13 Historic sites in Nagasaki worth your time

Fukui Cave is a Special National Historic Site with Japan's oldest Paleolithic pottery.

What it is

• A rock shelter site from Late Paleolithic to Incipient Jomon periods.
• First Paleolithic site designated a Special National Historic Site.
• Discovered by local historian Junichi Matsuse.
• Designated a Special National Historic Site on October 11, 2024.

What to see

• The cave is 12 meters wide, 6 meters deep, and 3 meters high.
• It faces west at an altitude of 80 meters.
• Located within the Inari Shrine grounds.
• Seven layers of artifact-bearing strata are present.
• Pottery from layers 2-4 are Japan's oldest Paleolithic pottery.

Official site

www.fukuicave.jp

Read more about Fukui Cave

Explore a preserved air-raid shelter that served as Nagasaki's wartime defense headquarters.

What it is

• Air-raid shelter for Nagasaki Prefectural Air Defense Headquarters.
• Governor directed emergency responses from this location.
• Governor reported atomic bomb damage from here.
• Renovated in 2005 for public viewing.

What to see

• View the governor's office and staff rooms.
• See the communication room and messenger room.
• Explanations about the headquarters are displayed.
• Items found inside the shelter are exhibited.

Getting there

• Adjacent to the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.

Read more about Tateyama Air-raid Shelter

Sōroku Kofun is a keyhole-shaped burial mound, the largest in Nagasaki, with important artifacts.

What it is

• A keyhole-shaped tumulus, part of the Iki Kofun Group.
• Largest kofun in Iki Island and Nagasaki Prefecture.
• Construction estimated around the late 6th century.
• Excavated artifacts are National Important Cultural Properties.

What to see

• The 91-meter long keyhole-shaped tumulus.
• Posterior circular part has a 43-meter diameter.
• Anterior rectangular part is 55 meters long.
• Multi-chambered horizontal stone chamber, 11 meters long.
• Artifacts include Sue ware, Haji ware, and iron products.

Read more about Sōroku Kofun

Explore Iki Island's oldest kofun, a 5th-century burial mound with a unique red-pigmented stone chamber.

What it is

• A kofun, or ancient burial mound, in Iki City.
• Designated a Nagasaki Prefecture historic site.
• Estimated to have been built in the late 5th century.
• Oldest among 260 kofun on Iki Island.

What to see

• A round burial mound on a 74-meter-high mountain peak.
• Mound measures 14 meters in diameter, 2 meters in height.
• Pit-style horizontal stone burial chamber.
• Chamber opens to the southwest.
• Walls made of basalt slab stones.
• Red pigment applied to the chamber walls.

Read more about Ōtsukayama Burial Mound

Explore a large 6th-century circular burial mound with unique artifacts.

What it is

• A circular burial mound, Sasazuka Kofun.
• Part of the Iki Kofun Group national historic site.
• Constructed in the late 6th century.

What to see

• Two-tiered circular mound, 66 meters in diameter.
• Multi-chambered horizontal stone chamber, 14.8 meters long.
• Tuff composite box-shaped stone coffin in the innermost chamber.
• Excavated artifacts are important cultural properties.
• Turtle-shaped gilt bronze ornament, unique in Japan.
• Sue ware, Haji ware, and iron products.

Read more about Sasazuka Kofun

Explore a large 6th-century circular tomb with a unique stone chamber and sarcophagus.

What it is

• A large circular tumulus built on a hill.
• Part of the Iki Kofun Group in Iki City.
• Constructed around the late 6th century.
• Designated a national historic site in 2009.

What to see

• A double-sleeved horizontal stone chamber.
• The stone chamber is 13.6 meters long with three rooms.
• Basalt megaliths form the stone chamber walls.
• A house-shaped sarcophagus made of tuff.
• Fragments of bronze mirrors and gold rings.
• Iron products found as grave goods.

Read more about Kakegi Kofun

This site preserves prison ruins, a stark reminder of the atomic bombing's devastation and human cost.

What it is

• A relic of the former Urakami Branch of Nagasaki Prison.
• Established in September 1927.
• All 134 people inside died during the atomic bombing.
• Preserves remains of a facility 100 meters from the atomic bomb hypocenter.

What to see

• Concrete outer wall foundation remains outside Peace Park's 'Zone of Prayer'.
• Red brick detention center foundation remains on the park's south side.
• Preserved remains cover approximately 1100 square meters.

Read more about Site of the Former Urakami Branch of Nagasaki Prison

Explore Japan's largest dolmen cluster, a National Historic Site revealing ancient burial practices.

What it is

• A ruin from the Jomon to Yayoi periods.
• Designated as a National Historic Site.
• One of the largest dolmen clusters in Japan.
• Stone coffins were discovered in 1963.

What to see

• 71 dolmens with box-shaped stone coffins.
• Eight stone coffins and one jar coffin tomb.
• Pottery from the late Jomon to early Yayoi periods.
• The cluster spans 250 meters east-west and 200 meters north-south.
• It is divided into four main areas.

Read more about Ōnodai Dolmen Cluster

Explore ancient burial mounds, including rare keyhole shapes, offering a glimpse into 6th-century Japan.

What it is

• A cluster of six ancient burial mounds, or kofun.
• Constructed around the 6th century on Tsushima Island.
• Five tumuli are designated as National Historic Sites.
• Discovered starting in 1922.

What to see

• Three rare keyhole-shaped tumuli.
• Tumulus No. 1, a 30-meter-long keyhole-shaped mound.
• Tumulus No. 2, the largest at 36 meters long.
• Tumulus No. 6, a circular tumulus 5 meters in diameter.

Read more about Neso Kofun Cluster

Harunotsuji was an ancient trading capital, strategically located, with reconstructed buildings and artifacts to see.

What it is

• Capital of the kingdom of Iki, 200 BCE to 350 CE.
• A mercantile hub for trade with Korea, China, and Japan.

What to see

• Reconstructed buildings from the 1st to 3rd centuries.
• Foundations of 300 structures.
• Two or three moats that encircled the town.
• Dwellings built in shallow pits.
• Elevated storehouses and watchtowers.
• A temple complex at the highest point.

Read more about Harunotsuji Site

Explore an ancient rock shelter where Japan's oldest pottery was found.

What it is

• A rock shelter site used from Paleolithic to Yayoi periods.
• Designated a National Historic Site in 1986.
• Discovered by students in 1969.

What to see

• Four caves opening in a sandstone cliff.
• Artifacts from Late Paleolithic to Heian periods.
• World's oldest bean-pattern pottery was discovered here.
• Excavated items are National Important Cultural Properties.

Read more about Senpukuji Cave

Explore Tsushima's oldest and largest kofun, a unique ancient tomb with rare artifacts.

What it is

• Ancient burial mound, also called Tsurunoyama Kofun.
• Oldest and largest kofun in Tsushima.
• Constructed around the late 4th century.
• Designated a Nagasaki Prefecture historic site.

What to see

• Unique square-front, square-rear kofun shape.
• Mound measures 40 meters in length.
• Pit-style stone burial chamber.
• Excavated bronze arrowheads and jade magatama.

Read more about Deizuka Kofun

Japan's first underwater historic site, revealing a sunken Mongol warship and artifacts.

What it is

• An underwater archaeological site.
• Designated a national historic site on March 27, 2012.
• First underwater site with national historic site status.

What to see

• Artifacts include weapons, ceramics, and ship components.
• A keel approximately 12 meters long was found.
• A sunken Mongol warship from the Mongol invasions.

Read more about Takashima Kōzaki Site