The PERFECT Nagasaki 1 Day Itinerary From Nagasaki Cruise Port
- Maria DiCicco
- Nov 1, 2023
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
When traveling to Nagasaki by cruise ship, there are really two options for a busy day in port. The first, done primarily by public transportation, is to visit the infamous Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and the Nagasaki Peace Park, in addition to the One Legged Torii Gate.
The second itinerary for visiting Nagasaki is for travelers interested in cultural immersion - those who would like to see Nagasaki 'off the beaten path', on foot.
Here I'll share the two best ways to spend one day in Nagasaki, including transportation logistics, where to shop and eat, and more.
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The Most Popular Things to Do in Nagasaki
Most would venture to say that these attractions are the most popular in Nagasaki, and worth a visit if it is something you are interested in:
Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park (buy your admission ticket here for $1.30, or navigate the ticket booth onsite)
One Legged Torii Gate
Glover Garden (click here for admission tickets)
Battleship Island (this UNESCO World Heritage site reminds me of an Alcatraz, worth it if you have the time!). Get your tickets here.
Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
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How to Get from Nagasaki Cruise Port to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park
From the Nagasaki Cruise terminal to the Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum is not too difficult. You'll want to find the tram and get yourself a ticket like this:
Pictured is a one day pass for the tram, or you can pay as you go. It costs 150 yen per ride or 600 yen for the day.
The closest Nagasaki tram station to the cruise terminal is Ourakaigandori.
Review the Nagasaki tram map here to familiarize yourself, but simply take the tram from this station to the Atomic Bomb Museum (marked as number 20 on their map). You can get tickets at the tram stop or at the information desk at the cruise terminal.
You may want to note marker 23 at Mori-Machi for after the museum. There are dining and shopping options around the Mirai Nagasaki Cocowalk mall (look for 100 yen shops like Seria, and a great lunch of okonomiyaki!)
You can even stop in for a hand or foot massage.
Where Can You Walk to From the Nagasaki Cruise Port?
The cruise port is located at Matsugae Terminal, a 9 minute walk to the Ourakaigandori tram station, and a 14 minute walk to Glover Garden. It is a 20 minute walk to Shinchi Chinatown and 25 minutes to Hamamachi shopping area.
The below 'off the beaten path' itinerary includes a full day of walking delights, from port to Chinatown and more. Foodies will especially enjoy this itinerary, so keep reading!
One Day in Nagasaki Off the Beaten Path
From the moment you step off of the cruise ship in Nagasaki port, you'll find life. You'll stumble upon local men playing a chess-like game in courtyards, or women walking hand in hand with their children.
This itinerary (if you can call a meandering stroll an itinerary) focuses heavily in on the Shinchi Chinatown and Hamamachi Shopping Street areas. You'll find shopping and dining, and just enough to satisfy your curiosity about the city before returning back to the ship.
All you need to do is plug in Shinchi Chinatown to your phone map and generally meander towards that direction.
An Ideal Day Might Include:
Walk from cruise ship towards Shinchi Chinatown
Enjoy some Chinatown street food in Nagasaki
Browse shops and Chinese souvenirs
Venture to Hamamachi Shopping Street for upscale shopping
Look for 100-yen shops for cheap souvenirs!
Stop for a yakiniku lunch
Stop 1: Shinchi Chinatown
You may already be familiar with the Nagasaki Chinatown, which is Japan's oldest Chinatown. There are many Chinatowns in Japan, like the vast and wonderful Chinatown in Yokohama, but this one is said to be the oldest.
Take a stroll through Minato Park, or take photos of the Chinatown gates. Cross one of the several bridges and explore the lanes that follow.
In particular, seek out bao bun street food or duck into a Totoro themed store and pick up a souvenir from the beloved Japanese film.
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Stop 2: Visit Hamamachi Shopping Street
This busy shopping arcade is quite a step above some of the food markets and souvenir stalls you may find in Osaka or in Kochi. The stores are all a bit more expensive than we found elsewhere, but still fun to pop in and people watch during your stroll.
Stop 3: EAT!
Read on for the best food in Nagasaki if you only have one day and are feeling peckish.
Finding The BEST Food in Nagasaki
Nagasaki Chinatown
In Nagasaki's Shinchi Chinatown, you will want to hunt down and sample a few particular treats known to Nagasaki including:
Champon (a soupy noodle dish)
Kakuni Manjyu (Gua Bao) - bao buns
Or perhaps you want to find the best Chinese food around? I didn't visit, but based on my research I think Lao Lee, a Taiwanese restaurant in Shinchi Chinatown, would be a great take. The food and atmosphere looked great.
Food in Hamamachi
After wandering the shopping area, you may find an adorable alley or two full of Italian restaurants. It was like stumbling into Little Italy. Window boxes were full of flowers and the smell of garlic filled the air. If I hadn't already been craving yakiniku, I'd have stopped in for some Italian food!
I want to make note that the restaurants in the Hamamachi arcade area were all expensive and very busy at the lunch hour, so I do suggest getting away from the tourist hubs and seeking lunch elsewhere.
Yakiniku in Nagasaki
If you want something truly splendid though, go for a yakiniku experience while you are in Nagasaki.
I did some Googling on the spot and found an incredible restaurant for the family called Yakiniku Kakura. A large place, we didn't need a reservation. Tables were private booths tucked behind curtains in an intimate atmosphere.
We ordered endless plates of beef and pork, vegetables and more and cooked it on our grill-top table. It was perfection. We enjoyed wine, sake and beer and got to spend a nice relaxing couple of hours soaking up the experience before walking slowly back to the port.
With a bit of walking, shopping, dining, and soaking in the atmosphere of every day life in Nagasaki, we got to enjoy a quiet port day without any fuss. I recommend that if you need a Nagasaki 1 day itinerary to follow, that you keep it simple and shop and dine your way around this lovely historic port.
Nagasaki in a Nutshell
Whether you choose to venture from the Nagasaki Cruise port to the Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park, or you decide to take a walk off the beaten path to Chinatown and beyond, there is plenty to enjoy in Nagasaki for one day.
Be sure to plan a little ahead so you have an idea of your route, and the rest can be left to exploration and adventure. Enjoy your day in port!
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