What to do and see in Nagasaki, Kyushu-Okinawa: The Best Museums

September 9, 2021 Flossie Demartino

Nagasaki (長崎市, Nagasaki-shi, Japanese: [naɡaꜜsaki]) ( listen (help·info)) is the capital and the largest city of Nagasaki Prefecture on the island of Kyushu in Japan. The city's name, 長崎, means "Long Cape" in Japanese. Nagasaki became a centre of colonial Portuguese and Dutch influence in the 16th through 19th centuries, and Churches and Christian Sites in Nagasaki have been proposed for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Part of Nagasaki was home to a major Imperial Japanese Navy base during the First Sino-Japanese War and Russo-Japanese War.
Restaurants in Nagasaki

1. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-844-1231 http://nagasakipeace.jp/japanese/abm.html
Excellent
61%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 1,992 reviews

Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

Jarring, horrific reminders of the devastation caused by the August 9, 1945 bombing of Nagasaki fill this historic and educational museum, which traces events preceding the bombing, the resulting destruction and the city’s restoration.

Reviewed By Rumples - Tucson, United States

A friend and I visited this moving museum on a weekday morning in early October. We had come to see how Nagasaki portrayed the effects of the Aug. 9, 1945, atomic bomb drop on the city. The curators have chosen to tell a story, presenting Nagasaki before the bomb fell; immediately after the explosion; and today. They weave explanations of historical details within the story and show what happened through photos, videos, artifacts and much more. The conclusion focuses on the need for peace and the end of nuclear weapons, made abundantly clear by the bomb's destruction of the city and the killing of at least 74,000 people. Those, who survived, would often have to endure physical ailments from the radiation and psychological trauma. As soon as I entered the exhibition hall, I felt uneasy, looking at a giant black-and- white photo of Nagasaki as it appeared before the bomb fell. That's because I knew what would be ahead for the thriving city. A recovered wall clock frozen at 11:02 a.m. soon appeared, marking the exact time that the horrors began. Displays feature English descriptions and include photos of the atomic wasteland that Nagasaki became, along with stories of that fateful day from survivors, including heroic rescue work. Artifacts damaged from the flash of heat range from a 14-year-old girl's lunch box with rice charred from the fire to six green glass bottles melted at the top and stuck together, which were found in a store's ruins. A helmet with the remains of a skull inside is one of the more grisly items. I found information on the bomb itself to be especially interesting. A life-size model of the one used on Nagasaki is displayed and called "Fat Man," because of its appearance. A video shows the military loading Fat Man and transporting it to the plane for the mission. There is also a photo taken from the plane that shows the mushroom cloud rising into the sky after the blast. We went through the relatively small museum in about 1 hour. It cost 200 Y (about $1.89 U.S.) to enter. A corridor leads from the museum to the adjacent Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. There is no fee to enter the Memorial Hall. Both are located near ground zero for the blast and the Nagasaki Peace Park. To reach the museum, we took the blue line to the Matsuyamamachi tram stop and then walked for about 4 minutes.

2. 26 Martyrs Museum

7-8 Nishizaka-machi, Nagasaki 850-0051 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-822-6000 [email protected] http://www.26martyrs.com/
Excellent
46%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
17%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 178 reviews

26 Martyrs Museum

Reviewed By Luvingmywine

This was enlightening and educational on what happened when Christianity was banned from Japan. To maximize your experience, i recommend watching the movie "Silence" before hand to grasp an insight into the why and what happened during the persecution era. Even if you are not Catholic or Christian, it is still an interesting part of Nagasaki's history.

3. Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

7-8 Hirano-machi, Nagasaki Nagasaki Prefecture +81 11-81-958-14-0055 http://www.peace-nagasaki.go.jp
Excellent
57%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 269 reviews

Nagasaki Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims

Reviewed By Karenyong - Singapore, Singapore

This place is very serene, got lost a little in the underground while walking but every different corner presents the way how nagasaki has went thur after the bombing occurred. They shown it in different forms of 3D videos, pictures, portraits, artefacts, computer images and also paper cranes made by school kids to ensure World Peace. Was not expected to spend so much time here but when you walk thur all this and reading them, almost took me up an hour+. And yes, i agree that this place does more than what you feel like its a memorial hall for the victims. I felt more peace after walking through the memorial hall seeing so much.

4. Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

77 Higashishitsumachi, Nagasaki 851-2327 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 959-37-6011 http://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/endou/
Excellent
57%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 74 reviews

Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

5. Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture

1-1-1 Tateyama, Nagasaki 850-0007 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-818-8366 http://www.nmhc.jp/
Excellent
41%
Good
48%
Satisfactory
10%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 191 reviews

Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture

Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture is one of the few museums in Japan dedicated to the history of international exchange. The Museum holds approximately 81,000 objects in its precious collection, including historical documents, art and craftworks that tell the story of Nagasaki, the sole window open to foreign countries during the period of Japan’s national isolation. In addition, part of the Nagasaki Magistrate's Office (a local agency of the central government in the Edo period) has been faithfully reconstructed based on historical materials, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of feudal Japan. The exhibits are displayed to ensure an instructive and enjoyable experience. Come and spend meaningful time learning about the history and culture of Nagasaki.

Reviewed By meikemccaw

I visited the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture during my tour with Huber Tomodachi Guide. My guides were so friendly and kind and knew a lot about Nagasaki history! They taught me a lot and brought me to this museum. Since we went on the weekend, we were able to enjoy a historical play that was free with the regular admission ticket (which is fairly priced). The play was in Japanese, yet I still found it very entertaining and educational despite my lack of Japanese language ability. The staff here work hard to help you make the most of your experience which I appreciate a lot. There is so much valuable information in this museum about Nagasaki's rich and diverse past! I highly recommend!

6. Father De Rotz Memorial Museum

2633 Nishishitsumachi, Nagasaki 851-2322 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 959-25-1081 http://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/kanko/820000/828000/p000827.html
Excellent
50%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
13%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 32 reviews

Father De Rotz Memorial Museum

7. Nagasaki Shipyard Museum

1-1 Akunouramachi, Nagasaki 850-8610 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-828-4134 http://www.mhi.com/jp/expertise/museum/nagasaki/
Excellent
55%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 55 reviews

Nagasaki Shipyard Museum

8. The Confucian Temple, the Chinese Museum of Successive Generations

10-36 Ouramachi, Nagasaki 850-0918 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-824-4022 http://nagasaki-koushibyou.com/
Excellent
20%
Good
45%
Satisfactory
31%
Poor
4%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 196 reviews

The Confucian Temple, the Chinese Museum of Successive Generations

The Nagasaki Confucius Temple was built in 1893 (Meiji 26) cooperatively with the Chingk Government and the Chinese Overseas Chinese, and it has been rebuilt after some modification since then. It is the only authentic Chinese style mausoleum in Japan, which has magnificent traditional beauty everywhere in Nomiyama, in Shandong Province, China, in Shandong Province, China. It is also one of the venues of the Lantern Festival, and everyday events are held during the lantern festival and you can enjoy various shows. Also, in a business trip opening, various eating and drinking establishments can be opened from Nagasaki prefecture and enjoy the food of Nagasaki.

9. Dejima

6-1 Dejimamachi, Nagasaki 850-0862 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 95-829-1194 http://nagasakidejima.jp/
Excellent
25%
Good
46%
Satisfactory
24%
Poor
4%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,156 reviews

Dejima

An artificial island to which Dutch workers were restricted during Japan's era of isolation, the area is now being restored and includes historical buildings, a museum and a miniature model of the former island.

Reviewed By deckchairtraveller - Sydney, Australia

Thus is the re-make of the original Dutch settlement on edge of the old Nagasaki harbour. Was a locally built island JUST for the Europeans, has been realistically restored. Excellent historic exhibits and rooms made to look like they originally were utilised (stores or living). At the far end of the street is a model of the island n' buildings and shows you just how small (n' compact) it all was then. Established in 1500's and lasted till mid 1800's and was the "sugar route" into the rest of Japan. Imports were sugar, tobacco and (early on) even silk from China.

10. Nagasaki City Science Museum

7-2 Aburagi-machi, Nagasaki 852-8035 Nagasaki Prefecture +81 92-842-0505 http://www.nagasaki-city.ed.jp/starship/
Excellent
13%
Good
60%
Satisfactory
27%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 15 reviews

Nagasaki City Science Museum

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