Nagasaki is a quiet, culture-rich, and surprisingly pretty hilly port city. Located on a western peninsula of Japan’s southern Kyushu island, it’s a bit of a trek to get to, but its compact size and wealth of historic attractions make it a favorite among curious travelers. There are many things to do in Nagasaki, from touring World War II-focused sites like the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park to visiting Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines. Don’t leave without catching incredible nighttime views of the city from the top of Mount Inasa.
Spring (March–May) and fall (September–November) are the best times to visit Nagasaki, as the temperatures are generally warm but not oppressively hot or humid. However, if you don’t mind visiting in the cooler winter, February is a good time to travel to see the annual Nagasaki Lantern Festival. Coinciding with the Chinese/Lunar New Year, the two-week festival is largely celebrated with parades and cultural performances in the city’s Chinatown, the oldest in Japan.
Streetcars (trams) are the best way to get around Nagasaki. Four lines operate and link most places of interest to travelers. They run frequently, and you can either pay the driver in cash or buy a good-value day pass for unlimited use. Many tourist attractions are also easy to reach on foot, with most sights being centrally located, about 1.6 miles (1 kilometer) southeast of Nagasaki Station. Do note that Nagasaki is a very hilly city, so travelers with mobility issues might struggle without a vehicle.
When traveling around Nagasaki, as in most of Kyushu, it’s a good idea to brush up on some basic Japanese and to look up the kanji spellings of place names. English signs are less commonly seen here than in the major cities on Honshu island, and the people are more reticent to use their limited English. You can get by with English in a pinch, but you'll greatly enhance your travel experience if you make an effort to speak Japanese.
