Japanese–Chinese–Dutch Course:
“Feel It as You Go—A Half-Day Journey Through Nagasaki’s Wakaran Culture”

About 20 minutes on foot from Nagasaki Port Matsugae International Terminal / About 13 minutes by tram from Oura Kaigan-dori（大浦海岸通） to Kanko-dori（観光通） Tram Stop, then 3 minutes on foot

Founded in 1866, Yossou is a long-established specialty restaurant for chawanmushi and steamed sushi located in Hamanomachi Arcade in central Nagasaki. The current building, constructed in 1927, exudes charm, with red lanterns adding to its atmosphere. Upon entering, a traditional welcome awaits: staff collect your shoes and strike wooden clappers to greet guests.

Their signature dish is chawanmushi, a savory steamed egg custard made by combining eggs, dashi broth, and various ingredients. Though it looks like pudding, it reflects the essence of Japanese dashi culture, extracting umami from kombu kelp and bonito flakes to enhance the natural flavors of the ingredients. Packed with nine ingredients including conger eel, shrimp, chicken, wood ear mushrooms, and ginkgo nuts, it is served in a generous bowl-sized portion. It is best enjoyed as a set with steamed sushi, where vinegared rice and toppings are placed in a bowl and steamed. Other offerings include shippoku cuisine: a fusion of Japanese, Chinese, and Western styles born in Nagasaki during the Edo period tempura set meals, and nigiri sushi.

Located within walking distance of Meganebashi over the Nakashima River and Teramachi Street, where Japanese and Chinese-style temples stand side by side, Shooken is a long-established confectionery with over 340 years of history.

Castella, a Nagasaki specialty, is a baked sponge cake made primarily from eggs, sugar, flour, and syrup. Originating a  Portuguese sweet introduced to Japan, it developed uniquely in Japan. Shooken’s castella is hand-baked one sheet at a time by skilled artisans using carefully selected ingredients. It is distinctive for its moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture and the crunchy sugar crystals at the bottom.

At Café Sevilla on the second floor, you can enjoy specialty castella and milkshakes with coffee. The recommended Shooken Castella Set includes Shooken Castella and chocolate-flavored “Chocolat,” paired with freshly ground coffee. The brick exterior and retro interior, with stained glass shades and red carpet, create a charming and photogenic space. Watching the streetcars pass by from the window adds to the exotic Nagasaki atmosphere.

The Nagasaki Station area is a transportation hub where the Shinkansen, trams, and buses converge, providing easy access to major sightseeing spots such as the Peace Park and Mount Inasa, famous for its spectacular night view.

Inside Nagasaki Station, “Nagasaki Kaido Kamome Market” is a shopping hotspot featuring one of the largest souvenir zones in the prefecture. Here you’ll find DRAGON SEA Nagasaki Station Kamome Market Store, offering unique goods and local souvenirs packed with the “delicious” and “fun” of Nagasaki. The shop is especially known for its T-shirts and magnets. With around 30 original Nagasaki T-shirt designs, featuring figures associated with Nagasaki such as Sakamoto Ryoma, crooked-tail cats, and kanji characters, the selection is among the best in the prefecture. Magnets inspired by landmarks and local specialties such as Oura Cathedral, Peace Park, castella, and champon are extremely popular as small gifts for overseas visitors.

Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown is regarded as one of Japan’s three major Chinatowns, alongside Yokohama and Kobe. It is the main venue of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival held every February and an area where you can enjoy authentic Chinese dishes such as champon and Sara udon.
Champon is a Nagasaki-origin noodle dish in which thick noodles and various ingredients are simmered together in a rich broth made from pork bones and chicken. It allows you to enjoy a variety of vegetables, seafood, and pork in one bowl.

Located on the main street of Chinatown, Ryushorou is known for its signature “Ryusho Champon,” featuring a milky broth simmered for five hours with a 7:3 ratio of chicken bones to pork bones. Vegetables, pork, and seafood are stir-fried over high heat to lock in flavor before being combined with chewy noodles. Another must-try is the “Braised Pork Bun (2 pieces),” a local specialty featuring tender, sweet-savory braised pork sandwiched in fluffy steamed buns. For drinks, the “Shell Shrimp Hong Kong Style,” deep-fried shrimp seasoned with breadcrumbs, garlic, green onions, and spices, is also recommended.