Private Nagasaki Peace Park plus culture & nature highlights Tour
Description
Tours are our forte. My philosophy is to provide customized flexible tours around Nagasaki for smaller groups unlike the big tour operators, who are only concerned amount how many people they can get and not the quality or content of their tours. Packaged tours offer no flexibility and a regimented get off get on time requirement and there is nothing more frustrating than waiting for a fellow passenger to come back to the bus on the time allocated. We allow our clients to stay as short or a long as they like at a particular venue in order to maximize their enjoyment. It is this type of tour that will leave you feeling fully satisfied at days end. The Shimabara Peninsula has so much to offer is regards to nature, history and culture. It will be impossible to get to every attraction but you will absolutely see the best sites on offer.
Tour Options
Itinerary
I like to visit this location first on my Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsular full day tours as it is a beautiful location and sets the tone for what a great day we have in store for us to come. The Spectacle Bridge in Isahaya is a double arch stone bridge spanning a pond at Isahaya Park, which is one of the main sightseeing places of the area. The bridge is twice the size of the famous Spectacles Bridge in Nagasaki City and has many temples and shrines as well as walking trails that you could easily spend 1 or 2 hours here soaking up the ambiance, however most stops are around the 20 to 25 minutes.
The Unique Bus Stops in that you see here in the photos are part of the Nagasaki Prefecture`s character and adds to her personality unlike any other attraction. I nearly always include this site on my Private Nagasaki Tours because everyone comes away with a pic and a smile on their face.
I always drive across the Isahaya Bay Dike Road on my Private Nagasaki Tours as its a beautiful straight road, has amazing scenery and gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs and have the all important bathroom break.
Sometimes I am in awe when i am driving down the hill from the mountain and the Shimabara Castle suddenly appears in the foreground. A real Castle that operated over 400 years ago and still remains today albeit a restored type but really portrays the history and the real life setting of what life was like in Japan in the 17th century. Today only the moat and stone walls remain from the original structure. In 1980, a memorial museum was opened in honor of Seibo Kitamura, a noted sculptor and designer of the famous Peace Statue at the Peace Park in Nagasaki City. In 2006, the Shimabara Castle was listed one of the 100 finest Castles in Japan by the Japan Castle Foundation.
Samurai Street commemorates the old samurai section of Shimabara City on the Shimabara Peninsular. This famous street is lined with stone walls and a spring water canal running down its center. Three samurai houses have been restored and opened as exhibits to the public to restore the image and the traditions of this old Samurai town. It is an extremely picturesque setting and perfect for a great photo shoot as images of feudal Japan came racing back into your consciousness from many of those movies and books you have read from your youth.
Today the carp streams are kept for sightseeing and aesthetic reasons as well as the fact that they look so cool! However in the past and particularly during times of war and famine they were kept as an alternative food source. Although it can be said that Carp are not a particularly good eating fish, I guess when one is hungry one should not be too picky about their food source. Luckily for the carp, nowadays the channels are used only for sightseeing purposes, so the fish should grow up big and strong and hopefully colorful to satisfy the hoards of tourists that come to see them.
The Volcano Damaged Houses were a direct result of the Unzen explosion and there has been several major eruptions in its history. The volcano erupted most recently from 1990 to 1995, sending pyroclastic flows (superheated clouds of volcanic gas and ash) down toward the towns below. While most people were safely evacuated, 43 journalists, scientists and their taxi drivers were killed. The eruptions also destroyed buildings on the outskirts of Shimabara City.
This is the place where high-temperature hot springs and steams spurt out of the ground and is called "Unzen Jigoku” (Unzen Hell) because of the sulfur content and the fact that sulfur steam is rising constantly into the air from the ground and the boiling spring water. Because of the sulfur, plants cannot grow here and the atmosphere is dense with steam which makes you think as if it is a scene right out of hell but don't worry within minutes of leaving the area the sulfur smell will have dissipated from your clothes and your pores.
The Obama Footbath is the highlight location on the Tour Nagasaki`s Full Day Shimabara Peninsular and Nagasaki City Highlights Itinerary. Just imagine, the location right on the waters edge. The picturesque seaside views combined with the healthy steamed vegetables, various snacks, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages as well as the chance to soak these weary feet in the 40 degree celcius footbaths equals a magical and mind boggling experience that stimulates all the senses.
The original target for the bomb was the city of Kokura but obscuring clouds necessitated changing course to the alternative target, Nagasaki. However because of poor visibility due to cloud cover the bomb missed its intended detonation point which was the Mitsubishi Shipyards and exploded over the suburban area of Urakami, in effect killing mostly women and children and not the factory manufacturing area of War Machinery. In many ways it is this misfortune that will label Nagasaki forever in history!
