Nagasaki Tours

Nagasaki is my wife's hometown and the birthplace of my children, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.  There is something unique about Nagasaki and so many people comment that it has a different or special aura about it that isn't felt anywhere in Japan.  I have a few reasons why this is so, but you will just have to tour with me to find out how special Nagasaki really is as I will the secrets with you.

Here is a map of Nagasaki Prefecture.
Please click on view larger map to get a more detailed look at this region in Kyushu, Japan.



   



Tour Nagasaki picks up from all Airports, Train Stations, Hotels and most importantly all the International Cruise Terminals in Nagasaki Prefecture. These are maps of the 3 main Port Terminals in Nagasaki.



Matsugae International Port Terminal in Nagasaki City:

 



Sasebo Cruise Ship Terminal:


The NEW Uragashira International Terminal

 



SHORE EXCURSIONS:

The following 2 tours have been specifically complied to suit shore excursions.  They are tailored to the ships arrival and departure times and can be customized to the clients liking, any requests are taken seriously and will be implemented into the itinerary where possible. Most shore excursions are between 7 to 9 hours in duration.

 At present the 2 main shore excursions that I do on a regular basis are as follows:



The incredible Peace Park

Tour 1:

Full day Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsular Sightseeing Tour:


Without a doubt, the most interesting area of Nagasaki Prefecture is the Shimabara Peninsular to the east of the city which is about an hours drive away.  It offers the most picturesque settings, a chance to escape from the hustle and bustle  and you will find the most beautiful scenery that you will ever see in Japan let alone the world.

The emphasis of this tour is to allow the customer to diversify their choices and create an opportunity to see more sights within a longer time frame. The Shimabara Peninsular in particular is loaded with many different attractions and one can feel satisfied once the tour is finished as many interesting places have been visited.

Light refreshments and drinks as well as lunch are provided in a relaxed environment within an air conditioned vehicle. Generally pick up times are around 8am and drop off times are at 5 to 6pm.

Lots of smiles and greetings at Shimabara Castle



Below is a sample itinerary of our most popular Tour:


1) Pick up at the Nagasaki Port upon disembarkation from the Ship

Nagasaki Port 
                                                 I will be waiting front and center as you disembark



2) Drive East to the Isahaya Spectacle Bridge Park: Click the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2011/09/isahaya-spectacle-bridge-nagasaki_16.html

3) A quick stop at the Unique Bus Stops of Konagai:  Click on the link below for more info:

4) Continue on to the Isahaya Bay Dike Road:  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2014/09/isahaya-bay-dike-road-nagasaki_12.html


6) Just around the corner is the Samurai Street:  Click on the link below for more info:


7) A visit to a local restaurant/supermarket for lunch:

Comfortable Seating


8) Then we head to the preserved houses destroyed by the Volcano.  Click on the link below for more info:

9) If time is on our side, a photo opportunity is available at the Onokoba Elementary School.  Click on the link below for more info:

10)  From here we will head up the mountain to the Unzen Hell ponds. Click on the link below for more info:

11)  The next destination is the highlight of the tour.  The Obama Foot Baths.  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2011/05/obama-foot-bath-nagasaki_20.html

12)  A quick stop at the Tachibana Shrine for a Shinto Blessing is on the agenda.  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2012/07/tachibana-shrine-chijiwa-nagasaki_19.html

13)  This is the last stop on the Shimabara Peninsular, now we head back to Nagasaki City and the all important Peace Park and optional Atomic Bomb Museum.  Click on the links below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2011/05/nagasaki-peace-park-statue_19.html
14)  Finally, if time is still on our side we will head up to Mount Inasayama to get a birds eye view of Nagasaki City and the Harbor below.  Click on the links below for more info:


 15)  Drop off (on time) back at the Nagasaki Port Terminal:

Thanks for a great day!


Below is an memory video of what you will see and do on the Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsula Shore Excursion.






Check out all the destinations and distances we will have covered on our time together sightseeing around Nagasaki and the Shimabara Peninsula here on this map:

Feel free to zoom in and out of each attraction to see how much we will see on our private tour.






OR


Tour 2:

Full Day Nagasaki WW2 History and Cultural Tour:


For those WW2 history buffs and those who want to further experience various Japanese cultural activities the next tour will be right down your alley.  As it stands we will visit 4 historical locations, 3 cultural locations and 1 nature attraction which is arguably the best night view in Japan, during our time together. 

Below is a sample itinerary of the Tour:


1) Pick up at the Nagasaki Port upon disembarkation from the Ship




2) We head to the all important Peace Park and optional Atomic Bomb Museum.  Click on the links below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2012/02/nagasaki-fat-man-atomic-bomb_22.html
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2012/09/nagasaki-peace-park-statues_5.html


3) Take a 45 minute drive to the incredible Sohonzan Shrine (our 1st cultural location) to take a stroll in its magnificent gardens.  Click on the link below for more information.


