Nagasaki Prefecture

Best places to visit in Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki Prefecture: Essential Landmarks and Historical Echoes

Nagasaki's landscape is defined by centuries of international exchange and resilient history. This selection spans the 17th-century Dutch trading post at Dejima and the Chinese-influenced Megane Bridge to the poignant memorials of the atomic bomb hypocenter. Significant UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Oura Catholic Church and the remains of Hara Castle, document the history of Japan’s Hidden Christians. Modern landmarks like the Megami Bridge and the Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch park complement cultural institutions like the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.

Nagasaki Prefecture: Essential Landmarks and Historical Echoes — Map

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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

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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…

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

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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.

ぱちょぴ（pacyopi） / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Nagasaki Peace Park

Nagasaki Peace Park is a park located in Nagasaki, Japan, commemorating the atomic bombing of the city on August 9, 1945 during World War…

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Dejima Dutch Trading Post

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

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Huis Ten Bosch

Huis Ten Bosch is a theme park in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan which recreates the Netherlands by displaying life-sized copies of old Dutch…

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown

Spreading over a single city block in Nagasaki downtown, this is the oldest Chinatown in Japan.

663highland / CC BY 2.5

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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…

Kuma83 / CC BY-SA 4.0

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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

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Kosuge Slip Dock

A historic ship repair facility part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution. Known as the 'Soroban Dock,' it features a brick engine house and a British-made winch used to haul ships onto dry land.

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平戸の聖地と集落 (春日集落)

A UNESCO World Heritage component on Hirado Island where Hidden Christians practiced their faith in secret for centuries. The area is characterized by traditional terraced rice fields that stretch toward the sea.

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Ono Village

A historic settlement established by Hidden Christians. It features the Ono Church, a unique structure built using local basalt stones in a style known as 'de Rozz walls,' designed to withstand the region's strong winds.

Atsasebo / CC-BY-SA-3.0

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Tabira Church

A red-brick Catholic church completed in 1918, designed by renowned architect Tetsukawa Yosuke. This Important Cultural Property stands on a hill overlooking the Hirado Strait and features intricate brickwork and stained glass.

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Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort

A coastal resort featuring the Kujukushima Aquarium 'Umi Kirara,' which showcases local marine life through a large jellyfish symphony dome and an outdoor dolphin pool. It also serves as a gateway for island-hopping boat tours.

Atsasebo / CC BY-SA 3.0

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Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture

The Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture in Nagasaki, Japan is one of the few museums in Japan devoted to the theme of "overseas exchange…

Fusebok / Public domain

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Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum

Opened in 2005, this museum mainly features Nagasaki-related artworks, that is artworks that either portray Nagasaki, or were made by…

Σ64 / CC BY 3.0

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Megami Bridge

A cable-stayed bridge spanning 1,289 meters across Nagasaki Port. Nicknamed 'Venus Wing' for its graceful white silhouette, it is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Japan and serves as a prominent city landmark.

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