Located in the center of the Shimabara Peninsula,

this area sits on the southwestern slope of Mount

Unzen at an altitude of 700 meters. It began

welcoming foreign tourists around 1900, after 

figures such as Kaempfer and Siebold introduced

the region to the West. In 1934, it became part of

the first area to be designated as a National Park

in Japan.

Nita Pass is one of the most scenic spots in Unzen,

offering magnificent natural beauty throughout the

year. Each season puts on a spectacular display:

vibrant azaleas in spring, lush greenery in summer,

brilliant red maples in autumn, and a fantastic silver

hoarfrost in winter.

Unzen Jigoku, which literally means “Hell,” is the number

one attraction of Unzen. The area is filled with the distinct

scent of sulfur and thick white steam rising from the ground

across a wide area—a striking reminder that the Unzen

volcano remains very much active.

A variety of trekking routes start right from the onsen resort

town, leading visitors through Unzen Jigoku. From casual

walkers to avid mountain climbers, everyone can enjoy a

route tailored to their preferences, with trails reaching

Nita Pass as well as the summits of Mount Myoken and

Mount Fugen.

Opened in 1913, the Unzen Golf Course is Japan’s oldest

public course, and the second oldest overall after the

Kobe Golf Club (opened in 1903). The area was designated

as one of Japan’s first national parks in 1934, and the golf

course has since been popular as a main attraction for both

Japanese and international visitors.

The Peace Statue was erected in 1955 near Ground Zero,

where the atomic bomb was dropped at 11:02 a.m. on August 9,

1945. Every year on August 9, the Peace Memorial Ceremony

is held in front of the statue, where the Mayor of Nagasaki delivers

the Nagasaki Peace Declaration to the world.

The museum displays a collection of photographs that depict

the devastation of the atomic bombing, the lead-up to the

tragedy, the history of nuclear arms, and a collective hope for

a peaceful world

The plutonium atomic bomb detonated approximately 500 meters

above the hypocenter at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945. Most of

Nagasaki was destroyed, and a staggering number of lives were

lost. Among the city’s 240,000 residents, approximately 70,000

died instantly, and up to 60,000 others were injured.

The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian pilgrimage sites

in Japan. Established in 1865, this church is officially known as

“Oura Cathedral, the Church of 26 Martyrs.” It was built by the

French priest Bernard Petitjean of Fier, who was dispatched by

the Paris Foreign Missions Society to dedicate prayers to the

26 saints martyred on Nishizaka Hill.

Saint Filippo de Jesus

Church

Hongouchi Church, St. Kolbe

Museum

Urakami Cathedral

Nyokodo

Sotome Pilgrimage sites

Dejima, a fan-shaped artificial island in Nagasaki, was the sole gateway

for trade and cultural exchange with Europe during Japan’s era of

isolation (1641–1853). As the only site where Dutch merchants were

permitted, it played a vital role in introducing Western science, medicine,

and culture to Japan.

Mount Inasa is a 333-meter-high mountain located in close proximity to

JR Nagasaki Station. The summit can be reached by ropeway, slope car,

or car, and it offers great views over the city. The magnificent night views

from Mount Inasa are also ranked among Japan’s three best night views.

Located in the Shinchi district, Nagasaki Chinatown is one of the big three

Chinatowns in Japan. Visitors can explore around 50 Chinese restaurants

and a variety of shops offering unique Chinese sundries.

Hashima Island, commonly known as Gunkanjima (Battleship Island), is a

reclaimed island that hosted Japan’s first large-scale undersea coal mine.

Pioneered by Mitsubishi, it played a crucial role in the nation’s

modernization. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

as part of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel,

Shipbuilding and Coal Mining.

Megane-bashi bridge

Confucius Shrine

Suwa Shrine

Dejima Wharf

Kazagashira Park

Sanno Shrine

The Nagasaki Electric Tramway provides a convenient and

affordable way to travel around the main attractions of Nagasaki City.

Located in Shimabara City, this castle was built

in 1625 by the feudal lord Matsukura Shigemasa,

who was renowned as a master of castle

architecture. The castle, which took seven years

to complete, is also affectionately known as

“Moritake Castle.

