Nagasaki Walking Tour | Omakase Tour

Taste Local Life : Nagasaki's Historical Street Walking Tour

Enjoy Nagasaki’s history and the daily lives of the locals!

Overview

This is a three and a half hour walking tour through historic Nagasaki in the company of a local guide. A port city on the northwest coast of Kyushu, Nagasaki is wrapped in harbours and hills, and for centuries it was Japan’s window onto the world. Through its harbour came the trade with China and Europe, and the Dutch, Portuguese and Chinese legacy can still be felt all over the city.

Nagasaki is also known as the place where an atomic bomb was dropped in August 1945, and the city continues to share with the world the importance of abolishing nuclear weapons and of a lasting peace.

This walk stays in the old temple quarter, where that layered history sits in the architecture: a Rinzai temple raised in the Ming Chinese style, the birthplace of Obaku Zen founded by a Chinese monk, and a 17th-century arched stone bridge known for the twin reflections that give it its name.

Your English-speaking guide meets you at the hotel and walks the route at a relaxed pace, from Sofukuji’s national-treasure Buddha hall to the covered arcades of Naka-dori and the banks of the Nakashima River, where the famous Spectacles Bridge hides a heart-shaped stone in its embankment wall. Tram tickets and temple entrance fees are included; the rest of the morning unfolds step by step.

Details

❖ Pick-up at Hotel New Nagasaki

09:00

Your guide meets you in the lobby of Hotel New Nagasaki at 09:00 for a short briefing on the morning ahead, then sets off on foot and by tram toward the old temple quarter of Teramachi.

❖ Sofukuji Temple

09:20 - 09:50 (30 min)

Sofukuji is a Rinzai temple built in 1629 in the Nanchuan architectural style of China, and it feels far more Chinese than other Japanese temples. Built for the Chinese residents of the city, it has an atmospheric character worth soaking in. The inner gate and the Buddha hall were both made in China and shipped to Nagasaki, and both have become national treasures, among the finest examples of Ming Dynasty temple architecture remaining anywhere. The Buddha Hall is said to be the oldest building in Nagasaki.

❖ Temple Street

09:50 - 10:10 (20 min)

Temple Street is famous in Nagasaki for its numerous old temples, many dating back over 400 years. Back then the city was a hub of international trade, and the ruling shogunate supported the building of many Buddhist temples here in order to counteract the influence of Christianity. Stroll along the street and explore the temples and their remaining relics.

❖ Kofukuji Temple

10:10 - 10:45 (35 min)

Kofukuji Temple is the birthplace of the Obaku school of Zen Buddhism in Japan, and thus an important historical site. It was established in 1620 by a Chinese monk, at a time when large numbers of Chinese merchants were coming to Nagasaki to trade, so that they could pray for a safe sea voyage.

❖ Naka-dori Shopping Street

10:50 - 11:30 (40 min)

Traverse the oldest shopping street in Nagasaki, home to many appealing shops. Do a little window shopping while enjoying the local atmosphere; there are plenty of snack and sweet take-out places along the way. If you are looking for a particular local souvenir, ask your guide for advice.

❖ Spectacles Bridge

11:30 - 12:10 (40 min)

After the stroll through the shopping street, you reach the Spectacles Bridge, named for its resemblance to a pair of spectacles when its two arches reflect in the water. Built in 1634, it is said to be the oldest arched stone bridge in existence. Explore the area around the bridge and let your guide show you some of the hidden spots that only locals know, including the heart-shaped stone set into the embankment wall.

❖ Tour End

12:30

The tour finishes at around 12:30, either back at your hotel or at JR Nagasaki Station, whichever is more convenient for the rest of your day.

OPTIONS

Notes

Please wear shoes that are easy to walk in.
For cruise guests interested in arranging private shore excursions at any of your other destinations, we are happy to assist with your custom needs.