5 great walks to try

Located in the southwest of Kyushu Island, Nagasaki is known for its port city and rolling hills. Nagasaki also has hundreds of islands ranging in size from large inhabited islands to small islands. Nagasaki Prefecture has a beautiful and diverse landscape, including volcanic landforms, mountains and seascapes.

One of the best ways to enjoy Nagasaki’s natural wonders is to immerse yourself in them; the prefecture is home to some incredible hiking trails that are rich in both natural and social history. Here are our picks for five of Nagasaki’s best trails, varying in difficulty and scenery, but all well worth tying off your hiking boots.

Shiratake of Tsushima Island

Located on Tsushima Island, Mt. Shiratake is a must-see attraction about 35 minutes by plane from Nagasaki Airport. Tsushima Island is located between Kyushu and the Korean Peninsula and was once an important postal route between the two continents. The paths of Mt. Shiratake are lined with rare plants that are not found anywhere else in Korea or Japan, and if you’re lucky, you may even get to see the Tsushima Leopard Cat, an endangered wild cat protected by the island. The mountain itself is also a sacred mountain with a historic shrine that has protected the island’s residents for hundreds of years.

Climbing Shiratake is not easy, taking about 3 hours and gaining 518 meters in altitude, and the last quarter of the way is quite steep. The summit offers a magnificent panoramic view of the island and Aso Bay.

Nozaki Island

Nozaki is part of Odika, a town made up of 17 islands; it is about a 30-minute ferry ride from Odika Island, the main island of the same name. Nozaki has a complex and sometimes heartbreaking history, being one of the islands where Christians sought refuge during the Edo Shogunate. As such, it is both Earlier Churches and shrines, as well as abandoned historic buildings, create an open-air museum where time has stood still and plants and deer thrive. The natural scenery on Nozaki Island is breathtaking, with large grasslands nicknamed “the prairie” by the island’s operators and volcanic landforms surrounded by turquoise sea.

The main trail takes you to the historic Okikojima Shrine as well as Oei-ishi, a massive rock whose origin is unknown. The hike itself winds through picturesque paths of trees, with sunlight filtering through the branches. While scenic, the hike is fairly challenging and takes about 5 hours round trip; please note that both Okikojima Shrine and Oei-ishi Shrine must be reached with a guide. (These guided tours do not run during holidays. July to September As the trail became overgrown with weeds, the number of snakes and insects increased rapidly.

Head Island Rock Walk

The Goto Islands, which consist of approximately 140 islands, are home to Nagasaki’s most famous natural attractions. At Kashirajima, you can enjoy mountains, water sports, and World Heritage sites all in one day. It is a small island in the northern part of the Goto Islands and was historically a settlement of hermit Christians.

One of the most famous hiking routes is conveniently located – starting at Upper Five Islands From the airport, a scenic path takes you to the coast, where you can walk through the rocky coastline (make sure to wear proper water shoes!). The walk takes you to Kasilaga Island Church, a church made of sandstone that was one of a series of buildings inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2018. The church sits right in front of the beach, where you can enjoy water sports such as kayaking to Koh Liulang, and there are shower facilities next to the church to wash off after your adventures.

Mount Puxian

Fugendake is probably one of the most popular hiking routes in Nagasaki, and for good reason. It is one of the main peaks of the active volcano Unzen-zan; on the hike you can see the steam from hot springs, as well as the peaks of Japan’s newest mountain, the Heisei Shinzan. Depending on the route you choose, you can actually hike through multiple peaks, including Kunimi-zan, to finally reach Fugendake, the highest hikeable point in Nagasaki.

The hike does encounter some steep and rocky sections; if you prefer, you can take the cable car to the middle of the trail or park at the Fugendake parking lot at the trailhead to shorten the distance.

Unzen Hell

If you’re not necessarily an avid hiker but want a scenic walk, Unzen Jigoku (which means “Hell of Clouds”) is a great choice, despite its intimidating name. Located within Unzen-Amakusa National Park, it features numerous hot springs and steam fumaroles; the steamy air, which is heavy with sulfur, creates an otherworldly landscape. There’s a man-made stone and wood trail for visitors to explore, winding through the geothermal area, with placards explaining the park’s geographic and historical significance.

Surrounded by billowing hot spring steam, Unzen Hell is a relaxing and memorable stop on your Nagasaki adventure.