How to Get to Nagasaki
Nagasaki is a popular destination for many international visitors but one, thanks to its distant location in the west of Japan, can take a little planning to get to. On this page you will find the following information:
— How to Get to Nagasaki by Train
— How to Get to Nagasaki by Flight
— 30 Things to Do Around Kyushu & Where to Stay
Nagasaki holds a tragic and poignant place in global history that needs little introduction. While the recent history of the city is known around the world, travellers may be less aware of Nagasaki’s history as a thriving trade city including the continued presence and influence of Chinese and Dutch traders for many centuries. An enjoyable city to spend time in, a visit to Nagasaki is best-enjoyed in combination with other destinations in Kyushu. For suggestions of just what’s on offer, see our ’30 Things to Do Around Kyushu & Where to Stay’ page.
WHERE IS NAGASAKI?
Nagasaki is the largest city in Nagasaki Prefecture. Located in the west of Kyushu, it sits around 140km to the southwest of Fukuoka while at significant distance from both Osaka – at around 660km – and Tokyo – over 1100km to its east. Local and regional train lines connect Nagasaki Station with other cities in Kyushu however it is not serviced by a ‘Shinkansen’ (‘Bullet Train’) line meaning that it takes time. For that reason, flying to Nagasaki will be a good option for some travellers.
HOW TO GET TO NAGASAKI BY TRAIN
Located in the centre of the city, Nagasaki Station is a major station serviced by multiple local and regional lines. It is important to note that Nagasaki Station is not a stop on the Kyushu Shinkansen line however, the ‘West Kyushu Shinkansen’ line running from Nagasaki Station to Takeo Onsen Station is set to open in September 2022. This short track of only 66 kilometres and 5 stations will eventually be extended to connect with the main Kyushu Shinkansen line. In this section you will find information regarding how to reach Nagasaki from the following starting points:
FUKUOKA / KUMAMOTO / KAGOSHIMA / HIROSHIMA / KOBE / OSAKA / KYOTO / NAGOYA / TOKYO
We endeavour to keep this information as up-to-date as possible and in recognition that most international visitors will be using the train network to move around Japan. We start with three other destinations in Kyushu – Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Kagoshima – and then move onto popular starting points on Honshu including Hiroshima, Osaka, Tokyo and others. The services listed below – other than the fastest services on the San’yo and Tokaido Shinkansen lines – are covered by the Japan Rail (JR) Pass. It should also be noted that all listed fares are accurate as of time of first publication but are subject to change. Listed fares should therefore be considered as indicative of the likely fare.
FROM FUKUOKA / between 2 to 3 hours
Hakata Station in Fukuoka City is the largest station in Kyushu, from where it’s easy to reach Nagasaki using limited express or local services. The Limited Express ‘Kamome’ runs directly from Nagasaki Station to Hakata Station – taking 2 to 25 hours / JPY5060 – or alternatively, you can take a local service to Isahaya Station and then transfer to a ‘Kamome’ service – taking around 3 hours / JPY4660.
FROM KUMAMOTO / between 2.5 to 3.5 hours
Kumamoto is another of Kyushu’s most popular destinations. From Kumamoto Station, take any service on the Kyushu Shinkansen line stopping at Shin-Tosu Station and once there, switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a journey of 2.5 hours / JPY8690. Alternatively, you use a local service from Kumamoto to Tosu Station before switching onto the ‘Kamome’ to reach Nagasaki – a journey of 3.5 hours / JPY6400.
FROM KAGOSHIMA / approx. 3 hours
Kagoshima-chuo Station is the southern terminus of the Kyushu Shinkansen. To reach Nagasaki from Kagoshima, take any service on the Kyushu line to Shin-Tosu Station and then switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a journey of around 3 hours / JPY14,400. You can also make the journey using local services from Kagoshima however given the distance between the two cities and consequent time it takes, we do not recommend it.
FROM HIROSHIMA / approx. 3.5 hours
Hiroshima lies around 400km to the east of Nagasaki on Japan’s main island of Honshu. A stop on the San’yo Shinkansen line, Hiroshima Station is an easy staring point from where to reach Nagasaki. From Hiroshima, take any service heading west and stopping at Shin-Tosu Station. Once at Shin-Tosu, switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a total journey of around 3.5 hours / JPY14,500.