Samurai were the elite military nobility of

pre-industrial Japan. Located near Shimabara

Castle, the beautifully preserved samurai

residences along this historic street date back

to the 18th century.

This historic street, lined with traditional stone walls

and a spring water canal running down its center,

preserves the atmosphere of Shimabara’s old samurai

district. Three samurai residences have been carefully

restored and are open to the public as museums.

This Christian pilgrimage site is part of the “Hidden

Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region,” registered

as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the

battlefield of the Shimabara Rebellion in 1637,

a massive peasant uprising led by Amakusa Shiro

against the Shogunate’s persecution of Christians.

The world’s tallest wooden Holy Mary statue stands

at 10 meters in height. It was meticulously carved

by sculptor Eiji Oyamatsu over a period of 40 years

and was completed when he was 90 years old.

The statue is located in Minami-Shimabara City, just

a 10-minute drive from the Hara Castle Ruins.

Guzoni is said to have originated during the Shimabara

Rebellion of 1637. When the Christians fought under

the leadership of Amakusa Shiro, they gathered various

ingredients such as rice cakes, fish, and vegetables to

make a nutritious stew. This hearty dish is the origin of

the Guzoni we enjoy today.

Approximately 300 wild dolphins inhabit the waters

between the Shimabara Peninsula and Amakusa.

Dolphin-watching cruises have become increasingly

popular for all ages, offering an incredible chance to

see these dolphins so close you feel as though you

could almost touch them.

Kyusho Ferry: A 60-minute ride operated by Kyusho Ferry.

Ocean Arrow: A 30-minute high-speed ride operated by

Kumamoto Ferry.

Shimatetsu Ferry: A 30-minute ride operated by

Shimabara Railway

Huis Ten Bosch is a theme park in Sasebo, which recreates

the Netherlands by displaying life-sized copies of old Dutch

buildings. The name Huis Ten Bosch translates into English 

as “House in the Woods/bush”.  It is named after Huis ten

Bosch in The Hague.

Stands on a hill guarding Hirado Port and the Hirado Strait, which

used to be part of an important trade route between Japan and the

Asian mainland. The original fortress was built in 1599 by the

local Matsura Lord.

Set up in Hirado in 1609 as the base of operations of the Dutch East

India Company in Japan. The building seen today is a warehouse which

was originally constructed here in 1639 as part of the trading post, but

torn down just three years later after the Dutch had been relocated to

Dejima Island in the port of Nagasaki.

Located two kilometers off the coast of Hirado Island, Nakae no Shima is

a small, uninhabited island where religious leaders were executed during

the persecution of Christians. The island is considered sacred, and water

collected there is used for baptism.

This idyllic, remote village was refuge to a small community of Hidden

Christians who practiced here for centuries, far from the prying eyes of

the government. After the ban on Christianity was lifted, the local villagers

decided to continue practicing their own unique brand of the religion

rather than region the Catholic Church.

This church is a catholic church in Hirado, Nagasaki. Hirado is a place

where Francis Xavier visited 3 times in Japan to spread Christianity,

and even during the Kinkyo Ordinance of the Edo Period that prohibited

religions, Christianity was very widespread.

The church was designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, a famous architect of

various churches in Nagasaki-prefecture, and built between December

1915 and October 1917. It is one of the latest brick churches in the

prefecture of Nagasaki. Tetsukawa Yosuke has called this one of his

best works.

The museum stores and displays the historical collection of the Matsura

family who ruled over the northern area of Nagasaki prefecture since the

13^th century. The museum is housed in the former private residence of

the Matsura family, the grand Tsurugamine Mansion, built in 1893. Hirado

has a long history of overseas exchange due to its geographical location.

After the discovery of the numerous hidden Christians in Ikitsuki Island in

1865, they began to work on recovering their Catholic faith although they

were not too successful at first. Then in 1878, a priest named Fr. Pelu came

to Hirado and baptized many people who are said to be the ancestors of

the churchgoers of Yamada Church today.

The site where Christian Gaspar Nishi Genka was martyred in 1609, located

on Kurose Hill overlooking Nakae no shima between Hirado and Ikitsuki.

The tomb facing the sea is called Gaspar-sama and is a revered place for

Ikitsuki’s Hidden Christians.