Top Rated Attractions in Nagasaki

This museum is a certain destination for those visiting Nagasaki for the first time. It almost seems inconceivable that someone could have been to Nagasaki and not have visited this historic, educational and ultimately heart-breaking place. It is obviously devoted to Nagasaki's atomic holocaust, but there are displays on modern nuclear technology and concerns as well. Seeing the 900 or so artifacts will require some time, and you may certainly want to spend some considerable extra minutes in the video room or at the other video displays. Check out the website for hours of operation.

The Nagasaki Museum of History & Culture one of biggest museums in Nagasaki. The museum accords a lot of importance to the theme 'overseas exchange'. Historical artifacts, documents, arts and crafts housed in the museum reflect the city's vast history and culture. Their permanent exhibits include the display of trade exchanges between Korea, China and the Netherlands, and the modern Japan. With an astounding collection of 48,000 documents and facts, this museum is very informative and educating. The museum is closed on the third Tuesday of every month, so please check the website for timings.

The original Urakami Cathedral was built in 1914, but destroyed when the atomic bomb detonated over the district. What remained of the cathedral is now on display in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. The blackened face on a statue of an angel looking skyward is particularly poignant. A replacement for the largest cathedral in Asia was built after the war, in 1959. In 1980, workers re-designed the building to resemble its original appearance.

Sofukuji is a Chinese temple built by the residents of the city that belonged to the Fujian Province in China in 1629. The temple is the oldest known structure in the city that houses important cultural assets depicting Zen Buddhism. The temple was constructed in a rather contemporary Ming architecture style and comprises Buddha Hall which is decorated with Chinese lanterns. The statue of Sakyamuni Buddha is housed inside the hall and is revered all across the city. The brightly painted gates of the temple and the giant cauldron built by a priest are among its main features.

Situated at the heart of the city, Confucius Shrine is, perhaps, the only shrine of the great thinker to be built outside China. The shrine was built in 1893 by the residents of Nagasaki in Qing dynasty and comprised of a school and a Confucius sanctuary. The shrine is marked by 72 statues which represent the followers of Confucius. Under the administration of Chinese embassy in Tokyo, the shrine was extensively renovated in 1982 and reopened to public since the time it was partially destroyed during the atomic bomb in 1945. The shrine also houses the Museum of Chinese History that comprises antique collection. Call to know more.

The Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum houses a collection of worldwide art. The museum is spacious and bright which creates a surreal backdrop for the exhibits. "Breathing Museum" is the main theme the museum focuses on, and this museum encourages and promotes art and culture and exchange of ideas in this space. Besides this, the museum also attempts to dissolve regional differences with the help of various mediums of art. And to continue this initiative, the museum conducts art workshops, exhibitions, concerts and several other exciting events.