Nagasaki

Built in 1864 by French missionaries, it is the oldest remaining church in Japan. While not used as a church now, it still offers a look at 19th-century worship after Japan repealed its ban on Christianity.

Rebuilt after its destruction in the atomic bombing, Urakami Cathedral was once the largest church in Asia.

Japan's sole port open to Western trade for over 200 years, Dejima Island was built to keep the West out-of-contact with the local populace in order to prevent the spread of Christianity. While only a few pieces of the original building foundations remain, the buildings have been recreated according to what we know about them, and you can walk inside their warehouses, quarters, kitchen, and other rooms. Nearby Dejima Wharf was built for commemorating the exchange between Japan and Netherlands for 400 years. There are 20 shops including restaurants. You can eat lunch or dinner watching the sea.

From the 15th to the 19th centuries Chinese traders and sailors called this area home and it is the oldest Chinatown in Japan. Four narrow streets come together to a central intersection, with several restaurants and shops contributing their part to Nagasaki's unique character.

A surprisingly entertaining and informative aquarium located about 30 min [by bus] from Nagasaki station. A 12-m deep tank dominates the entry way. You can observe a variety of penguins from the vantage of underwater. A number of other aquaria contain many species of fish and invertebrates found locally, as well as a huge tank containing giant catfish (pla bluk) from the Mekong River in Thailand. The building is adjacent to a delightful sandy beach that could make a day with kids full and exciting.

The primary site of Nagasaki's annual Kunchi festival, the shrine's expansive grounds situated on the Tamazono mountainside offer a panoramic view of the city, amusing lion-dog guardian statues, and ceiling paintings by 75 artists.

This was the first Obaku Zen temple in Japan, established around 1620, and Nagasaki residents often call it the "red temple". It was used by many Chinese for over 3 centuries, and is one of the few historical places to escape damage from the atomic bombing.

One of the few places in Japan where the war crimes of the Japanese army during the Second World War are documented. Another focus of the exhibition lies on the foreign victims of the atomic bomb and their struggle for recognition and compensation. The Museum is located close to the central train station and just next to the memorial for the "26 Saints of Japan". No English explanation (just a few paragraphs on a leaflet at the entrance).

Beautiful new building (featured in Architecture Week) that often has touring exhibits from around the world. Fees are required for temporary exhibits.

An Ōbaku Zen temple in Nagasaki, Nagasaki, Japan. Its honorary sangō prefix is Bunshizan (分紫山?). Founded in 1628 and destroyed in 1945, Fukusai-ji has since been reconstructed in the shape of a turtle with an 18-metre high aluminium alloy statue of Kannon, the Bodhisattva of compassion. The interior is famous for the 25-metre Foucault Pendulum which swings over the remains of 16,500 Japanese killed during World War II.

A stately Western-style building near Nagasaki’s waterfront, this former branch of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank dates from the early 20th century and reflects the city’s role as a major international trading port. Restored and now open as a museum, it offers exhibits on Nagasaki’s global commerce and foreign settlements during the Meiji era.

Gunkanjima ("Battleship Island") is a small island completely covered in the ruins of a mining city, abandoned since 1974. Once the most densely populated place on earth, it's now a ghost town, showing the decay of what society leaves behind. Gunkanjima is about 15 km away from Nagasaki and is reachable as a part of organized boat tour. It is named from looking like a battleship from a distance. The 2½-hour tour includes a 45-minute guided walk on the island. Upon return, the boat will circle allowing passengers sitting on either side to take photos. You should book and pay a few months in advance online. If you haven't, you can try you luck by putting your name on the cancelation list at the Gujankima Cruise office a couple of hours before departure. Last-minute tickets are allocated 20 min before departure. These tours may be cancelled frequently for bad weather. For those of you thinking of jumping the fence and having a free saunter, think again, as all patrons are required to sign a specific no-fence-jumping waiver. Landing may be refused if you wear high heels, stiletto heels, flip-flops, or sandals. There is a memorial to the many Korean workers who lost their lives to the mines of this island as a result of the forced labor programs during Japan's occupation of Korea. It was the inspiration for a dramatic film location for the James Bond film Skyfall (though the filming was on a set in Pinewood Studios in the UK).