Nagasaki’s night view, along with those of Kobe and Hakodate, is ranked among Japan’s top three night views. Then, on October 5, 2012, at the Night View Summit hosted by the Japan Night View Convention Bureau — a conference dedicated to studying the impact of night views on tourism — Hong Kong, Nagasaki, and Monaco were selected by judges as the new global top three night views.
Inasa Mountain Observation Deck
To enjoy Nagasaki’s most beautiful night scenery, the Inasa Mountain Observation Deck is my top recommendation. Perched at 333 meters above sea level in Inasa Park, it offers a 360-degree panoramic view of Nagasaki Port. Last year, due to seismic reinforcement work at the “Inasa Mountain Nagasaki Ropeway” station, I had to take a bus from Nagasaki Station to the Inasa Mountain Observation Deck (Bus No. 5, 150 yen).
The “Inasa Mountain Nagasaki Ropeway” finally resumed operation on February 6, 2016. Visitors can walk from the Enkakuji Shrine Station to the ropeway station and then take the cable car directly up to the observation deck.
The cylindrical observation deck
The central part of Nagasaki Port, White Heron Port
Megami Bridge
Among the many lights on the observation deck floor, there is one heart-shaped light hidden among them — this is the romance of the people of Nagasaki.
Nokogiri Mountain Observation Deck
Another great spot to enjoy Nagasaki’s night view is the Nokogiri Mountain Observation Deck. This observation deck is located on a hill behind Glover Garden, which is full of Western charm. From here, you can enjoy the night view of Nagasaki from a different angle.
To get to the Nokogiri Mountain Observation Deck, take the Nagasaki Tram to “Ishibashi” stop, then head toward the hillside, following signs to the Glover Garden Elevator. The elevator is in two sections: the first is an inclined elevator, and after exiting, you’ll see the second elevator, which is a vertical elevator like a regular one. After exiting, continue forward and follow the signs toward the Nokogiri Mountain Observation Deck. Walking past some residences, a small path, and a small shrine, the entire uphill walk takes about 30 minutes to reach the circular observation deck.
Night view from another angle on Nokogiri Mountain
Hōtōzan Park
Hōtōzan Park, where you can “meet” Sakamoto Ryōma, is another excellent spot to admire Nagasaki’s night view. Sakamoto Ryōma was a pivotal figure who drove Japan’s Meiji Restoration, propelling the nation toward modernization, and is also one of Japan’s most beloved national heroes.
To get to Hōtōzan Park, take the Nagasaki Tram to “Shin-Ōkamachi” stop, then follow signs toward the Ryōma Statue. The hike up the mountain will take you past many remnants of Ryōma’s life. It takes about 25 minutes to reach Hōtōzan Park, and the statue is located on the observation deck of the park.
After viewing the statue, be sure to head to the other observation deck to take photos of Nagasaki’s night view. The view from this side is very open, and this time I finally managed to make it up the mountain before sunset. The night view of Nagasaki during sunset has a completely different feel.
From here, you can clearly see the Inasa Mountain Observation Deck on the opposite side.
Megami Bridge at sunset
Nagasaki City still has many other worth-visiting spots. I hope to introduce more next time.