The popular Minami-yamate area has an air of exoticism. Walk up the stone-paved road of Glover Street, lined with souvenir stores and other shops, to see Japan’s oldest church, Oura Cathedral. There is a wide area of historic architecture and scenery here, including Glover Garden, where you can see nine traditional buildings.

Dejima played a vital role as a hub for trade during Japan’s years as a closed country. We recommend renting a kimono and taking photos with the old-fashioned streetscape as your backdrop, or joining a tour with a specialist guide.

Look out on the nightscape of Nagasaki, chosen as one of the three new greatest night views in the world, from this spot. The scenery from the glass observatory on the peak of Mt. Inasa is exceptional. On a clear afternoon, you can also see as far as the Goto Islands you will soon be visiting.

Within the terminal, you will find transport company offices, souvenir shops, restaurants, a tourist information center, convenience stores, etc., and you can spot Mt. Onidake from the second-floor observatory. When you arrive, the first thing you should do is pick up helpful pamphlets from the tourist information center.

There are also coin lockers within the terminal. 
 

Soon after the ban on Christianity was lifted by the Meiji government, two French missionaries, fathers Fraineau and Marmand, were sent to Goto in order to take part to the revival of the local Christian community.  Father Marmand established a first wooden church in Goto, in 1879.

Dozaki Church was rebuilt in red bricks in 1908 under the guidance of Father Pélu, a missionary who succeeded Marmand and Fraineau. Some of the materials were brought all the way from Italy. The inside of the church is made of wood, with typical stained glass and ribbed vault ceiling. 

Today, various documents and objects showing us the history of the Christians’ persecution are displayed in Dozaki.

The building has been registered as prefectural tangible heritage in 1974.

Mt. Onidake, a symbol of Goto, is a 315-meter cinder-cone volcano, which last erupted approximately 18,000 years ago. The volcano, which is covered in grass now, is well-known as a venue for an annual kite flying event, and as a leisure and hiking spot.

Goto udon is Goto’s staple lunch. The noodles are lustrous and keep their shape, making them easy to eat. (The picture shows Goto Beef udon)

Come and enjoy Gyogasaki Park’s flower fields all year round!

The park’s beautiful flower fields change with every season: canola fields and hydrangeas in spring, sunflowers during the summer, beautiful cosmos in autumn. 

On sunny days, the contrast between the flowers the sea and the sky is simply breath-taking.

The park also has a campsite and a nearby beach, which makes it the ideal location for summer outdoor activities.

The history of Mizunoura Christians is said to have started when five men from Sotome (located north of Nagasaki City) moved there together with their families in 1797 as part of the Goto and Omura feudal domains policies. 

A first church was built in 1880 but didn’t last long and deteriorated quickly. The church was rebuilt into its current appearance in 1938 by famed architect Yosuke Tetsukawa. 

The lilywhite wooden church, a masterful mix of Romanesque, Gothic and Japanese architecture, is the biggest wooden church in Goto, and the contrast between its white spire and the blue of the seas seems to come right out of a postcard.

The hill behind the church features a statue of St John Soan de Goto and remains of a prison from the ban on Christianity era. 

Walk up the path and you can gaze at an impressive 360-degree panorama of the northern part of Fukue Island and the surrounding islands from the Daiichi Shirotake Observatory.

Myojoin Temple was the worshipping place chosen by the feudal lords of the Goto clan for many generations. The current main building was completed by the 28th Lord of Goto, Goto Moriyuki, in 1778.

The oldest wooden temple in Goto City was the worshipping place chosen by the feudal lords of the Goto clan for many generations. The current main building was completed by the 28th Lord of Goto, Goto Moriyuki, in 1778. Myojoin Temple is also the main temple for the Shingon Sect of Buddhism in Goto. The paintings on the ceiling of the main building are believed to have been painted by a disciple of the famed painter Kano Eitoku.  Myojoin Temple, in which the famous monk Kukai is said to have stayed on his way back from China, contains many buddhist artefacts and statues dating back from Kamakura and Muromachi (mid-12th to mid-16th century) eras.

The Street of the Samurai Quarter is home to rows of housing that once belonged to mid-ranked samurai, and high stone walls and yakuimon (gates with gable roofs) still stand here. The Furusatokan Pavilion in the Samurai Quarter is a tourist base created from the remains of the Fukue samurai family residence in this street.
In addition to an exhibition area that introduces the history of Fukue, this facility offers experiences such as decorating baramon kites and making stained glass keyholders. There is also a Japanese-style room where you can take a break and look out at the garden, and you can even find Goto specialty products in the cafe corner.

Nizo Yamamoto (born on the Goto Islands of Nagasaki) was the animation art director for many renowned Studio Ghibli films such as “Castle in the Sky”, “Grave of Fireflies”, “Princess Mononoke,” and “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time”.

