Top Rated Shopping in Nagasaki

Nagasaki's arcade of arcades! The rugged geography and somewhat cramped layout of Nagasaki City make for an abundance of narrow market streets and arcades, but this one is unquestionably the largest and most well known. It is wide enough to allow for all kinds of pedestrian traffic, and it is also roofed. The shops in this arcade are all established and well known, but chain stores are gradually edging out the older, privately owned places. Other avenues branch off from the main strip to provide further opportunity for exploring and shopping.

This enormous shopping center attached to Nagasaki Station was built only recently and is an impressive addition to the city's shopping, dining and entertainment attractions. There are five floors in all with a variety of gift shops, clothing outlets and more. In addition, there are several restaurants, banking corners, and a movie theater. Being part the station, the mall makes an excellent place to buy gifts before you go on your way.

Loire is known for its classy yet quirky, collection of apparels for women. Housing brands like Avi, Emile Zola and Rosso Vivo, the store has garnered a lot of positive attention from its customers. From classy over coats, to soft sweaters, Loire, has something for every one.

This cake maker has been around since the beginning of the Meiji Era (1868), though some of the techniques employed here have been around for almost 400 years. The shop specializes in one of Nagasaki's famed omiyage (gifts to take home): the kasutera, or sponge cake. A box starts at 1,400 yen, but that is not all that is available. Holland cakes are also 1400 yen, while certain hand-baked selections can be purchased from the store starting at 600 yen.

This narrow stretch appropriately incorporates the word "gourmet" into its name; the number of delicious restaurants is too many to count on both your hands. But "delicious" is not synonymous with "expensive." Most are quite affordable. At night, especially after midnight, the character of the place changes a bit. Provocatively dressed women from nearby snacks and lounges, and tipsy businessmen weave along the corridor. There are also many youths in the area, taking advantage of the eateries that open late.

This department store did so well among Nagasaki residents for so long, that they added an attachment. The main building has 8 floors plus a basement and rooftop garden, while the branch is the same size minus the basement. This department store is busy, not only because it stocks just about everything, but also because it is accessible from the Hamanomachi arcade, Nagasaki's largest and most popular. If you are looking for import clothing, you may want to check the branch building; it often has casual clothing from famous overseas brandname companies.