10 Places You Cannot Miss in Nagasaki

Nagasaki Peace Park

Built on a low hill to the north of the centre of the atomic bomb blast, the Peace Park is built as a vow that a tragic war such as World War 2 will never be repeated. At the center of the park is a 9.7-metre high statue by sculptor Seibou Kitamura, which signifies the threat of atomic weapons and a wish for peace.

Glover Garden

This garden is a treat for the eyes with its beautifully preserved Western houses, including the one built by Thomas Blake Glover. Shutterbugs will have a whale of a time here so be prepared to spend at least two to three hours here!

Oura Church

Also known as the Church of the 26 Japanese Martyrs, this church is said to be the oldest church in Japan. Honoring the nine European priests and 17 Japanese Christians who were crucified in 1597, the appearance of the church encouraged descendants of early Japanese Christians to come out of hiding and embrace their faith once again.

The Sun Yat-sen Umeya Shokichi Museum

Umeya Shokichi was more than just a benefactor of Sun Yat-sen, he was also a dear friend of the latter. 2011 marked the first century of the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, and Shokichi’s great-granddaughter released items such as photos, letters and telegrams to the public to tell the story of their friendship. This exhibit of 260 items will paint a vivid picture of China and Japan during those tumultuous times.

Unzen Hell

Dotted with solfataric clay discoloured by fumarolic gas and belching mist with an ungodly hissing noise, Unzen Hell offers an otherworldly experience to visitors of the hot springs town. The area is also infamously known as the execution ground of Christian martyrs in history, which also explains its association with hell.

Unzen Volcanic Area Global Geopark

Shimabara, Unzen and Minami-Shimabara are the three cities surrounding Mount Unzen, an active volcano that last erupted in 1991. At this park, visitors will learn how the people have come to cope with living around the volcano, making best use of its spring water, hot springs and fertile soil, and about the ingenious ways they have come up with to manage its next eruption.

Shimei-Sou Spring Garden

Along Carp Road in Shimabara, carps swim freely in the waterways along the street. But it is at the Shimei-Sou Spring Garden that you will go weak in the knees at the beauty and tranquility of the place, and sheer size of the carps that swim in its ponds. Functioning as a visitors’ centre of sorts, you can stop by for a cup of green tea and just let your mind go blank for a while.

Hashima Island

Known also as Gunkanjima (meaning Battleship Island), this deserted mining island served as inspiration for the dead city in the James Bond movie, Skyfall. You wouldn’t be blamed for thinking Hashima Island was a giant battleship afloat in the sea. The entire island is a veritable concrete jungle, surrounded by a grey seawall. When coal was still the predominant source of energy, the island’s population boomed. In addition to a hospital, shops and schools, it also had its own cinema and pachinko hall.

When domestic and global needs for coal decreased, so did the island’s population, and in 1974, it became officially closed. Its buildings laid wasted and exposed to the elements for 35 years before the island was opened again to visitors for day visits, where their access is limited to certain areas for safety reasons. A campaign is underway to have Gunkanjima listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.