This museum is located on the Goto Islands, and uniquely, it is housed in a renovated old samurai residence that was originally built in 1863 during the Edo period.
The museum has a variety of his animation artwork on display, although most are replicas, there are a few originals as well. One of his most recent art projects, the “Goto Hyakkei,” or the “100 Sceneries of Goto”, are also on display in the museum. Wondering through the traditional samurai residence while perusing modern animation sketches inspired by Goto’s majestic nature would offer a nostalgic and memorable experience to all visitors.

Takahama Beach boasts some of the whitest sand and clearest water in Japan. It is not only one of the best-known beaches on the Goto Islands, but also listed as one of Japan’s Top 100 Beaches, and Top 88 Swimming Beaches! This beautiful beach is popular with locals and tourists alike, attracting holidaymakers from all over the country.

The west-facing beach overlooks the Sagano Island and has a wide sandbar that provides a calm shallow swimming area. Silver sand sparkles through the clear water, and the surrounding greenery completes the perfect coastal escape.

For a view of the beach in its entirety, head to “Gyoran Kannon Observatory” (a three-minute drive from the beach) where you can catch a glimpse of the brilliant shades of blue as they change and deepen throughout the day.

Daihoji was founded in 701, 1st year of Daiho Era at the request of empress emeritus Jito.

A century later, in 806, the famous monk Kukai taught the principles of Shingon Buddhism for the first time on his way back from China. Many cultural treasures are kept in the temple among which some nehan-zu paintings from  Muromachi era (1336-1573), a bronze bell and a monkey sculpture by famous Edo era artist and carpenter Hidari Jingoro.

The Osezaki Lighthouse is set against a dramatic backdrop of wave-worn cliffs as steep as 150 meters. Although the current lighthouse was built in 1971, the original structure was designed by an Englishman and erected in 1879. A part of it has been turned into a permanent exhibit at the Museum of Maritime Science in Tokyo.

The nearby observatory is a popular spot for both visitors and locals to enjoy the sunset view. For adventurers, you can also walk to the lighthouse. Getting to the lighthouse requires a 2.4km hike (round-trip of about an hour), but intermittent green tunnels created by camellia trees lining both sides of the paved trail make it a pleasant trek. Once at the lighthouse platform, the sight of the stoic white structure combined with the cliffs and surrounding ocean makes it a spectacular and an unforgettable view.

This eatery focuses on local production for local consumption, and is well-known among the producers who provide its ingredients. Its specialty is dishes with eel, but its fried lobster is also one of its attractions.

The story of Imochiura starts when hidden Christians from Omura domain moved to Imochiura to work in salt factories. 

Upon hearing in 1891 that a replica of the Lourdes grotto was being built in  Vatican City, father Pélu who was tasked with reviving the Catholic faith in Goto at the time,  gathered enough beautifully shaped rocks with the help of local believers to build the first Lourdes grotto in Japan in 1899.

Drinking this miraculous water is said to be a cure for many illnesses and the grotto rapidly acquired a holy-ground status among Japanese believers.

Saikai National Park boasts stunning scenery made up of its many islands and the sea. It covers over 400 islands of various sizes, stretching from the Kujuku Islands of Sasebo City in Nagasaki Prefecture to Ikitsuki Island, Hirado Island, and the Goto Archipelago. This facility serves as a visitor center within the National Park, and a hub for the geopark area of the Goto Islands, introducing information through video, dioramas, and panels. It also holds nature observation gatherings, courses on handicrafts that make use of natural materials, and more.
*The display panels also provide information in English.

Mount Onidake's lava flowed into the sea on a ten kilometres distance to form this beautiful lava coastline, surrounded by a lush subtropical vegetation. From the observation deck you can enjoy a great view of Mount Onidake and the surrounding islands.

At the “Abunze Visitor Centre” located nearby you can learn about the local flora and fauna.

This giant ako tree is around 250 years old, and at one point was to be cut down. However, thanks to people carrying out conservation activities, it has survived as a great tree that watches over the community.

This is one of Kamigoto’s power spots: the ako tree, proudly said to be the largest in Japan, has roots that are split in two, growing across the pathway to the shrine as if it is a torii gate. It's said that if you pass under the tree, you will live a long life.

The clarity of this church’s reflection on the water of the cove has led to it being called the “church of the water mirror.” Try seeing it for yourself from a little distance away.

This beach boasts photogenic scenery, with an expanse of white sand and wide, shallow cobalt-blue waters. In the summer, it bustles with many visitors looking for a swim.

This stone church is part of the World Heritage site, “Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region - Villages on Kashiragashima Island.”

Visitors (individuals and groups) need to contact the church in advance for a tour.

*We have been given permission from the archdiocese to publish the photos.