Nomozaki, located in the southern part of Nagasaki City, is located on a peninsula surrounded by the sea on three sides, and is an area that overlooks Gunkanjima (Hashima), a world heritage site, off the coast to the west. It is one of the classic routes for traveling to Nagasaki, as it can be accessed within an hour from the center of Nagasaki city and can be enjoyed on a leisurely day drive.
There are many spots in the southern area of ​​Nagasaki that will add color to your travel memories, such as cruising through the Blue Cave, a beach with a spectacular view of Gunkanjima, and Japan's third museum dedicated to dinosaurs. There are also ``delicious gourmet foods'' prepared by unique owners. Why not take a heart-pounding drive along the coast and enjoy an area that's sure to look great on social media?
 

<1> “Blue Cave” in Nagasaki!?

Start your relaxing one-day trip to the southern part of Nagasaki City with a cruise around Kabashima. Kabashima is a small island floating in the Amakusa Sea, south of the Nomo Peninsula, with an area of ​​approximately 1 square kilometers. Here is a cruising trip that takes you around Kabashima, which is rich in nature, in about 2.2 minutes. The most attractive feature is the Shirato Cave. When you leave Kabashima Port, you will see five cave groups, and if the weather and conditions permit, you can enter the largest cave by boat. On a sunny day, the light shines into the cave, making it as beautiful as Italy's ``Blue Cave''! The sight of the emerald green sea that seems to draw you in is so mysterious that it is sure to take your breath away!

PLAY NAGASAKI / Go to the unexplored spot “Blue Cave”! Kabashima cruising experience

Cruising around Kabashima
1786 Nomozaki Kabashimacho, Nagasaki City
Approximately 55 minutes by car from Dejima Road exit, immediately after passing Kabashima Ohashi Bridge
090-2514-8950(Captain: Mr. Matsuzaki)
Telephone reception hours: 5:00-20:00
Price: 2 yen for 3,000 people (1 yen added for each additional person)
 

<2> A chalk lighthouse that keeps watching over ships coming and going

1932The Kabashima Lighthouse, built in 2007, is a beautiful white circular lighthouse made of concrete. Located at the southern tip of Kabashima, from the observation deck you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the Amakusa Sea and Goto Sea, as well as see fishing boats. You can enjoy the view of the East China Sea from around the lighthouse, which has been developed as a park. Right next to the lighthouse is the Kabashima Lighthouse Museum, where you can learn about the history of Nagasaki Port.

Kabashima Lighthouse Park
792-1 Nomozaki Kabashimacho, Nagasaki City
095-892-1114(Minami General Office Regional Development Division)
Bus: Take the Nagasaki bus (bound for Kabashima) from JR Nagasaki Station, approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes, get off at "Kabashima" bus stop, and walk approximately 40 minutes.

<3> Authentic coffee shop in a small fishing village

Time passes slowly in a small port town. ``It would be great if we could open a coffee shop in a place like this,'' says owner Hiroki Sugawara, who is originally from Oga City, Akita Prefecture. He taught himself how to roast by hand, and over time he developed an automatic rotary roaster that could change the rotation speed. They are particular about farming in ways that are considerate of the natural environment and lifestyle of the production area, and their motto is ``careful hand-picking.'' Mr. Sugawara, who is well versed in the characteristics of beans, brews coffee that has a gentle yet deep flavor. The store also sells illustrated maps of the Nomozaki area. This is a recommended cafe in the southernmost tip of Nagasaki where you'll want to take a break rather than order takeout.

Home roasted coffee Kimama Roastery
3630-1 Wakimisakicho, Nagasaki City
050-5361-5268
・From the JR Nagasaki Station South Exit bus stop, take a bus bound for Kabashima, Misaki Kiba, or Wakimisaki for approximately 1 hour and 6 minutes, then get off at the Wakimisaki stop and walk 3 minutes.
・Take the bus bound for Kabashima from the JR Nagasaki Station South Exit bus stop and ride for about 1 hour and 8 minutes, then get off at the Matsubara stop and walk 3 minutes.
・Approximately 28 km, approximately 43 minutes from JR Nagasaki Station (Nagasaki City - National Route 499 - Prefectural Route 251)
Cafe: 13:00 (12:00 on Sundays and holidays) until dusk　
BAR: 19:00-22:00 (reservation required)
Closed: Wednesday (the following Thursday if it is a public holiday), Saturday (*Temporary closures and changes in business hours will be announced in the notice section or on SNS)

<4> A beach with a spectacular view of Gunkanjima

Approximately 40 minutes by car from Nagasaki city center. Takahama Beach is a beach that is also known for having rare rocks such as Tsunakake Rock and Meoto Rock nearby. The white sand beach is nearly 1km long, and the water is crystal clear. The beautiful shallow sea has been selected as one of the ``100 Best Beaches in Japan,'' ``88 Best Bathing Beaches in Japan,'' and ``XNUMX Best Bathing Beaches in Japan.'' During the day, you can see Gunkanjima floating between the blue sky and blue sea, and in the evening, you can see the shadow of Gunkanjima floating in the setting sun. The waves are calm, so even children can swim safely at this beach. Even without going into the sea, you can enjoy the spectacular scenery that can only be experienced in Nagasaki. 

