Sasebo / Hirado

Top Things to do

• Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort

  4.0

  256 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Saseboshi Kashimaechou 1008

  This is a resort park focusing on marine leisure, filled with the charm of the Kujukushima sea. One can enjoy marine sports such as yachting and sea kayaking, or take a tour on a sightseeing boat. With an aquarium, souvenir shop and restaurant too, it is gaining popularity especially with families bringing children.

• Hirado Castle

  4.0

  166 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Iwanouechou 1458

  This was the residential castle of the Matsura clan, the feudal lords of the Hirado Domain. The fortification technology at the time incorporated the unusual Yamagaryu (Yamaga school) style. Construction originally began in 1599 as “Hi-no-Takejo” but as it neared completion in 1613, it fell under suspicion from Tokugawa Ieyasu due to the deep friendship the clan had with Toyotomi Hideyoshi, so the clan head Shigenobu burned down the castle himself. The clan lived in the palace that was on the site for about 90 years, and reconstruction of Hirado Castle began in 1704 and was completed in 1718. The view of the Port of Hirado looking down from the castle keep is outstanding, and visitors can obtain a view that includes the virgin forest of Kuroko Island (a Natural Monument) and the Hirado Ohashi Bridge.

• Nagasaki Bio Park

  4.5

  183 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Saikaishi Seihichounakayamagou 2291-1

  Nagasaki Bio Park is unusual among Japanese zoos for keeping and displaying the animals in a nearly natural setting. Two hundred different species, including mammals, birds, and reptiles, live in the zoo, and visitors can encounter the animals everywhere and even feed them. Depending on the season, Nagasaki Bio Park features a number of other events, including fishing for crayfish, picking strawberries, or the capybara outdoor bath.

• Yumiharidake Observatory

  4.0

  120 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Saseboshi Onochou

  An observatory located on Mt. Yumiharidake in Ono-cho, Sasebo City. Visitors can get a sweeping view of the natural beauty of the Kujuku Islands and the Goto Sea, as well as Sasebo City to the east and Sasebo Port to the south. In the evening, visitors can take in the glittering cityscape and isaribi firelight lure fishing; in spring, cherry blossoms blooming in profusion in the area.

• Palace Huis Ten Bosch

  3.0

  11 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Saseboshi Huis Ten Bosch Town 1-1

  A palace recreated deep inside the Huis Ten Bosch theme park. The structure, built with special permission from the royal family of the Netherlands, is a faithful recreation of the palace where Queen Beatrix lives. The Baroque style garden which extends behind the palace is a recreation of the Great Garden which was designed for the Dutch royal family. Inside the palace, visitors will find the Huis Ten Bosch Art Museum, whose collection includes etchings by Rembrandt.

• Tabira Catholic Church

  4.5

  121 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Tabirachoukotedamen 19

  This church is located in Kotedamen, Tabira-cho, Hirado City. A church built by believers who moved from Kuroshima and overseas after 1886 and whose temporary building was a private house, the permanent building was completed in 1918 from the donation of accumulated money from worshippers. The last brick church designed by Yosuke Tetsukawa, who helped design many churches in Nagasaki, it has been designated a nationally important cultural property. You must contact them in advance for tours.

• Hirado Kaijo Hotel

  3.5

  105 Reviews

  Nagasaki Pref. Hiradoshi Okubochou 2231-3

  "This hotel is located in Okubo-cho, Hirado City. The baths can be used even for day-trips, and use sodium - hydrogen carbonate spring water from the Hirado Onsen that is good for nerve pain, lower back pain, hemorrhoids, rheumatism and fatigue. It has an open ocean-facing outdoor bath, the aquarium bath ""Ryugu"" equipped with a tank with swimming fish and turtles, rental open-air baths, rental observation baths, and various other baths. There is also a resting area where you can relax after bathing."

• Kujukushima Zoo & Botanical Garden Mori Kirara

  4.0

  56 Reviews

  Nagasaki Sasebo-shi Funakoshicho 2172

  This zoo and botanical garden, situated on a rise commanding a view of Saikai National Park Kujukushima below, focuses on relaxation and the nature of the Kujuku Islands. The zoo presents around 60 species of animals such as lions and Amur leopard cats; there's also a penguin exhibit which boasts one of the largest overhead aquariums in Japan. The zoo also offers a full array of programs, including guided tours and animal feeding sessions, as well as rides on Taishu horses, a rare breed of horse of which only around 50 live in all of Japan. The zoo's greenhouse garden and grounds have been planted with some 1,200 species of plants; the 3,000-square-meter rose garden, in particular, is a must see in the spring and fall when its beautiful roses bloom in profusion.

• Nagasaki Prefectural Saikaibashi Park

  4.5

  60 Reviews

  Nagasaki Sasebo-shi Hariohigashimachi 2678

  A park located in Hario Higashi-machi, Sasebo City and Seihi-cho, Saikai City. Maintained at the foots of the Saikai Bridge and Shinsaikai Bridge which span these two cities, facilities include observatories with sweeping views of the whirling tides of the Hario Strait, a fun obstacle course, artificial turf sledding hill, and a walking path around the Shinsaikai Bridge. Some 1,000 cherry trees come into bloom on the grounds in the spring, and during this time a spring whirlpool festival is also held here.