Nagasaki, Japan

[margord]

What is there to do in Nagasaki toher than the Atomic Bomb museum, Peace Memorial Park, etc. Is there any good shopping or other things of interest in the city?

[Alessandrina]

We were on three cruises on Diamond Princess, each different, but with a repeat of Nagasaki.

 

I've mentioned the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park to you already...

 

There is also Chinatown, Dejima, Glower Garden.

 

We stopped in a mall to browse. I'm not sure what you are looking for in terms of shopping... but I like shopping as well when I am abroad.

 

Also, on the second Nagasaki call, I took a ship shore excursion to the Mitsubishi Shipyard. That was great as there was a new build for Aida to be seen. This excursion was only available online.

 

Cheers.

[Gwendy]

Also went to Glover gardens, beautiful gardens with great views of the ship from the top of the hill. Restored home of first "westerners" to visit Nagasaki. Shops up and down the roadway, quite steep. On my visit the walking pathways, escalators were out of action, but if you take it a bit at a time you can reach the top level. I had lunch at the café at the top, very nice. It is just near where we docked (Diamond Princess) so assuming you will dock at the same place. Other passengers walked the main town/city area and found everyone very helpful. I was there April 2013.

[margord]

Can I assume that Glover Garden is walkable fromt he port? Or do I need to take a tram then it is walkable?

 

Thank you both for this information. As far as shopping I guess I enjoy looking (and buying) things from the area of the world I am in. Like Murano glass in Venice, painted lacquer boxes from Russia, etc. I am not interested in Malls with the same type of stores we can find at home.

 

Marilee

[deadzone1003]

Just walk around the town. Walk along the creek that runs through the city. It has schools of fish - amazed at how clean it is. Have lunch (ramen noodles) at a lunch counter - you will interacted with the natives a little bit. Go to a Japanese department store, generally in the basement there is a food area which makes for very interesting browsing. Go into a public toilet and see how clean everything is.:D

[Alessandrina]

Glover Garden is very close to the pier. It's a street nearby that you walk up - this street is lined with shops and the popular Castella cake to sample and purchase and souvenir shops.

 

For shopping in Japan: there are beautiful fans in all price ranges from $10 USD and upwards.

 

One thing that I loved, found in department stores, are hankerchiefs. The Japanese use these to wipe the sweat off their brow or to dry their hands when using a public loo (most times there was not an air dryer nor paper towels). Why are these so special, you may ask? Well, they come in all price ranges (from $3 and up, on average $10) and are designer brands: Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Burberry, Givenchy, etc. You can get these placed in an envelope for gift-giving. Both mens and womens. I've bought several for gifts.

 

And yes, in the department store basements is where you'll see all sorts of foods. Incredible food hall. We liked these dessert fruit jellies in tiny cups. If you are looking for wine (international), sake, and Japanese beer, it's here too.

 

 

Also, I bought quite a few of these small, ultra-compact umbrellas - useful for sun and rain at equivalent to $5 USD. I've never seen them in Canada so I bought several; they fit in my purse.

 

Cheers.

[travellovers2]

We booked a shore excursion to the Peace Park and the Atomic Bomb Museum so we could spend the day walking around. We hope to go up to garden. Is Dejima worth going to?

[knippsel]

We were on three cruises on Diamond Princess, each different, but with a repeat of Nagasaki.

 

I've mentioned the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park to you already...

 

There is also Chinatown, Dejima, Glower Garden.

 

We stopped in a mall to browse. I'm not sure what you are looking for in terms of shopping... but I like shopping as well when I am abroad.

 

Also, on the second Nagasaki call, I took a ship shore excursion to the Mitsubishi Shipyard. That was great as there was a new build for Aida to be seen. This excursion was only available online.

 

Cheers.

Hi Alessandrina - Great info on Nagasaki. Thanks! Did you take other Princess excursions or DIY in the other cities? We're on the Diamond in September and are trying to figure out if the Princess excursions (which are a bit pricy) are good/worth it, or if we should try to do more on our own. (Usually we do our own, but we haven't found many options, or they are very expensive for just 2, and unfortunately, we don't speak Japanese.) We'd be very interested to know what you did that you liked.