It is a very sobering place and definitely not for the faint hearted as the stories, exhibits and pictures are extremely graphic. There hasn't been a time when i haven't seen someone crying out loud and or emotionally uncontrollable. This museum definitely isn't every one's cup of tea. However, it is important to remember history and not to forget about the past as this is the way we don't make the same mistakes of the past. So, in that sense the museum can be a great place to come together and never let this happen again for the benefit of mankind.
Mount Inasayama in Nagasaki City is a 333 meter high mountain in close proximity to the city center. Yama in Japanese means Mountain and Inasa Mountain is the King of all the peaks in Nagasaki. It is for this reason that you should make this location a priority destination.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
I will be front and center as you exit your hotel or the Matsugae International Port Terminal Immigration doors in Nagasaki City. Guide will be contactable via WhatsApp for a smooth pick up to ultimately start the tour in a timely and professional fashion.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(21)
Our day in Nagasaki with Shannon was absolutely incredible and one of the highlights of our trip to Japan. From the moment we met him, his knowledge, enthusiasm, and genuine passion for sharing his beautiful region made the experience unforgettable. Shannon took us to some of the most breathtaking places, each one more beautiful than the last, while providing fascinating history and local insight along the way. One of our favorite parts of the day was the wonderful lunch experience he arranged, followed by a relaxing picnic at the thermal foot baths in Obama City. It was such a unique and memorable way to experience local culture while taking in the stunning surroundings. The day ended with a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum, where Shannon thoughtfully guided us through this important chapter of history. It was a moving and meaningful experience that reminded us of events that should never be forgotten. His ability to balance the beauty, culture, and history of Nagasaki made the day truly special. If you are fortunate enough to have Shannon as your guide, you are in for an amazing experience. He is informative, personable, professional, and genuinely cares about creating an unforgettable day for his guests. We cannot recommend him highly enough!
Hello Yvette, I am speechless, with such an incredible review. Honestly speaking, your party of 6 really made my efforts shine. You were so responsive and living in the moment that everything turned out perfectly. The Shinto gods listened to our requests for sunny weather and as a result it was just magnificent. Sushi and Sake whilst foot bathing is an experience of a lifetime! I am sure your travels to other parts of Japan will be just as great. I hope one day you will be able to verbalize a comparison between your experiences at the Nagasaki Peace Park to your upcoming Hiroshima visit. Something that a very small percentage of the worlds population that gets a chance to visit, analyze and educate. Please return to Japan again someday!
My husband and I travel often and nearly always hire a guide to explore. We can say from experience, Shannon is next level- one of the absolute best ever! We had specific requests and Shannon made every one of them happen, beyond our expectations. His knowledge of history and landscape of Japan brought new perspective to us both, and his scheduling was somehow meticulous, but patient and flexible while we explored. If you are lucky enough to fit into his schedule, don't hesitate to book!
Wow, I didn't know that I did that much! My objective on every tour I do is to exceed the expectations of my customers, obviously I was able to do it on this tour as well! I am so grateful for your lovely comments, I will try and be better on my next tour as well. Please come back to Japan and I hope our paths cross again some day.
My wife and I spent a fantastic day with Shannon on the Shimabara peninsular and in Nagasaki. Unfortunately, we had terrible weather that day, but when Shannon picked us up from the Cruise Terminal, he immediately organised the tour as far as possible to avoid the rain. The tour covered the Shimabara Castle, the Samurai houses and Koi ponds nearby, the hot springs near the top of the Unzen volcano and then on to lunch (sushi from a local supermarket) at an Onsen in Obama, with our feet slowly cooking in the hot water. Finally, back to Nagasaki for the Museum and Peace Statue before returning to our ship. We had a wonderful, highly entertaining and very informative day with Shannon, who is a great guy with a deep knowledge of both the area and Japanese culture. This was definitely one of the highlights of our trip and we recommend Shannon most highly.
Wow, I am so appreciative of this amazing review. Yes, the weather was not favorable but I am glad that we were still able to see many incredible places and avoid the inclement weather somewhat. Please come back to Japan again!!
This was one of my very favorite tours of our entire cruise. The Saraku Sand Baths and onsen were beyond amazing. Those of us on the tour were still talking about it weeks later. Lose your inhibitions, relax and enjoy. You will be so glad you did and will only be sorry if you didn’t. The cleansing and therapeutic benefits are amazing. I was so thoroughly enjoying the sand bath experience, I didn’t want to get out. The staff had to gently encourage me to leave as time was up. I could have stayed there all day. We really needed to hydrate afterward. Then we went to a local, traditional restaurant for lunch where we took off our shoes and sat on the floor to eat. The food was delicious and a true local experience. We were the only westerners in the facility which made it a truly authentic experience. This was followed by the infamous Ikeda Lake which is believed to have a Loch Ness monster living in its waters. The day was topped off with a visit to the Chiron Peace Museum dedicated to the WWII Kamikaze pilots. A very well done museum with interesting static displays both inside and outside. Don’t miss this tour!!!
