Nagasaki Prefecture

Heritage sites in Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki's heritage spans centuries of international exchange and religious resilience. This collection features UNESCO-listed Hidden Christian Sites, including Oura Cathedral and the remote villages of Kasuga and Ono. It also highlights Japan's industrial modernization at the Kosuge Slip Dock and Glover Garden. From the 17th-century Dejima trading post and Megane Bridge to the poignant Hypocenter memorial and defensive ruins like Hara and Shimabara Castles, these sites document the city's role as Japan’s historical gateway to the world.

Nagasaki Heritage Sites — Map

A

Glover Garden

Glover Garden is a park in Nagasaki, Japan, built for Thomas Blake Glover, a Scottish merchant who contributed to the modernization of…

そらみみ / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Oura Catholic Church

The Oura Church or Oura Cathedral, officially the Basilica of the Twenty-Six Holy Martyrs of Japan, is a Catholic minor basilica and co…

663highland / CC BY 2.5

C

Dejima Dutch Trading Post

Dejima was a Portuguese and subsequently Dutch trading post at Nagasaki, Japan, from 1634 to 1854.

Kuma83 / CC BY-SA 4.0

D

Hara Castle

Hara Castle was a Japanese castle in Hizen Province. During the Shimabara Rebellion, rebellious peasants were besieged there.

STA3816 / CC BY-SA 4.0

E

Kosuge Slip Dock

Part of the UNESCO Meiji Industrial Revolution sites, this 1868 ship repair facility is Japan's oldest western-style slip dock. It features a brick engine house and original British-made hauling machinery.

F

平戸の聖地と集落 (春日集落)

A UNESCO World Heritage site on Hirado Island where Hidden Christians practiced their faith in secret. The cultural landscape includes terraced rice fields and the sacred Mount Yasumandake.

G

Ono Village

This UNESCO-listed settlement features the Ono Church, built in 1893 with local basalt stone. The village preserves the original layout and architecture established by Hidden Christian families.

H

Kodabira Village

Located in the Sotome district, this village is part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing. It retains the traditional agricultural landscape and stone walls characteristic of Hidden Christian settlements.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

I

Megane Bridge

Meganebashi or Spectacles Bridge, over the Nakashima River was built in Nagasaki in 1634 by the Chinese monk Mokusunyoujo who was in the…

Nagasaki City Office (長崎市役所) / Public domain

J

Hypocenter

On August 9, 1945, the nuclear bomb Fat Man dropped on the Japanese town of Nagasaki. Its explosion cost the lives of over 120 000 people.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

K

Shimabara Castle

A reconstructed white castle housing a museum dedicated to the Shimabara Rebellion and local Christian history. The grounds include original moats and stone walls from the 17th century.

L

Shimizuyama Castle Ruins

Located on Tsushima Island, these ruins date back to the late 16th-century invasions of Korea. The site features significant stone fortifications and views over Izuhara Port.

M

金石城東の櫓門

The reconstructed turret gate of the So clan’s residence on Tsushima Island. The site includes a traditional Japanese garden and stone foundations dating back to the Edo period.

N

櫓台跡

The remains of a turret platform located within the Hara Castle ruins. It marks a strategic defensive point used during the Shimabara Rebellion of 1637.

Other Lists

Nagasaki Prefecture: Essential Landmarks and Historical Echoes Editor's Choice: Nagasaki Highlights Nagasaki Museums & Galleries Sacred Sites of Worship Parks and Gardens Scenic Viewpoints and Towers