Nagasaki Peace Park
Alex T. · Last verified: August 14, 2026
Visiting Nagasaki Peace Park
Nagasaki Peace Park sits on the hillside above the atomic bomb hypocenter in the Urakami district of Nagasaki, Japan. It is a free, always-accessible public park with no admission gate and no ticket office, laid out as a place of remembrance rather than recreation. The park occupies ground that was destroyed on August 9, 1945, and its monuments were placed there deliberately, over decades, by the city and by donors from abroad.
The Peace Statue at the north end of the park is the best known of them. Cast in bronze and standing about 9.7 meters tall, it was created by the Nagasaki-born sculptor Seibou Kitamura and inaugurated on August 9, 1955, ten years after the bombing. The sculptor set out the meaning of the figure himself: the raised right hand signifies the threat of nuclear weapons, the left arm extended horizontally signifies eternal peace, the closed eyes are a prayer for the victims, and the folded right leg with the left leg extended represents meditation together with readiness to stand and act.
Every year on August 9, the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony is held at the foot of the statue, and the mayor delivers the Peace Declaration there. It is a civic and municipal event attended by survivors, bereaved families, national and foreign representatives, and the public. Visitors who come on that date should expect large crowds, restricted movement around the plaza, and a formal atmosphere throughout the morning.
Partway along the park's main axis, the Fountain of Peace was built in 1969 and measures roughly 18 meters across, its jets shaped to suggest the spread wings of a dove or crane. A stone set in front of the water carries an account, written by a young survivor, of searching for water in the hours after the bombing. Many people who died in the immediate aftermath were desperate for water, and the fountain was built with that in mind.
Since 1978 the Peace Symbols Zone has lined the park's walkways with monuments donated by foreign countries and cities, each with its own sculptural language and dedication. Documented contributions include works from Portugal, Cuba, Poland, New Zealand, and Australia, along with a monument given in 1992 by Saint Paul, Minnesota, Nagasaki's sister city in the United States. Walking the row is a plain reminder that the city's message has been answered from a long list of places.
The park is one part of a cluster. Below it, closer to street level, the adjoining Hypocenter Park holds a black stone monolith marking the point above which the bomb detonated, and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum stands nearby on the same hillside. Walking between them takes roughly 5 to 10 minutes in each direction, with steps and slopes along the way. Urakami Cathedral is a further 8 to 10 minutes on foot.
Because the park is outdoors, free, and open, it is often the first of the three sites people reach and the one they return to. It carries no explanatory exhibition of its own, which is why many visitors pair it with the museum: the museum supplies the record, and the park is where the city has chosen to mark it.
Things to Do at Nagasaki Peace Park
How to Get to Nagasaki Peace Park
The park is in the Urakami valley north of central Nagasaki and is served directly by the city tram, which is the simplest way to reach it from almost anywhere in the city.
The park sits above the surrounding streets, so every approach involves a climb. Steps lead up from the tram stop, and there is also an escalator and slope route on the eastern side for those who prefer to avoid stairs.
- •Nearest station: Take tram line 1 or 3 to the Peace Park (Heiwa-koen) stop, about 10 minutes from Nagasaki Station, from which the statue plaza is a few minutes' walk up steps or by the adjacent escalator and slope route.
- •IC cards (Suica, Pasmo, or ICOCA) are accepted on trains, subways, and buses throughout Japan. Tap in and out at every gate.
- •Avoid traveling during rush hour on weekdays: 7am to 9am and 5pm to 8pm. Trains are significantly more crowded.
- •Google Maps provides accurate real-time transit directions in Nagasaki. Download offline maps before you arrive.
Map
Best Time to Visit Nagasaki Peace Park
Best time to visit Nagasaki Peace Park: Early morning is the quietest time and gives the clearest view of the Peace Statue before tour groups arrive. August 9 is the date of the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which is worth knowing about in advance, both for anyone planning to attend and for anyone who would rather avoid the crowds. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons for walking the full length of the park.. Weekday mornings are generally quieter than weekends and public holidays.
- •Best time to visit: Early morning is the quietest time and gives the clearest view of the Peace Statue before tour groups arrive. August 9 is the date of the Peace Memorial Ceremony, which is worth knowing about in advance, both for anyone planning to attend and for anyone who would rather avoid the crowds. Autumn and spring are the most comfortable seasons for walking the full length of the park.
- •Arriving on a weekday morning avoids the largest crowds. Weekends and public holidays are significantly busier.
- •Spring (late March to early May) and autumn (October to November) are the most popular seasons for visiting Nagasaki.
- •Golden Week (late April to early May) is the busiest week of the year in Japan. Book accommodation and tickets well in advance.
Mild temperatures and long daylight make this one of the easier seasons for walking the park and continuing on foot to the hypocenter and the museum.
The Peace Memorial Ceremony takes place at the Peace Statue on August 9, and the park is extremely busy from August 7 to 9 with access around the plaza restricted during the ceremony. June and early July bring the rainy season, and August heat and humidity are significant on an open, largely unshaded site.
Cooler, drier weather and steady visitor numbers. A good season for combining the park with Hypocenter Park, the museum, and Urakami Cathedral in a single walk.
The quietest months. Cold winds cross the open plaza and daylight is short, so plan the outdoor walking for the middle of the day. Snow is uncommon but possible.
Entry Fee & Hours
- •Entry is free and there is no ticket office, gate, or reservation system.
- •All monuments, including the Peace Statue, the Fountain of Peace, and the Peace Symbols Zone, can be seen at no cost.
- •The adjoining Hypocenter Park is also free to enter.
- •The nearby Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum charges ¥200 for adults and is a separate, ticketed facility.
Nearby Attractions
Combine with Nagasaki Peace Park on the same day
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
Urakami Cathedral
- •Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum (About a 5 to 10 minute walk): Nagasaki's principal historical museum on the atomic bombing of August 9, 1945, holding artifacts, photographs, and survivor testimony alongside a section on nuclear weapons and disarmament.
- •Urakami Cathedral (About an 8 to 10 minute walk): An active Catholic parish church in Nagasaki's Urakami district, destroyed by the atomic bomb in 1945 and rebuilt, with damaged statues and a surviving bell preserved on its grounds.
Suggested Itinerary
Pair Nagasaki Peace Park with these nearby stops for a full day in Matsuyama-machi, Urakami, Nagasaki.
Frequently Asked Questions
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