Hello Mary, May I say that your group of 12 were extremely brave and adventurous to try the Volcanic Sand Bathing in Kagoshima but what an experience and I am sure your body felt like a million dollars afterwards. We did so much and had so much fun, lets do it again in the not too distant future!
Shannon gave the 8 of us an incredibly fun day visiting an overlook of the city, a shopping experience for lunch and eating at a local footbath outside. Then we toured the Atomic Bomb Museum and various monuments there including the Peace Park. A great experience we would all highly recommend.
Thankyou for this tremendous review. I am so pleased that the itinerary was really well received. I try to include different experiences that create unique experience. Shopping for your lunch at a local supermarket and then eating it whilst soaking your weary feet in the nearby mineral rich volcanic water foot bath, whilst Japanese sake is poured on demand, absolutely fits the bill. I hope you return to Japan again some day!
I’ve traveled the world and Shannon was one of the best guides, ever. Knowledgeable, informative, considerate, flexible—he made our day!
I love guiding world travelers and a group of close friends to boot. You make my job so easy, everyone is on the same page and you understand that not everything goes perfectly to plan especially on the weekends when restaurants seem to be packed to the rafters. An impromptu Sushi lunch at the famous Obama foot baths solved our lunch dilemma. Please come back to Japan again, ready and waiting for you!
We are a couple from Brazil. We had an amazing time in Nagasaki with Shannon. He took care of everything, including lunch! We had time in one day to explore the hot springs, the museum, the Catholic Church, the market. Besides, it was very interesting to learn about Japan culture from a perspective of a western immigrant. Highly recommend!
Thankyou Flavio. It was great to interact and show you the best of Nagasaki, its history and culture is incredible as well as its association with Christianity and its gruesome past. Hoping your return next time includes your 2 girls. Ready to tour with your family again!
This was an amazing private tour Clean comfortable car Shannon our guide was the best Speaks great English and his knowledge about Japan was amazing We learnt so much about Japan more from Shannon today then we have on our other ongoing bus tour around Japan Great sites great photo opportunities and Shannon was always there to ensure your day was enjoyable fun relaxing and educational Thanks Definitely book this tour when in Nagasaki
Hello Shane, I am completely satisfied after our tour. Everything went to plan and it was an amazing day in total. I think the highlight was interacting with Japanese Junior High school students while soaking feet in the volcanic foot baths, whilst drinking Japanese Plum wine? It doesn't get any better than that!
We hired Shannon for a Full Day Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsula Tour for six participants. He picked us up and returned us to the cruise ship terminal. Shannon is Australian so spoke fluent English. His tour price was a bit higher than other tours, but it was well worth the difference. He took us to many sites on the pre-arranged agenda but also suggested other sites of interest. We also had the opportunity to enjoy hospitality from his Japanese wife at the natural hot spring foot bath. Shannon was both knowledgeable and personable. Shannon loves what he is doing as it is amazing that he does tours regularly but makes each tour unique and extra-special. Shannon was the best tour guide of our Asian cruise.
It is true, we did have a great day together! I am glad that you were able to see the value that I bring to each and ever tour that I do! A private experience like this lasts a lifetime, and its not just for a fleeting moment. Please keep in touch with any future travels back to Japan, it will be my pleasure to look after your needs again.
My family of 4 had the most wonderful time visiting Nagasaki with Shannon on a day excursion from a Cruise. From start to finish, it was so easy to organise. Initial contact and working out what to do for the day was easily done via email. Then on the day, Shannon met us as soon as we got off the ship (being an Aussie expat he was easy to spot in his Akubra hat) and drove us around Nagasaki and beyond, taking us to all the areas that both Shannon suggested before we got there, as well as a few detours along the way that we wanted on the day. Having lunch provided at the thermal springs whilst soaking our feet was so relaxing. He catered for our individual tastes, including 2 fussy kids. The tour was well planned out, with the final stop just near the cruise port, so we were dropped off with time to spare, but not to early. Finally Shannon went above and beyond on the day. The cruise had a slight change to its arrival and drop off point in Tokyo. I needed to advise the company I was using to pick us up from the port the change of details. Not speaking Japanese, I thought I would be in all sorts of trouble. Whilst not Shannons problem at all, he rang the company for me and provided them with all the changed details they needed. Outcome of that was my family had a seemless arrival in Tokyo, whilst others had all sorts of issues trying to contact their transports. Not only did Shannon make our day in Nagasaki, but made our entire trip so much more enjoyable and hassle free. If you are looking for a Nagasaki and beyond port day tour from a cruise, you cannot go past using Shannon. Don't just limit Shannon to cruises, I'm sure if you are visiting Nagasaki for 1 or more days, well worth using Shannon, you wont be disappointed.
Thankyou for such a comprehensive review. I am so appreciative and pleased that I was able to exceed your expectation on that wonderful day together in Nagasaki. I look forward to seeing you again in Japan one day and obviously the change and growth in your kids. Till then, keep traveling!
