Itinerary · Japan
A Walking Day in Old Nagasaki: Megane Bridge to Dejima
A day on foot in old Nagasaki: Megane Bridge, lunch in Shinchi Chinatown, Dejima, the streetcar to Oura Cathedral and Glover Garden, then Mt. Inasa.
Published
The idea: linking old Nagasaki by streetcar and on foot
Nagasaki is a port city that was Japan's window to the West in the Edo period. This post picks only the places where that past still shows and strings them into one walking day. You start at Megane Bridge on the Nakashima River, pass through the Hamanomachi area to lunch in Shinchi Chinatown, see restored Dejima, then ride the streetcar to the Oura side and walk up to Oura Cathedral and Glover Garden. If you still have energy, finish with the Mt. Inasa night view.
Getting in from the airport and the full 4-day plan with the Peace Park and Gunkanjima are in the Nagasaki first-trip post. Use that post for the overall trip, and this one to prepare the old-town walking day in more detail.
Morning: Megane Bridge and the Nakashima riverside
Start the day at Megane Bridge. Spanning the Nakashima River, it is said to be Japan's oldest stone arch bridge, and its reflection in the water looks like a pair of spectacles, which gave it its name. Don't just look at the bridge and move on: stroll the riverside path and watch the reflection as you go.
Megane Bridge is within walking distance of Hamanomachi and Shianbashi, a district of covered shopping arcades, restaurants and bars. Stay around here and you can walk straight out of your hotel into the day. If you stay around Nagasaki Station, mix the streetcar with walking.
Lunch: through Hamanomachi to Shinchi Chinatown
From Hamanomachi and Shianbashi, both Megane Bridge and Shinchi Chinatown are within walking distance, so the morning stroll flows on foot into lunch. The hills haven't started yet, so this stretch is an easy walk.
Shinchi Chinatown is packed with champon and sara udon spots. Have a bowl for lunch, pick up a kakuni manju to snack on as you walk, and you're set for the afternoon.
- Nagasaki champon: thick noodles simmered in a pork-and-chicken broth with plenty of seafood and vegetables
- Sara udon: crispy fried thin noodles or pan-fried thick noodles under a thick seafood-and-vegetable sauce
- Kakuni manju: sweet-savory braised pork belly in a soft steamed bun, great for snacking around Chinatown
Afternoon: across the bridge to Dejima
Shinchi Chinatown sits close to restored Dejima, so you can head there right after lunch. Dejima is the fan-shaped artificial island that was the Dutch trading post in the Edo period. You enter by a bridge, and the merchant buildings inside have been restored.
Check official information for hours and fees before you go. The afternoon continues up to hillside Minamiyamate, so decide in advance how long to spend at Dejima.
Late afternoon: streetcar to Oura and the Minamiyamate hillside
From Dejima, take the streetcar to the Oura side. 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.
Minamiyamate is a hillside area of churches and old Western residences. Oura Cathedral, built in the late Edo period, is one of Japan's oldest churches and part of the World Heritage 'Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region'. It is still an active place of worship, so visit quietly and follow the visiting rules and photo restrictions. Check official information for fees.
Glover Garden is a hillside garden of Meiji-era Western-style residences, including the World Heritage-listed Former Glover House, with harbor views and seasonal night openings. The slopes are steep, so take your time, and check official information for hours and fees.
Night: the Mt. Inasa view, if you still have energy
To end the day with a night view, head to Mt. Inasa. Its summit observatory overlooks the whole port city at night, and the ropeway takes about 5 minutes. City buses serve the Mt. Inasa direction.
Check official information for ropeway hours and maintenance closures. Evening waits can be long, so after a full day on your feet it's fine to move this to another evening. City buses have one-day and 24-hour passes; ask at the tourist office.
When to walk, and a pre-trip checklist
March-May and October-November are best for walking. Japan Meteorological Agency normals for Nagasaki station (1991–2020) give April highs of 20°C, lows of 12°C and 153mm of rain, and October highs of 24°C, lows of 17°C and 102mm. June to early July is the rainy season, and summers are hot and humid. Typhoons may come in August-September, so check the forecast often.
The guide's budget level is about 7,000 JPY per person per day (business hotel, champon, streetcar). A one-day streetcar pass is available; check official information for the price. For the full trip with the Peace Park and Gunkanjima, and for comparisons with other Kyushu cities, see the posts below.
- Lots of slopes and stairs: wear comfortable shoes and mix in the streetcar or buses uphill
- Streetcar: about 150 JPY, national IC cards and contactless credit cards
- Dejima and Glover Garden hours and fees, Oura Cathedral fees: check official information
- Churches are places of worship: follow visiting rules and photo restrictions
- Souvenir: castella, developed from a sweet brought by the Portuguese
- Entry procedures and online arrival forms: check Japanese government or embassy information before you travel
Plan your Nagasaki trip
We never take payment — compare, then book on the official partner site.
FAQ
Can I walk this whole route in one day?
Megane Bridge and Shinchi Chinatown are within walking distance of Hamanomachi and Shianbashi, and Shinchi Chinatown is close to Dejima. Take the streetcar to the Oura side, and go slowly on the steep Minamiyamate slopes. Add the Mt. Inasa night view only if you have energy left.
How much is the streetcar?
The flat fare is about 150 JPY, and it accepts national IC cards such as Suica and contactless credit cards. Check official information for the one-day pass price.
What are the opening hours of Dejima and Glover Garden?
Check official information for hours and fees before you go. Glover Garden also has seasonal night openings.
When is the best time for this walk?
March-May and October-November are best for walking. June to early July is the rainy season and typhoons may come in August-September, so check the forecast often.
Related reading
ⓘ Photo credits
- Sengan-en Garden · KimonBerlin / CC BY-SA 2.0