Itinerary · Japan
First time in Nagasaki: how do you get from the airport to the city, and how many days do you need?
Nagasaki Airport to the city by limousine bus (about 45 min, about 1,400 JPY), the flat-fare streetcar, a 3 to 4 day plan and the best months for walking.
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Nagasaki needs 3 to 4 days
Nagasaki is a port city on Kyushu's western edge. Dejima, once Japan's window to the West in the Edo period, hillside Western-style houses and churches, the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, the Mt. Inasa night view, Gunkanjima tours and local specialties like champon and castella all sit in one city. The guide suggests 3 to 4 days.
Getting around the city is easy by streetcar and on foot. It is a city of slopes and stairs, though, so group your sights by area. Gunkanjima tours can be cancelled due to weather and waves, so if you plan one, keep your schedule flexible.
Airport to the city: about 45 minutes by limousine bus
The usual way from Nagasaki Airport (NGS) into the city is the airport limousine bus. The Dejima Road route runs via the Shinchi Chinatown area to Nagasaki Station, takes about 45 minutes to the city and costs about 1,400 JPY. It accepts national IC cards such as Suica, and cash.
The route via Showa-machi and Urakami runs via the Peace Park and Urakami area to Nagasaki Station, which is handy if you stay near the Peace Park. The fare is about 1,400 JPY and varies by stop; check the official timetable for times.
A taxi helps with heavy luggage or late arrivals, but the city is some distance away, so it is pricey; check official information for fares. The city itself is easy by public transport and on foot, so you only need a rental car for trips further out.
- Dejima Road route: Shinchi Chinatown area to Nagasaki Station, about 45 min to the city, about 1,400 JPY
- Via Showa-machi and Urakami: Peace Park and Urakami area to Nagasaki Station, about 1,400 JPY (varies by stop), check the official timetable
- Taxi: handy with heavy luggage or a late arrival but pricey; check official information for fares
Getting around: the streetcar first, buses and walking for the hills
The streetcar links Nagasaki Station, the Peace Park, Dejima, Shinchi and Oura, and is the backbone of sightseeing. The flat fare is about 150 JPY, and it accepts national IC cards such as Suica as well as contactless credit cards. Payment options can change, so check local signs. A one-day streetcar pass is available; check official information for the price.
City buses reach hillside neighborhoods and Mt. Inasa where the streetcar doesn't go. One-day and 24-hour passes exist; ask at the tourist office. The center is walkable, but with many slopes and stairs, wear comfortable shoes and mix in the streetcar or buses for uphill stretches.
If you come from Fukuoka (Hakata), take the Relay Kamome limited express to Takeo-Onsen, then cross the platform to the Kamome Shinkansen. The whole trip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Where to stay: around Nagasaki Station for a first visit
The area around Nagasaki Station, where the Shinkansen, JR, airport limousines and streetcars meet, is easy for first visits and short stays. If you like eating out and walking in the evening, the Hamanomachi and Shianbashi nightlife area also works well. If you stay near the Peace Park, the limousine bus via Showa-machi and Urakami is convenient.
- Around Nagasaki Station: the hub for the Shinkansen, JR, airport limousines and streetcars
- Hamanomachi and Shianbashi: covered shopping arcades and restaurants, walking distance to Megane Bridge and Shinchi Chinatown
- Shinchi Chinatown and Dejima: champon and sara udon spots near restored Dejima, with streetcars in every direction
- Minamiyamate (Oura and Glover Garden): churches and old Western residences; the slopes are steep, so take your time
- Urakami (Peace Park area): the Peace Park, the Hypocenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum, an easy streetcar ride from the station
A 4-day first-trip plan
The guide's 4-day plan keeps the first day light after arrival, gives the second day to the Peace Park and Minamiyamate, and the third to Gunkanjima. The Atomic Bomb Museum is closed December 29-31 and its hours vary by season, so check official information.
The Peace Park and atomic bomb sites honor the victims. Visit quietly, and don't climb on monuments or take playful photos. Churches such as Oura Cathedral are active places of worship, so follow visiting rules and photo restrictions.
Gunkanjima (Hashima) is a former coal-mining island and World Heritage site. It is also a place where Koreans and others were brought against their will and forced to work under harsh conditions during the 1940s, as the Japanese government acknowledged at the 2015 World Heritage inscription. You can only visit on a pre-booked landing or cruise tour, and landings can be cancelled for weather and safety reasons even when it looks calm. Bring flat shoes and a raincoat.
- Day 1: limousine to the city, check in, Dejima and Megane Bridge in the afternoon, then champon and sara udon in Shinchi Chinatown
- Day 2: Peace Park, the Hypocenter and the Atomic Bomb Museum in the morning, Oura Cathedral and Glover Garden in the afternoon, then the Mt. Inasa night view
- Day 3: Gunkanjima landing tour (may be cancelled by weather), then castella shopping and toruko rice around Hamanomachi
- Day 4: souvenirs, then the limousine bus to the airport with plenty of time
When to go: March-May and October-November
March-May and October-November are best for walking. June to early July is the rainy season, and summers are hot and humid. Typhoons may come in August-September, which can cancel Gunkanjima tours and boats. Winters are fairly mild, though the sea wind is chilly.
On average, April has a high of 20°C and a low of 12°C, and May a high of 24°C and a low of 16°C. October has a high of 24°C and 102 mm of rain. June, by contrast, gets 336 mm of rain, the most of the year, and August reaches a high of 32°C with a low of 25°C. January has a high of 11°C and a low of 4°C. These are the 1991–2020 normals for Nagasaki station from the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Entry procedures and online arrival forms can change, so check Japanese government or embassy information before you travel.
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FAQ
How many days do I need in Nagasaki?
The guide suggests 3 to 4 days. Gunkanjima tours can be cancelled by weather, so if you plan one, keep your schedule flexible.
How long does it take from the airport to the city, and how much is it?
The airport limousine bus (Dejima Road route) takes about 45 minutes to the city and costs about 1,400 JPY. It accepts national IC cards such as Suica, and cash.
How do I pay for the streetcar?
The flat fare is about 150 JPY, and you can use national IC cards such as Suica or contactless credit cards. Check official information for the one-day pass price.
When are the rainy and typhoon seasons?
The rainy season runs from June to early July, and typhoons may come in August-September. June's normal rainfall is 336 mm, the most of the year (Japan Meteorological Agency, 1991–2020). Gunkanjima tours and boats can be cancelled in these periods.
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