Of all cities I’ve visited in Japan, Nagasaki is probably the most straight forward with what it has. In fact, the city’s main mode of transportation (Street car) is designed in a relatively simple North-South Line, making it manageable and easy to navigate for tourists.

Nagasaki is located northwest of Fukuoka, around 1.5 hours by train, usually with a stop/change train at Saga City. It’s set on a large natural harbor, with buildings on the terraces of surrounding hills. It is synonymous with hard times during World War II, after suffering an nuclear attack in August 1945, after Hiroshima. The event is memorialized at the city’s Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park. 

This overlooking view above shows the part of Nagasaki that was previously bombed, Nagasaki Peace Park and Hypocenter Park. These locations offer a vantage point to reflect on the atomic bombing and its aftermath.

In Nagasaki, Ground Zero, the point directly below where the atomic bomb detonated, is marked by a black stone monolith in Peace Park. The park also features a hypocenter monument and remnants from nearby locations like the Shotokuji Temple. The area, now a place for reflection, includes cherry blossom trees and other greenery, symbolizing Nagasaki’s resilience and the hope for peace. 

A day trip from Fukuoka would be enough to see the highlights of Nagasaki. Read Fukuoka blog here.