Kazagashira Park

This park is set on the Kazagashira hillside at an elevation of 151.9 meters and is also known as a famous spot for Nagasaki’s traditional hata-age (kite flying). From the observation area, visitors can enjoy sweeping views of the city centered around Nagasaki Port, watching the bustling harbor transform into a shimmering nightscape as day turns to evening.

In spring, around 350 Somei Yoshino cherry trees come into bloom, and the Kazagashira Park Cherry Blossom Festival is held each year in late March. Illuminated by lanterns, the night cherry blossoms and lively food stalls create a festive atmosphere that delights visitors. In early summer, approximately 2,500 hydrangeas blanket the slopes, adding vibrant shades of purple and blue along the walking paths.

Within the park stands a bronze statue of Sakamoto Ryoma, evoking the image of the late-Edo-era visionary gazing out over the harbor. Beside it is a literary monument to writer Ryotaro Shiba, allowing visitors to experience the atmosphere of his novel Ryoma Goes His Way.

The surrounding area is also home to the grave of Hikoma Ueno, Japan’s first professional photographer, as well as a museum dedicated to preserving kite-flying culture, making the park a place where visitors can enjoy Nagasaki’s history, culture, and nature all at once.