[Alessandrina]

Knippsel:

 

If you'll kindly tell me the ports you will be in, I can tell you what we've done.

 

We did sail on three cruises with three different itineraries (although two repeat ports of Nagasaki and Busan, South Korea).

 

We did a mix of on-our-own and some ship's shore excursions. I found the shoreex to be worth it to get to places farther afield. And most included a delicious Japanese lunch. And don't dismiss the Japanese excursions found online; you may have a very good tour but of course you will not understand anything!!

 

Please let me know.

Cheers.

[knippsel]

We will be doing the Round Hokkaido and Ancient Capitals. The first ports are

Kushiro, Otaru, Hakodate and Aomori. (We're taking the Princess shuttle bus in to the Russian port, just to have been there.) And the second cruise ports are Kanazawa, Maizuru, Sakaiminato, Busan and Nagasaki. Nagasaki we plan to walk around on our own, but the others we're not sure yet. What did you like?

[Alessandrina]

Knippsel: For your first cruise....

 

I'll let you know what we did in the ports of call.

 

Kushiro: Not much around this town. The free shuttle from the pier drops you off at MOO Market (a small fish and veg market, a post office, plenty of souvenirs, and FREE WiFi). I then walked to the Washo Fish Market near the train station, 15 minutes walk. That's where you can see all sorts of fish and seafood for sale. It's popular to buy a bowl of rice and then choose which fresh seafood or fish you'd like on top.

 

My husband and son went on a Japanese speaking tour to an Onsen (Japanese baths) with a visit to Lake Akan to see cranes. They enjoyed it.

 

I think it may be worth it to take a tour in Kushiro, farther afield...

 

Otaru: I went on the Japanese tour transfer to Sapporo. Spent time in Sapporo shopping and had a Sapporo beer. I think this could easily be done on your own by taking a train (I was too exhausted at this point, it was cruise 3 for us, so I easily took the tour bus).

 

Husband and son went on tour again to an Onsen. Included a good lunch. They were the only non-Japanese. No problems!

 

Otaru is a pleasing town with lots of restaurants and shops along the canal. Famous for good sushi restaurants.

 

Hakodate: We went on a ship's tour, all day. Went to the Seiken Tunnel Museum and the Sumo Museum - saw a sumo demonstration. Interesting! Excellent lunch was had in a traditional place, seated on a tatami mat. Last stop was at a Trappist Monastery for yummy soft ice cream. I thought this was a great tour. While the distances are not that far, as this is outside the city, the speed limit on the highway was 70 km/hr - so slow for us!

 

Korsakov - we went on the ship's tour to Yuhzno-Sakhalinsk. Saw Orthodox church, a museum, Lenin Square, and a place to buy some souvenirs. Felt rushed and controlled. Still interesting to see because it is so remote!

 

Aomori: We were there when the big, famous Nebuta Festival was on. Free shuttle drops you off in town. From there I went by bus to the Aomori Museum of Art. Great gallery and exhibit. Husband went on a Japanese tour to a forest for a hike.

 

It's a pretty city, in the city centre. Famous for Fuji apples. So, plenty of apple-type souvenirs - cakes, jellies.

 

I'll be back later to talk about the next ports.

Cheers!

[margord]

Just walk around the town. Walk along the creek that runs through the city. It has schools of fish - amazed at how clean it is. Have lunch (ramen noodles) at a lunch counter - you will interacted with the natives a little bit. Go to a Japanese department store, generally in the basement there is a food area which makes for very interesting browsing. Go into a public toilet and see how clean everything is.:D

 

Great Info.

[margord]

Glover Garden is very close to the pier. It's a street nearby that you walk up - this street is lined with shops and the popular Castella cake to sample and purchase and souvenir shops.

 

For shopping in Japan: there are beautiful fans in all price ranges from $10 USD and upwards.

