The Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen is finally ready to be in service on September 23, 2022. It connects Takeo-Onsen Station in Saga Prefecture and Nagasaki Station in Nagasaki Prefecture in 23 minutes at the fastest. There are five stations in total on the line, making it much more convenient to visit sightseeing spots in the Western Kyushu area. Here are several must-see spots around each station.
To Hakata Station
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With “Takeo Onsen Romon,” a colorful two-storied gate, standing at the entrance as a symbol, Takeo Onsen is a long-established onsen town with a history going back 1,300 years. Since the hot spring water has a high moisture-retentive property, making your skin nice and smooth, it has long been popular with people seeking beautiful skin. There are also some spiritual “power spots,” such as a venerable shrine and a giant 3,000-year-old camphor tree.
With huge grounds covering 500,000 square meters, this park has seasonal flowers blossoming throughout the year, and offers a great place to view autumn foliage in fall. Until November 6, 2022, an art exhibition of grand nature is being held by “teamLab,” an artist group.
Mifuneyama Rakuen
Open hours and fees vary depending on the time of year. Please check on the official website.
Address: 4100 Takeo, Takeo-cho, Takeo City, Saga Prefecture&
https://www.mifuneyamarakuen.jp/
Named as one of the “three great onsen for beautiful skin,” Ureshino Onsen has several public bathhouses, including “Siebold no Yu,” along with footbath facilities for casual drop-by. The area is also known as a big tea producer. You can experience various ways to enjoy tea in addition to drinking it.
Promoting Uresniho tea in various ways, this facility offers an exhibition of information materials relating to tea as well as fun workshops, such as how to make a delicious cup of tea and a hands-on session for dyeing with tea. Of course, there is a café space to enjoy delicious Ureshino tea and sweets made with tea.
Ureshino-cha Koryukan, Chaoshiru
Business hours: 9:00–17:00
Closed on Tuesdays (If Tuesday is a national holiday, it will close the following weekday)
Admission: free
Address: 2707-1 Iwayagawachi-otsu, Ureshino-machi, Ureshino City&
https://www.instagram.com/chaoshiru/?hl=ja
With Nagasaki Airport located here, Omura City serves as an air gateway to Nagasaki Prefecture. Enjoy a nice stroll in Omura Park, where you can see old castle ruins along with beautiful seasonal flowers.
Located at the center of Nagasaki Prefecture, Isahaya City features what has been called the “most beautiful stone bridge in Japan.” The combination view of the Megane-bashi bridge and colorful leaves in Isahaya Park is a must-see.
Nagasaki City is known to have many nationally famous tourist spots. Among these is “Dejima,” an artificial island that was the only contact with the Western world in Japan from the 17th century to mid-19th century, where you can enjoy seeing the cultural fusion created there among Japanese, Chinese, and Dutch cultural elements. Enjoy an exotic festival, beautiful buildings, and unique local dishes.
The three-dimensional night view of Nagasaki, which is surrounded by mountains with Nagasaki Port at the center, was again designated as one of the “New Three Major Beautiful Night Views in the World” by the general incorporated association YAKEI Convention & Bureau in 2021. Mount Inasa Observatory located at a height of 333 meters above sea level, from which you can have a great view of the whole city, can be accessed by slope car or ropeway.