FROM KOBE / approx. 5 hours
Shin-Kobe Station is another stop on the San’yo Shinkansen line. From Shin-Kobe, take any service heading west and stopping at Shin-Tosu Station. Once at Shin-Tosu, switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a total journey of around 5 hours / JPY19,430.
FROM OSAKA / approx. 5 hours
Shin-Osaka Station is the terminus of the San’yo Shinkansen line. From Shin-Osaka Station, take any service bound for Shin-Tosu Station and then switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a total journey of around 5 hours / JPY19,910.
FROM KYOTO / between 5 to 6 hours
Getting to Nagasaki from Kyoto takes time and is likely to require multiple transfers. From Kyoto Station, take any service bound for Shin-Osaka Station or alternatively, Hakata Station. Once at either station, transfer to a shinkansen service bound for Shin-Tosu Station and once there, transfer to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a journey of 5 to 6 hours / JPY18,170 to JPY19,180 (depending on which service you choose).
FROM NAGOYA / between 5.5 to 6.5 hours
From Nagoya Station, take any shinkansen service bound Shin-Osaka Station or alternatively, Hakata Station. Once at either station, transfer to a shinkansen service bound for Shin-Tosu Station and once there, transfer to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a journey of 5.5 to 6.5 hours (depending on which service you choose) / JPY21,460.
FROM TOKYO / approx. 7.5 hours
Tokyo and Nagasaki are located over 1000km apart however thanks to Japan’s fantastic rail network, the journey by train is easy and comfortable. From Tokyo Station, take the ‘Nozomi’ service on the Tokaido Shinkansen line bound for Hakata Station. Once at Hakata, switch to the Limited Express ‘Kamome’ bound for Nagasaki – a total journey of around 7.5 hours / JPY25,850. Alternatively, flying to Nagasaki from Tokyo can be a timely and cost effective option – see below for details.
HOW TO GET TO NAGASAKI BY FLIGHT
Given the distance of Nagasaki from many of Japan’s other major cities – such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka – flying into the city can be a convenient and cost-effective option. Nagasaki Airport (NGS) is located 4km to the west of Nagasaki Station. Both of Japan’s major carriers – All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) – operate domestic route to major destinations including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya with their affiliate regional lines also covering many smaller destinations. Low-cost carriers including Jetstar Japan, Peach Aviation, Solaseed and others also operate to and from Nagasaki. Approximate flight times to Nagsaki Airport include:
FROM TOKYO: flights from & to Narita Airport / Haneda Airport = 130 minutes
FROM OSAKA: flights from & to Kansai Airport = 75 minutes
FROM NAGOYA: flights from & to Chubu Centrair Airport = 90 minutes
Only 4km from Nagasaki Station, it’s quick and easy to move from the airport to the central city. Buses operate daily from the airport to the city from 09:15 to 09:25 and from the city to the airport from 05:50 to 18:50. There are multiple stops in the city with all services starting and terminating at Nagasaki Station. The journey from the airport to the station takes 55 minutes / JPY900.
30 THINGS TO DO AROUND KYUSHU & WHERE TO STAY
Lying to the southwest of Japan’s main island of Honshu, Kyushu is a region blessed with attractions, from the historic to the natural and the exotic. Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu while Nagasaki’s history transcends the national to occupy a place in the global consciousness. Kumamoto and its famous castle or Kagoshima and its nearby natural splendours including the World Heritage island of Yakushima, all combine to make this one of the most rewarding travel destinations in Japan. Our ’30 Things to Do Around Kyushu & Where to Stay’ page is a great place to start when planning your visit to the region.
PLAN YOUR VISIT TO JAPAN
Heading to Nagasaki using the rail system, flying or driving yourself are all workable options. Our ‘Plan Your Visit’ page has everything you need to know about visiting Japan – from tips on the best time to travel, times to avoid, entering and exiting the country, money matters, staying connected, accommodation, staying safe and healthy and plenty more to ensure that you get the most out of your time here.
