpon and sara udon, you can sample the famous dishes of Nagasaki.

During the 200 years that Japan was closed off from the world, Dejima was the only town that was open to trade with Europe. The restored 19th-century Edo Era townscape provides that feeling of history and you can enjoy a stroll that feels as if you’ve gone back in time.

A scene that can only be found in Nagasaki which has been called “a town of slopes”. Since Japan’s opening in the 19th century, in this area which had been a foreign settlement for Westerners, Western buildings and cobblestone streets continue to exist even now. You can enjoy this unique vista in the international port of Nagasaki.

After the opening of the country when the port of Nagasaki was opened and foreign settlements were built, this was a church which had been completed in 1864 for the residing foreigners. It has been designated as a National Treasure as Japan’s oldest surviving church.

The residence of Thomas Glover, a trade merchant who had contributed to the modern development of Japan, it is known as Japan’s oldest wooden Western building. Built upon a sloping street that made use of Nagasaki’s distinct topography, you can view the port from the garden. There is a café within the facility which is recommended to take a breather while viewing the garden.