Takahama Beach
3963-3 Takahamacho, Nagasaki City 
095-894-2201 
Approximately 50 minutes' ride from JR Nagasaki Station (bound for Kabashima or Cape Kiba), a short walk from the "Takahama Beach Mae" bus stop 
9:00～17:00 

<5> A restaurant where you can enjoy seafood while overlooking Gunkanjima

If you go about 2km towards Nagasaki city from Takahama Beach, you will find Restaurant Ichibo on a small hill facing the sea. The blue ocean spreads out in front of you, you can see Gunkanjima from the shop's windows, and on clear days you can see the rows of abandoned buildings. This restaurant is proud of its fish dishes, which are made with fresh seafood caught by local fishermen from the waters around Nomozaki, and all of them are delicious. Everyone working there will welcome you with a smile.

Restaurant Ichibo
2924-1 Shukumachi, Nagasaki City
095-895-3888
JRAbout 1 hour from Nagasaki Station to Wakimisaki, about 1 minute from Gouma bus stop (down a gentle slope)
Lunch 11: 00 to 14: 00
Dinner from 17:00 (*reservation required)
Closed: Thursday, 1st day

<6> A new standard for Nagasaki travel where you can encounter dinosaur fossils

This museum, located in the Nagasaki Mozaki Dinosaur Park, is Japan's third museum dedicated to dinosaurs. Exhibits include a full-body skeleton replica of a Tyrannosaurus rex with a total length of approximately 3 meters, which can only be seen here in Japan, a corner where you can touch real fossils, and realistically reconstructed robot dinosaurs. The permanent exhibition room has approximately 13 diverse specimens, allowing you to admire dynamic and unique fossils.

Benex Dinosaur Museum
568-1 Nomocho, Nagasaki City
095-898-8000
・Take a bus from the south exit of JR Nagasaki Station or Nagasaki Shinchi Terminal to either "Kabashima" or "Misakikiba" bound, get off at "Dinosaur Park Mae" and walk for about 5 minutes.
・From the south exit of JR Nagasaki Station, on weekdays (10:00-14:00) and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays (10:00-15:00), take either of the lines bound for "Harumidai", "Kawahara Koen-mae", and "Kawahara Misaki Kiba". Take Kani, get off at the (new) Sakaejo bus stop (inside the Sanwa Regional Center), and transfer to the bus bound for "Kabashima" or "Misakikiba".
・From central Nagasaki city, drive south on National Route 499 towards Nomozaki for approximately 40 minutes.
9:00~17:00 (*Ticket sales and last entry to the exhibition room until 16:30)
Price:
[Permanent exhibition] Adults 500 yen, Elementary/junior high school students/preschoolers 200 yen (under 3 years old free), Groups (15 or more) Adults 400 yen, Elementary/junior high school students/preschool children 160 yen
*Other exemptions and discounts available. Please check the official website for details.
[Planned exhibition/special exhibition]
A separate viewing fee is required, so please check the official website.
Closed: Mondays (excluding holidays), December 12st to January 31st (*Open during special exhibitions (paid))

<7> The only authentic Western confectionery store in the Nomozaki area

This store, which uses containers with an eye-catching bright orange color, is the only Western confectionery store in the area along the coastline overlooking Gunkanjima. We have a wide variety of original menu items that bring out the local flavor, such as Gunkan, a chocolate cake modeled after Gunkanjima, and Nomo Blanc. In the summer, ``Chocolate Shaved Ice'' made by a pastry chef using two types of chocolate will be available. Sweets made with seasonal fruits and local specialties are also popular. Why not take a break during your one-day trip?

sourire×sourire(Thrill Thrill)
637-4 Nankoshicho, Nagasaki City
300m before the entrance of "Nomozaki Sports Park", on the left side, next to Nan'etsu bus stop
095-893-1950
11:00~ 18: 00
Regular holidays: None (*May be temporarily closed)

<8> Click here to end your one-day trip to Gunkanjima and sunset

2``Meotoiwa'' is known as a matchmaking spot due to the appearance of two rocks nestled together like a couple.The rock on the left when facing the sea from the road side is ``Otokoiwa'', which is 11m high and 24m in circumference, and is next to it. It consists of a female rock with a height of 11m and a circumference of 26m, and is designated as a natural monument of Nagasaki Prefecture. It is a tourist spot representing the Nomozaki area, overlooking Gunkanjima off the coast. The best time to go is around dusk. The sunset between the two rocks is so romantic! Be sure to take a photo of the deep red sky, the horizon, and the beautiful rows of rocks. The view from the nearby observatory is also recommended.

Couple rock
Nagasaki city and lower town
095-893-1111(Nagasaki City Nomozaki Regional Center)
・40 minutes from JR Nagasaki Station on the Nagasaki bus bound for Kabashima or Misaki-Kiba, get off at the bus stop: Shokojuku, then walk 1 minute
・499km 20 minutes by car from Nagasaki Expressway Nagasaki IC via National Route 35