4)  Small drive to the Sakai Bridge and surrounding Parks for a relaxing picnic.  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2013/09/saikai-bridge-nagasaki_3.html


5)  Visit the nearby Hario Radio Towers and see where the message to bomb Pearl Harbor was originally sent from.  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2019/04/hario-wireless-towers-nagasaki.html


6)  Another short drive will bring us to a Bomb Shelter that was used during WW2 that we will explore as a group.  Click on the link below for more info:
7)  Next is one of the cultural highlights of the Tour which involves a Sake Tasting at a Traditional Japanese Sake Brewery.  Another picnic stop in the beautiful gardens is part of the experience. Click on the link below to see more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2019/01/umegae-sake-brewery-nagasaki.html


8)  Then we are off to another historical WW2 Site which is the Abandoned Torpedo and Submarine Training Facility.  Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2015/06/nagasaki-ww2-submarine-training-center.html


9)  The 3rd cultural experience of the day will be a visit to the Ceramic Park in Hasami Town, the Pottery Capital of Nagasaki.  Click on the links below to see more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2013/11/hasami-ceramics-park-nagasaki_2.html
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2014/06/hasami-ceramic-park-nagasaki-museum_19.html


10)  Finally, we will head back to Nagasaki City and head to Mount Inasayama to get a birds eye view of Nagasaki City and the Harbor below.  Click on the links below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2012/02/mount-inasa-nightview-nagasaki_18.html
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2015/05/mount-inasayama-daytime-nagasaki.html


11)  Drop off (on time) back at the Nagasaki Port Terminal:

Another magnificent tour was had with Tour Nagasaki 




Below is an memory video of what you will see and do on the Nagasaki WW2 History and Culture Shore Excursion.




Check out all the destinations and attractions we will have covered on our time together sightseeing
around Nagasaki City and areas of Sasebo in Nagasaki Prefecture here on this map:

Feel free to zoom in and out of each attraction to see how much we will do on our private tours of Nagasaki.

Also, click on the blue icon to see a photo and quick description.







DAY TOURS:

These tours are generally for clients who have a specific purpose or who want to visit a special attraction that is not really accessible by public transport.  Pick up's are generally from city hotels but train stations and airport are quite common places to start and end the day.  These tours tend to start earlier and finish later with most tours around 10 to 12 hours in length.

At present the 2 main day tours that I do on a regular basis are as follows:


Tour 1:

Full Day UNESCO Hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki:


Hidden Christians are those who secretly practised the Christian faith, introduced to Japan in the middle of the 16th century, while Christianity was prohibited by the Japanese Shogunate (Military Ruler). The Hidden Christians secretly maintained their religious communities and practised their Christian faith on their own, while outwardly pretending to live as non-Christian peasants or fishers, to harmoniously coexist with the general Japanese society and its traditional religions. Their necessity to continue their social lives while hiding their faith from the rest of society in such ways nurtured their distinctive cultural tradition.

This tour will explore and investigate many of these Hidden Christian UNESCO cultural sites that are dotted around Nagasaki Prefecture.


1) Pick up at a Hotel, Airport or Train Station

2) We head to the all important Oura Catholic Church. Click on the links below for more info:

3)  Next we will head to the Urakami Cathedral that was heavily destroyed by the Atomic Bomb. Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2011/10/urakami-cathedral-nagasaki_8.html

4) Take a 45 minute drive to the incredible Ono and Shitsu Villages in Sotome to take a look at how these communities survived during religious persecution.  Click on the link below for more information.

5)  The longest drive of the day will see us cross most of the Nagasaki Prefecture and head to the Shimabara Castle, which is where the Shogunate forces base camp was situated. Click on the link below for more info:

5)  Next we head to the Hara Castle where the Christian Massacre took place in the 17th Century. Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2012/09/hara-castle-ruins-nagasaki_26.html

6)  After a small drive we will come to the Kita Arima Christian Monument. Click on the link below for more info:
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2013/10/nagasaki-christian-monument_17.html

7)  Next is the Arima Christian Heritage Museum . Click on the link below to see more info:

8)  Another 1 hour drive will bring us to a 26 Martyrs Museum in Nagasaki City. Click on the links below for more info:
9)  Finally, we head to Mount Inasayama to get a birds eye view of Nagasaki City and the Harbor below.  Click on the links below for more info:

Many locations to explore


Now a World Heritage site



















Tour 2:

Full Day Private Ceramics and Green Tea Explorers Tour


1) Pick up at the Nagasaki Station and or local hotel.  If you are arriving at the Nagasaki Airport, this link below will give you some great background information.

2) For the first attraction of the day we have 2 options.  You can choose 1 or both if you desire.

Head to the Umegae Sake Brewery and see how the various types of alcoholic beverages are produced. Click on the link below for more information.

and /or

Head to the unforgettable Hasami Ceramics Park up in the mountainside of Nagasaki Prefecture.  Please click on the link below for more information.

3) Then we drive to Izumiyama Quarry to see where the raw materials were first found to establish a ceramics industry in the region.  Click on the link below for more information.

4) Stop off at the incredibly unique and original Tozan Shrine.  Please click on the link below for more information.
https://www.tour-nagasaki.com/2023/06/tozan-shrine-arita-town-saga-prefecture.html

5) We will go to the Kyushu Ceramic Museum for a cultural and  historical experience.  Please click on the link below to see more information about this attraction.

6) Then we a quick drive to the Arita Sera Porcelain shops for some real pottery shopping after our designated lunchtime meal on the premises.  Click on the link below for more information.

7) Stop off at the incredibly beautiful Arita Porcelain Park.  Please click on the link below for more information.

8) After a great attraction it"s time to try a beverage or 2. Let's explore the Ureshino Tea Exchange Museum  and try some traditional Japanese Green tea drinks and desserts..  Click on the link below for more information about this location.


9)  Return to your pre-arranged drop off point.


A small selection of local teas

The Ureshino Tea fields in winter


Below is an memory video of what you will see and do on the Nagasaki Ceramic and Green Tea Shore Excursion.










Check out all the destinations and attractions we will have covered on our time together sightseeing around Nagasaki and areas in Saga Prefecture here on this map:

Feel free to zoom in and out of each attraction to see how much we will do on our private tours of Nagasaki.

Also, click on the blue icon to see a photo and quick description.




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