Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsula tour: Private flexible itinerary

Stay as long as you want at each stop instead of watching the clock on a group bus.

A private full-day tour of Nagasaki and the Shimabara Peninsula with a live English-speaking guide who builds the itinerary around your pace, not a fixed schedule. You visit Shimabara Castle, Samurai Street, Unzen hot springs, the Obama Footbath, and the Nagasaki Peace Park, with lunch provided and pickup included. The guide adjusts how long you spend at each site (twenty minutes or two hours), so you see what matters most without the frustration of waiting for other passengers.

Step-by-step itinerary

Nagasaki and Shimabara Peninsula highlights

• Visit Spectacle Bridge at Isahaya Park
• See Unique Bus Stops in Nagasaki Prefecture
• Drive and rest at Isahaya Bay Dike Road
• Explore Shimabara Castle and museum
• Walk along Samurai Street and samurai houses
• View Carp streams in Shimabara
• Visit Volcano Damaged Houses from Unzen eruption
• Experience Unzen Jigoku hot springs area
• Relax at Obama Footbath by the sea
• Learn history at Nagasaki atomic bomb site
• Tour Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
• Visit Mount Inasayama viewpoint

The experience

The tour starts with the Spectacle Bridge at Isahaya Park, a double-arch stone bridge twice the size of the famous one in Nagasaki City, with temples, shrines and walking trails nearby. Most stops run twenty to twenty-five minutes, but you decide if you want longer. From there you cross the Isahaya Bay Dike Road, a straight stretch with views and a chance to stretch your legs, before Shimabara Castle appears on the horizon: a real structure from over four hundred years ago, now restored with a museum honoring sculptor Seibo Kitamura, who designed the Peace Statue.

Samurai Street in Shimabara City recreates the old samurai section with stone walls, a spring-water canal running down the center, and three restored samurai houses open to the public. The Unzen geothermal area shows the aftermath of volcanic eruptions from 1990 to 1995. You'll see damaged buildings and walk through Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell), where high-temperature springs and sulfur steam rise constantly from the ground, creating a dense, otherworldly atmosphere. The Obama Footbath sits right on the water's edge where you soak your feet in forty-degree-Celsius baths while eating steamed vegetables and snacks with seaside views. Lunch is provided on the go to keep the day moving, and you choose your beverages the day before.

The Nagasaki Peace Park and museum document the atomic bombing of August 1945, when clouds forced the plane off course from Kokura to Nagasaki, and poor visibility caused the bomb to detonate over the suburban Urakami area instead of the Mitsubishi Shipyards. The museum is sobering and graphic, with stories and exhibits that move many visitors deeply. Mount Inasayama, a 333-meter peak near the city center, rounds out the day with views across Nagasaki. Air-conditioned transport, WiFi on board, and still and sparkling water are available throughout.

What’s included

• Private English-speaking guide.
• air-conditioned vehicle with WiFi.
• pickup from your hotel.
• lunch provided on the go.
• still and sparkling water throughout the day.
• entry to Shimabara Castle and the Nagasaki Peace Museum.
• access to the Obama Footbath.
• all fees and taxes.

Options for this experience

6 options

Day tour for a small groupUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeDuration: 9 hours. The tour can be customized and lengthened or shortened as desired. Lunch and refreshments: a Western-style or Japanese-style lunch is provided. Toyota Prius: a vehicle that seats 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children. Pickup is included.

Day tour for a medium-sized groupUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeDuration: 9 hours. The tour can be fully customized and made longer or shorter as needed. Lunch and refreshments: a Western-style or Japanese-style lunch is provided. Toyota Estima: a luxury minivan that seats 6 adults, or 5 adults and 2 children. Vehicle specs: passengers who are oversized or have mobility issues are advised to upgrade to the Toyota Hiace Van. Pickup is included.

Executive tour optionUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timePrivate hot spring experience: bathe like the Japanese in your own private, special Onsen, and feel the health benefits right upon entering. Executive tour: travel in luxury and comfort and receive the highest level of service on your special day in Nagasaki. Duration: 10 hours. Shore excursions return to the ship in good time to coordinate with departure times. Fully inclusive food and drink: a Japanese Omakase (gourmet) lunch and a variety of beverages are available throughout the day as we travel to the attractions. Toyota Estima: enjoy space and complete attention to detail as we travel throughout Nagasaki Prefecture. Pickup is included.

See 3 more options

Day tour for a large groupUp to 9 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeDuration: 9 hours. The tour can be fully customized and lengthened or shortened as desired. Lunch and refreshments: a Western-style or Japanese-style lunch is provided. Toyota Hiace: a spacious people mover that comfortably seats 9, designed for people of larger than average size and/or with mobility issues. Vehicle specs: the Toyota Hiace is wheelchair accessible. Pickup is included.

Day tour for an extra large groupUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeDuration: 9 hours. The tour can be shortened on the day if necessary. Lunch: a sit-down lunch or something to go is provided, and on fine-weather days a picnic is an option. Toyota Hiace Commuter Van: a professional driver and a native English-speaking guide come as standard. Vehicle specs: a spacious vehicle that seats 12 passengers. Pickup is included.

Tour for a very large groupUp to 15 per booking · Guide in English · No fixed timeDuration: 8 hours. The client can choose the start and finish times of this customizable tour. Lunch and beverages: a sit-down or to-go lunch with various beverages is provided, with many Western and Japanese options available. Toyota Microbus: a spacious vehicle that seats up to 15 adults and 5 children. Special features: a professional driver and a native English-speaking guide are standard. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 43 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availableNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Shannon Lefebvre

Is this one for you?Choose a group size that fits your party (options range from small group to executive private tours), and the guide adjusts the day to your interests and pace rather than sticking to a fixed schedule. This works best if you want to linger at particular sites like Samurai Street or the hot springs instead of moving through stops on a timer.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

How long do I actually spend at each stop on this tour?

Most stops run twenty to twenty-five minutes, but you decide to stay longer at any site that interests you: the guide builds the day around your pace, not a fixed schedule. Some visitors spend an hour or two at the Spectacle Bridge or Samurai Street if they want to explore the temples, shrines or walking trails.

What is Unzen Jigoku and what will I see there?

Unzen Jigoku (Unzen Hell) is a geothermal area where high-temperature hot springs and sulfur steam spurt constantly from the ground, creating a dense, otherworldly atmosphere. The area got its name because plants cannot grow in the sulfur-rich environment, but the smell dissipates from your clothes within minutes of leaving.

Does the tour include the Nagasaki Peace Museum?

Yes, the Nagasaki Peace Park and museum are included on the itinerary. The museum documents the atomic bombing of 1945 and contains graphic exhibits and stories. It is a sobering experience but an important part of understanding Nagasaki's history.

What is the Obama Footbath and why is it on the tour?

The Obama Footbath sits on the water's edge where you soak your feet in forty-degree-Celsius thermal baths while enjoying steamed vegetables, snacks and seaside views. It's listed as the highlight stop on the Shimabara Peninsula itinerary because it combines the natural hot springs with food and scenery in one location.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary preferences?

Lunch is provided on the go to maximize time at attractions. You choose your beverages the day before the tour, so you can request what you prefer to drink throughout the day.

What is Shimabara Castle and how much time do I spend there?

Shimabara Castle is a real structure that operated over four hundred years ago and was restored in the 20th century. It was listed one of Japan's 100 finest castles in 2006. Today the original moat and stone walls remain, and a memorial museum inside honors sculptor Seibo Kitamura, designer of the Peace Statue in Nagasaki City. You spend as long as you want exploring the grounds and museum.