 

One thing that I loved, found in department stores, are hankerchiefs. The Japanese use these to wipe the sweat off their brow or to dry their hands when using a public loo (most times there was not an air dryer nor paper towels). Why are these so special, you may ask? Well, they come in all price ranges (from $3 and up, on average $10) and are designer brands: Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Burberry, Givenchy, etc. You can get these placed in an envelope for gift-giving. Both mens and womens. I've bought several for gifts.

 

And yes, in the department store basements is where you'll see all sorts of foods. Incredible food hall. We liked these dessert fruit jellies in tiny cups. If you are looking for wine (international), sake, and Japanese beer, it's here too.

 

 

Also, I bought quite a few of these small, ultra-compact umbrellas - useful for sun and rain at equivalent to $5 USD. I've never seen them in Canada so I bought several; they fit in my purse.

 

Cheers.

 

I am coping all this and putting it in a file to take with me. Thank you so much.

[honolulu traveler]

Knippsel: For your first cruise....

 

 

 

I'll let you know what we did in the ports of call.

 

 

 

Kushiro: Not much around this town. The free shuttle from the pier drops you off at MOO Market (a small fish and veg market, a post office, plenty of souvenirs, and FREE WiFi). I then walked to the Washo Fish Market near the train station, 15 minutes walk. That's where you can see all sorts of fish and seafood for sale. It's popular to buy a bowl of rice and then choose which fresh seafood or fish you'd like on top.

 

 

 

My husband and son went on a Japanese speaking tour to an Onsen (Japanese baths) with a visit to Lake Akan to see cranes. They enjoyed it.

 

 

 

I think it may be worth it to take a tour in Kushiro, farther afield...

 

 

 

Otaru: I went on the Japanese tour transfer to Sapporo. Spent time in Sapporo shopping and had a Sapporo beer. I think this could easily be done on your own by taking a train (I was too exhausted at this point, it was cruise 3 for us, so I easily took the tour bus).

 

 

 

Husband and son went on tour again to an Onsen. Included a good lunch. They were the only non-Japanese. No problems!

 

 

 

Otaru is a pleasing town with lots of restaurants and shops along the canal. Famous for good sushi restaurants.

 

 

 

Hakodate: We went on a ship's tour, all day. Went to the Seiken Tunnel Museum and the Sumo Museum - saw a sumo demonstration. Interesting! Excellent lunch was had in a traditional place, seated on a tatami mat. Last stop was at a Trappist Monastery for yummy soft ice cream. I thought this was a great tour. While the distances are not that far, as this is outside the city, the speed limit on the highway was 70 km/hr - so slow for us!

 

 

 

Korsakov - we went on the ship's tour to Yuhzno-Sakhalinsk. Saw Orthodox church, a museum, Lenin Square, and a place to buy some souvenirs. Felt rushed and controlled. Still interesting to see because it is so remote!

 

 

 

Aomori: We were there when the big, famous Nebuta Festival was on. Free shuttle drops you off in town. From there I went by bus to the Aomori Museum of Art. Great gallery and exhibit. Husband went on a Japanese tour to a forest for a hike.

 

 

 

It's a pretty city, in the city centre. Famous for Fuji apples. So, plenty of apple-type souvenirs - cakes, jellies.

 

 

 

I'll be back later to talk about the next ports.

 

Cheers!

 

 

Fabulous info. Thanks. One question about Korsakov. We'll be there at the end of this month, and after reading your comments about the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk tour, we decided to take it in lieu of just taking the tender to shore for an hour (which we had signed up to do but the only comments I've read about doing so seem to indicate not to bother). We haven't cancelled the walk around Korsakov yet, figuring we can do both in the one day we're at this port, but I wondered if you could stay in Korsakov for a little while when the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk excursion is over rather than going back to the ship and then coming out again later, or if that would make no sense? Also, did you buy any Russian Ruples, could you spend yen, or was there no need or desire to spend anything?

 

Also, in Aomori we plan to take the bus to the Aomori Art Museum and the nearby ancient ruins. Then we want to get to Hirosaki Castle, returning to Aomori later by train. I just can't figure out how to get from the museum to the castle. Did you talk to anyone who did this? And did the bus from Aomori to the museum come at frequent times? I can't find a bus schedule.

