- Nagasaki and Shimabara (2~3 Day) Tour on Discount Passes!
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Nagasaki City Shimabara Peninsula(Unsen City & Shimabara City & Obama City Minami-Shimabara City
Navigate the streets of Japan at your own pace in this tour. Make use of the One Day Passes available for both Nagasaki City streetcars and Shimabara Peninsula's trains and buses! Immerse yourself in the multi-cultural city of Nagasaki, then treat yourself to the relaxing hot springs of Shimabara Peninsula and the beauties of olden Japan.
Day 1: Nagasaki City
Explore the vibrantly multi-cultural city of Nagasaki - a legacy of it's history as the first international trading port of Japan, and the only port open to Europe during the country's lengthy period of national seclusion. European churches and houses blend in with the surrounding Japanese architecture, alongside Chinese temples and historic buildings in this unique Japanese city.
The streetcar is a flat rate tram service in Nagasaki City.
TIP: A One Day Pass is available for the streetcar. If you are planning to use this service many times (5 rides or more on the streetcar) or want to save the hassle of having to pay the exact fare each trip, this is the pass for you.
TIP 2: Some of these sightseeing spots are within walking distances of one another!
- Megane-bashi (Spectacles Bridge)
- Nagasaki City Megane Spectacles BridgeThe Nakashima River runs through a series of picturesque 17th-century stone bridges. Best-known is the double-arched Megane-bashi, or Spectacles Bridge, so called because the reflection of the arches in the water looks like... VIEW MORE
TIP: Start your walk along teramachi-dori (Temple Street) at Kofukuji, and end at Sofukuji.
- Teramachi-dori (Temple Street)
- Nagasaki City Tracing their histories some 400 years back, many old temples line teramachi-dori - Nagasaki’s famous temple street. In the 16th and early 17th century, Nagasaki was a hub of international trade, with European and Chinese traders frequenting i... VIEW MORE
Take the streetcar from Shokakujishita to Tsukimachi or walk (12mins).
LUNCH AT SHINCHI CHINATOWN
Try Nagasaki's Champon or Saraudon!
- Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
- Nagasaki City Nagasaki Chinatown, located in Nagasaki City is one of the three largest Chinatowns in Japan, alongside those in Yokohama and Kobe. This area is now a popular sightseeing spot for original Nagasaki-style Chinese food and the Nagasaki Lantern Fes... VIEW MORE
- Dejima (Desima, Deshima) - Site of the Former Dutch Trading Post
- Nagasaki City Constructed in 1636, Dejima would later become a place where the Dutch East India Company would install a trading post, allowing the transport into Japan of both Western goods and the latest news of overseas current affairs. At the same time, Japa... VIEW MORE
Head over to the nearby Hamanomachi Shopping Arcade or take the streetcar to Glover Garden for more sightseeing!
For Glover Garden: Take the streetcar from Tsukimachi to Oura-Tenshudo-Shita or Ishibashi.
TIP: From streetcar stop Oura-Tenshudo-Shita, walk up the slope through a town exuding European influence, and past Japan's oldest church - the former Oura Cathedral, to Glover Garden. For travellers weary from walking, take the free-of-charge Glover Skyroad all the way to the top, accessible from Ishibashi streetcar stop (make your way down hill as you tour Glover Garden).
DINNER
Try Shippoku - a fusion cuisine showcasing Chinese, European, and Japanese influence, representative of Nagasaki's multi-cultural history.
After dinner, enjoy Nagasaki's night view from Mt. Inasa. The nearest streetcar stop from the ropeway leading up to the peak of the mountain is Takaramachi. Bus services are also availble from various hotels. Please make reservations beforehand.
- Nagasaki Night View from Mt. Inasa
- Nagasaki City Nagasaki’s night view is spectacular. With Nagasaki port at the center, mountains loom on three sides. Homes and city lights populate the slopes, their lights mingling with the twinkling stars in the sky. Nagasaki’s splendid night view can be enjo... VIEW MORE
Day 2: Shimabara Peninsula
Sitting in the middle of Shimabara Peninsula is Mt. Unzen, a volcano that has shaped the history of the region. The peninsula is famous for its hot spring towns of Obama and Unzen, the Unzen Volcanic Area UNESCO Global Geopark, the historical events of the Shimabara-Amakusa Rebellion, amongst others. To fully experience the wonders of Shimabara, we recommend spending more than a day here!
Make use of the Shimatetsu One Day Pass exclusively for foreign travellers (please have your passport ready when purchasing pass) when travelling around Shimabara Peninsula. Take a train to Isahaya station from Nagasaki City, get the pass from the Isahaya Terminal Hotel (next to the Shimatetsu Bus Terminal) and start using your pass! From the bus terminal, catch a bus for Obama.
*On the second and fourth Sundays of the month, Shimatetsu also offers a bus, train and ferry unlimited pass for all travellers. This pass is sold at Isahaya station and other locations.
- Obama Hot Spring & Hot Foot 105 (foot bath)
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) Obama is set against a backdrop of the magnificent Unzen mountains, facing the deep-blue Tachibana Bay. From the open-air hot spring, you can view the amazing sunset in the west. The red sun sinking into the crystal blue sea: how romantic! At 105 ... VIEW MORE
LUNCHTIME
Take the bus from Obama to Unzen.
- Unzen Onsen (Hot Spring) & Unzen Jigoku (“Unzen Hell”)
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) Unzen Hot Spring: One and half-hour’s drive from Nagasaki City will take you to Unzen. As it was the country’s first resort targeted at foreign guests, you can also find Western- and Japanese-style hotels here. Now it is one of Japan’s most famous... VIEW MORE
To get to Nita Pass, a taxi service is available (not included in the pass). Inquire at your hotel or the bus station to make reservations.
- Nita Pass, Unzen
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) These mountains are famous for their azaleas in the spring, green colors in the summer, autumn leaves in the fall, and frosty fog in the winter. Enjoy the cable-car ride up to the top for breathtaking views. A brand new trekking path allows hikers... VIEW MORE
Return to the Unzen Hot Spring town and spend a relaxing night at a hot spring hotel!
Day 3: Shimabara City
If you are returning to Nagasaki City (or the airport) today, purchase another pass at Unzen's bus station (you can do when buying your first pass). Take the bus from Unzen to Shimabara City.
- Shimabara Castle
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) At the castle, you can try on ninja and samurai armor and marvel at traditional crafts and documents of Christian and samurai history. It is also known as a perfect spot for taking pictures of a quintessential Japanese scene, the castle surrounded... VIEW MORE
- City of Swimming Carp
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) Shimabara has always been blessed with plentiful spring water. The “City of Swimming Carp” has been beautifully maintained by local people. The sight of the colorful nishikigoi carp swimming through the canals of the city is one of the most attrac... VIEW MORE
- Shimeiso Spring Garden
- Shimabara Peninsula (Unzen City & Shimabara City & Obama Town & Minami-Shimabara City) Relax with some freshly brewed green tea and take in the beautiful view of the Shimeisho Spring Garden (湧水庭園 四明荘). Guests are served green tea and can experience sitting in this traditional style villa built over a large pond of rich local ... VIEW MORE
To return to Nagasaki City, take the train from Shimabara Station. Your pass is valid for trains to Isahaya where you'll have to change to the JR train for Nagasaki City. If you are going to Nagasaki Airport, you can use your pass for the bus to the Airport.
