Nagasaki by private tour

[Bungendore]

We are a family of 8 adults cruising on Celebrity Millennium at the end of August.   We have about 10 hours in the port of Nagasaki.

 

We would like to hire an English speaking private guide and transport, such as a mini bus, to show us the highlights of the area for approximately 3-4 hours.

 

Has anyone done this?   Can you recommend who we should contact?

 

Thank you.

[ROCruiser]

I may not be answering your question but Nagasaki is a very easy port to DIY. With the tram stop right near the cruise port, buying a one-day pass maybe worthwhile and it can take you to most sights in the city. We have been to Nagasaki a couple of times and enjoyed our days there.

2015: https://chiumemories.blogspot.com/2015/09/nagasaki-japan.html

2023: https://chiumemories.blogspot.com/2023/08/2nd-visit-nagasaki-japan.html

[edinburgher]

On 3/5/2024 at 3:13 AM, Bungendore said:

We would like to hire an English speaking private guide and transport, such as a mini bus, to show us the highlights of the area for approximately 3-4 hours.

agreeing with the post above.

 

Nagasaki is super easy to DIY using the tram and we bought our day ticket at the dockside  "welcome/information " tent where maps, info and  transport tickets were available. Staff were really helpful and there were also some souvenir stalls available. We visited the Peace Park, the Atom Bomb museum and other related sites which were close together, and on the return got off the tram a stop or two early and strolled part of the city, including  the quite attractive  waterside walkway where the  "Spectacle Bridge" is to be found. A quick snack lunch onboard before  visiting Glover Garden, a few minutes walk from the ship. It is much more than "a garden" which its name suggests, more like an open-air museum with great views from there and definitely worth a visit as there are a variety of things to see. Info online. It was at that time possible to rent very colourful  traditional dress for men and ladies and many visitors were doing exactly that. There are escalators to take you up to the garden, unfortunately on the day of our visit these were not working and we had to walk up. Coming downhill after our visit, the main route was lined with souvenir shops.

 

if I remember correctly, we took one tram from the port area then had to switch at a sort of transport hub to another which took us almost to the entrance of our first sight.  I cannot remember the name of the stop, but staff at the port information tent can help with that.  Whatever, with a day ticket it was very easy, almost everyone on the tram was doing exactly the same,and the tram emptied at the Peace Park. You really cannot go wrong.

 

Unless you feel you absolutely must, a tour is not really essential although a little pre-trip homework would help.

Edited March 23 by edinburgher

[little britain]

my Nagasaki research shows:
 

Take the first green line tram, from stop number 48, Ourakaigan-Dori; on the left as you leave terminal.  
Take green line 5, to Tsuki-Machi to switch trams. Stop number 31. Only costs 120 yen ($1.20 each way).

 

Then take the blue line from there, (stop 31 Tsuki-Machi) to stop 20 Hamaguchi-Machi. This is the stop for the Atomic Bomb Museum, and is right next to the Memorial Hall and Peace Park too.

[monkey@cruise]

Cruise Terminal to Nagasaki Peace Park:

 

From cruise terminal walk 1000 feet to O-Urakaigandori tram Station (stop id: 48) Take Green Line #5: (towards stop id:47 medical center direction). Get off at Shinchi Chinatown Station (stop id:31), go to opposite side tram platform. Take Blue Line #1: (towards stop id:30 Dejima direction). Get off at Peace park (stop id:19), cross New Urakami Road (Nat'l Rte 206) to the Peace Park.

Tram:
Use the pedestrian crosswalks to enter/exit tram platform. Use the platform directional signage to determine the correct tram. Enter the tram through the rear door and exit through the front door. Pay the driver when exiting. One ride costs a flat 140 yen regardless of how far you travel. A 1-day pass for unlimited use of trams on one calendar day is available for 600 yen.
Only at the Shinchi-Chinatown and Shiminkaikan tram stops, it is sometimes necessary to transfer between different lines. To do so without paying extra for the second ride, it is necessary to pay the fare with an IC card (such as Suica, Icoca or Nimoca) within 30 minutes of alighting and boarding. Paper transfer tickets were abolished in April 2021.

So it's cost effective to purchase the tram day pass, travelling to peace park, site of the Dutch Trading Post (Dejima); Nagasaki Chinatown, and Glover Garden.