Last reviewed: · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.
Overview of Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県)
Nagasaki Prefecture (長崎県) is located in the Kyushu region of Japan, with its prefectural capital at Nagasaki. Key sights and travel highlights across the prefecture include Nagasaki Peace Park, Glover Garden & Dejima Dutch trading post, Mount Inasa ('10-million-dollar night view'), Hashima (Gunkanjima / Battleship Island), Unzen Onsen, Sasebo's Kujukushima islands, and Shimabara Castle.
How to get to Nagasaki Prefecture
1h 25m from Fukuoka (Hakata Station) via JR Relay Kamome + West Kyushu Shinkansen Kamome. Use our Shinkansen Fare & Route Calculator and JR Pass Value Helper to compare rail tickets and regional passes.
Signature local food in Nagasaki
When visiting cities across Nagasaki, look out for these regional specialties at station restaurants, markets, and local izakaya:
- Nagasaki Champon & Sara Udon (creamy wok-seared seafood/pork noodles)
- Castella sponge cake (introduced by 16th-century Portuguese traders)
- Toruko Rice (Turkish Rice)
- Sasebo Burger & Goto udon
Best time to visit Nagasaki
Jan–Feb for the vibrant Nagasaki Lantern Festival; October 7–9 for Nagasaki Kunchi; spring and autumn for harbor viewpoints and Unzen mountain hikes.
All 13 cities & municipalities in Nagasaki Prefecture
Click any city below for its individual travel guide, demographics, rail access, food specialties, and nearby stops:
| City (Kanji) | Type / Status | Population | Area | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nagasaki 長崎市 | Core city | 448,792 | 406.37 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Sasebo 佐世保市 | Core city | 254,650 | 364.00 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Shimabara 島原市 | City | 48,953 | 82.77 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Ōmura 大村市 | City | 89,650 | 126.34 km² | City guide → |
| Tsushima 対馬市 | City | 36,347 | 708.81 km² | City guide → |
| Iki 壱岐市 | City | 30,352 | 138.50 km² | City guide → |
| Gotō 五島市 | City | 42,447 | 420.77 km² | City guide → |
| Isahaya 諫早市 | City | 142,635 | 312.24 km² | City guide → |
| Saikai 西海市 | City | 32,737 | 241.95 km² | City guide → |
| Hirado 平戸市 | City | 36,785 | 235.63 km² | City guide → |
| Unzen 雲仙市 | City | 48,701 | 206.92 km² | City guide → · Flagship guide |
| Matsuura 松浦市 | City | 26,007 | 130.35 km² | City guide → |
| Minamishimabara 南島原市 | City | 52,347 | 169.88 km² | City guide → |