 

Many thanks for your help.

 

 

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[Alessandrina]

Hi. About Korsakov...

After our tour in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, we were dropped off at the pier. There is no chance to hang out or walk around. So if you do want to stroll about in Korsakov, I think you'd have to go back to the ship and be escorted out on tour again. It's very controlled on the group visa. Make sure, once onboard, that this idea is allowed.

 

We did not change any money for Rubles. At a stop in Yuzhno, we did have a chance to buy some items such as Russian matryoshka dolls (nesting dolls), Russian beer, smoked fish, magnets, handicrafts, and piroshky (cabbage filled buns - highly recommended snack, $1.50 each) and we were able to do so in Yen, Rubles, or USD - so bring small bills for this. The only place where you would need Rubles is if you wanted to buy something at a Russian kiosk - the place where they sell magazines, chocolates, candies, soft drinks, cigarettes.

 

About Aomori. From the drop off shuttle point, you walk about 5-10 minutes to a building shaped like a triangle (sorry I forget the name), that is where you can catch the bus to the museum. They don't run too frequently, maybe once per hour or per 45 minutes. But, on the way back from the Aomori Museum of Art, the return bus was packed and I could not get on and did not want to wait so I shared a taxi back to the train station. It was about $12 USD total - not bad for a Japanese taxi which can be expensive. I would recommend taking a taxi to the Art Museum to not waste any time.

 

I'm not sure about the Hirosaki Castle and the cost/how to get transportation there.

 

You can always ask someone at the Info desk outside in the pier area or ask someone onboard (the port lecturer, Peter).

 

Cheers and enjoy!

[someotherguy]

It's a 30-45 minute train journey from Aomori or Shin-Aormori to Hirosaki and costs 580 to 1,610Y depending on the train. Get the schedule and costs here: http://www.hyperdia.com/

 

The art museum and Jomon site are closer to Shin-Aomori: drill down from here http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3750.html

 

There's a very good info place at the station in Hirosaki and a loop bus that goes near the castle: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3750.html

 

For some reason Japan-Guide doesn't mention Chosho-ji or the 5-storied pagoda at Saisho-in, which are worthwhile if you are in the neighborhood: http://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Hirosaki . Choshu-ji was under reconstruction last time I was there (2011), so check first.

 

Be aware that Hirosaki Castle is about to undergo major renovation: http://www.jcastle.info/castle/profile/43-Hirosaki-Castle

[iscotty1]

Does anyone know about the port and ease of transportation around Port. My wife and I tend to get out on our own and I'm having trouble finding details about each port of call. If it were Europe or the Caribbean there is a ton of information, but not so much for Asian cruise ports.

 

 

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[cruisr]

Extremely easy to get around. Taxis are plentiful and there are trams also. You will of course need yen and IIRC you can purchase the tram ticket in the terminal.

 

For the OP: if you want something different and are a bit adventuress you can visit "Battleship Island". It's an amazing and eerie place as it's a deserted island where all the buildings were abandoned when the mining stopped. Homes, schools, hospitals, all abandoned. Google battleship Island, nagasaki and you'll get lots of info. Very cool.

[Big Paul]

Just back from Grand asia cruise. We did Nagasaki peace Gardens and Museum on our own, very easy to do by tram, certainly better than the Ships tour, you can stay as long as you like. We purchased an all day tram ticket in the terminal, the Ships port talks said we would find nobody speaks english, this is not so, even the announcements on the tram are done in Japanese and English, we did the peace park etc, then on the way back we wandered around the town. Really enjoyed ourselves. then as we returned to the terminal there were many school children wanting to practice their English, they were delightful. You will need Japanese Yen though, if I remember rightly there were exchange facilities in the terminal. Also free wifi available in terminal.

[dalgirl]

Are credit cards accepted in the museums, restaurants and shops?

 

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[Big Paul]

Not sure about credit cards we took Japanese Yen with us from home.

[dalgirl]

With all the different currencies on this cruise I am hoping to avoid a lot of money changes. If we can use our credit cards for most purchases, that will be best.

 

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