Nagasaki Peace Park, Glover Garden and Dejima tell the story of a city that was Japan’s window to the world for more than two centuries and then became the second city destroyed by an atomic bomb. For US travelers, Nagasaki is often the most moving stop in Kyushu, but it is also a lively harbor town of hillside churches, Western merchant houses and Chinese temples, all linked by a charming old streetcar network. This guide covers how to visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum, the merchant houses and church of the Minamiyamate hillside, the reconstructed Dutch trading post of Dejima, 2026 prices and hours, getting around by tram, and where to stay near Nagasaki Station.
1. Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum
At 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945, an atomic bomb exploded over the Urakami district of Nagasaki. Today the area is a group of memorials: the hypocenter park marks the spot beneath the blast, and the Peace Park on the hill above is watched over by the giant Peace Statue by sculptor Seibo Kitamura, its right hand pointing to the threat from the sky and its left extended for peace. The nearby Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum explains the bombing and its aftermath through objects, photographs and survivor testimony. Admission is just 200 yen for adults, with an audio guide for 160 yen, and it opens at 8:30, closing at 17:30 most of the year and 18:30 from May to August. Note that one section of the permanent exhibition is being renovated from November 24, 2026 to March 2027, so some displays will be unavailable. Allow two to three hours for the area, reached by tram from Nagasaki Station.
2. Glover Garden and Oura Church
On the Minamiyamate hillside overlooking the harbor, Glover Garden gathers the homes of the foreign merchants who settled in Nagasaki after Japan reopened to trade in the 1850s. The centerpiece is the former Glover House, built in 1863 for Scottish trader Thomas Glover and the oldest surviving Western-style wooden house in Japan, part of a UNESCO World Heritage listing for Japan’s industrial revolution. Moving walkways carry you up the slope, and the gardens and verandas have wide views over the port and shipyards. Admission is listed at 1,300 yen, and the garden usually opens at 8:00, with later evening openings in some seasons, so check the official site. Just below, Oura Church, completed in 1864, is the oldest standing church in Japan and part of the UNESCO-listed Hidden Christian Sites of the Nagasaki Region; admission is 1,000 yen, including a museum on the Hidden Christians. Walk down the slope afterward along the stone-paved Dutch Slope.
3. Dejima
For more than 200 years of national isolation, from 1641 to 1859, the small fan-shaped island of Dejima was Japan’s only window to Europe, the walled trading post where Dutch merchants lived and worked under close watch. The island was later swallowed by land reclamation, but the city has carefully rebuilt it, and today you can walk among reconstructed warehouses, the chief factor’s residence with its Western furniture and Japanese tatami, and small museums on trade, science and daily life. The details are fascinating, from billiard tables to imported glass and sugar. Admission is 1,100 yen for adults, and Dejima is open from 8:00 to 21:00 every day, with last entry at 20:40, which makes it a good evening option when other sights are closed. It sits right by the Dejima tram stop, and it pairs easily with a walk through the nearby Shinchi Chinatown for dinner.
Where to Stay Near Nagasaki Station
Where to stay: NagasakiHotel links in this section go to Booking.com. If you book through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
The area around Nagasaki Station is the most convenient base, with the Shinkansen, airport buses and every tram line close by. The hillside near Glover Garden and Mount Inasa offer quieter stays with harbor views.
Luxury
Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotels & Resorts sits on the slopes of Mount Inasa with panoramic views of the city and harbor, a seasonal outdoor pool and a free shuttle service, about 10 minutes by car from Nagasaki Station.
Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotels & Resorts
Hillside resort with panoramic views of the city.
Mid-Range
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Nagasaki Gloverhill is a classic hotel about 300 meters from Glover Garden and close to Oura Church, perfect for an early start before the tour groups arrive.
ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel Nagasaki Gloverhill
Classic hotel steps from Glover Garden and Oura Church.
Budget-Friendly
Toyoko Inn Nagasaki Ekimae is a reliable budget choice near Nagasaki Station, with simple rooms, free Wi-Fi and breakfast, and trams to every sight right outside.
Budget chain hotel close to the station and trams.
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Hotels in Nagasaki on Booking.com
Stay near Nagasaki Station or the Glover Garden hillside to reach the Peace Park, Dejima and Chinatown easily by tram.
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Quick Tips for Visiting
- Get around by streetcar: a one-day pass costs 600 yen in the Pass Case app, and credit-card touch payment is accepted on board.
- Visit the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum in the morning, then head to Glover Garden and Dejima in the afternoon.
- Wear comfortable shoes; Nagasaki is built on steep hills and many sights involve stairs or slopes.
- Try Nagasaki champon noodles and castella sponge cake, two local specialties.
- On August 9, the city holds a peace memorial ceremony and the Atomic Bomb Museum is free that day.
Getting there by train: Nagasaki is about an hour and a half from Hakata (Fukuoka): take the Relay Kamome limited express to Takeo-Onsen, then change across the platform to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome. The Japan Rail Pass covers both trains. Read our guide to riding trains in Japan, learn how to ride the Shinkansen, and check whether the JR Pass is worth it for your route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum?
Admission is 200 yen for adults, and junior high and high school students and younger enter free. It opens at 8:30 and closes at 17:30 most of the year, or 18:30 from May to August.
How long do you need in Nagasaki?
One full day covers the Peace Park, Glover Garden and Dejima. Plan two days if you also want to see Gunkanjima or the night view from Mount Inasa.
Is Glover Garden worth visiting?
Yes. It has the oldest Western-style wooden house in Japan and wide harbor views, and it is next to Oura Church, the oldest standing church in Japan.
How do you get from Fukuoka to Nagasaki?
Take the Relay Kamome from Hakata to Takeo-Onsen and change to the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome. The trip takes about an hour and a half, and the JR Pass covers both trains.
