Nagasaki is a port city on Japan's Kyushu island with a uniquely layered history — centuries of trade with China, Portugal, and the Netherlands left behind temples, cathedrals, and Western-style mansions, while August 9, 1945 marked it as the second city struck by an atomic bomb. Today Nagasaki blends solemn peace memorials with lively Chinatown streets, hillside tram rides, and some of Japan's most distinctive cuisine.
Historical sites
Places where Nagasaki's past comes alive.
Atomic Bomb Museum
Dejima Museum (within Dejima)
26 Martyrs Museum
Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
Hashima Island (Battleship Island / Gunkanjima)
Where: Nagasaki Harbour
Admission: Adult: ¥4,500-5,500 ($29-36) including ferry and landing | Child: ¥2,500-3,000 ($16-20)
Oura Cathedral (Oura Tenshudo)
Where: Minami-Yamate
Admission: Adult: ¥1,000 ($6.50) | Child: ¥400 ($2.60)
Museums
Curated collections that tell Nagasaki's story.
Atomic Bomb Museum
Specialty: WWII atomic bombing; survivor testimonies; disarmament advocacy
26 Martyrs Museum
Specialty: Christian martyrdom in Japan; 400 years of Catholic history
Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
Specialty: Nagasaki's trade history; Dutch, Chinese, and Portuguese influence; Edo-period artifacts
Dejima Museum (within Dejima)
Specialty: Japan's only Western trading outpost during Sakoku (isolation) period 1641-1853