Nagasaki Peace Park
By Andrew Liyan · Last updated: August 14, 2026
- Area
- Matsuyama-machi, Urakami, Nagasaki
- Best For
- History, Memorial sites, Quiet reflection, Free to visit
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
View the Peace Statue
The bronze figure at the north end of the park stands about 9.7 meters tall and was inaugurated on August 9, 1955. The sculptor, Seibou Kitamura, explained each element: the raised right hand for the threat of nuclear weapons, the horizontally extended left arm for eternal peace, closed eyes in prayer for the victims, and the folded right leg with the left extended for meditation and readiness to act. Reading the explanation before you look at the statue changes what you see in it.
Visit the Fountain of Peace
Built in 1969 and about 18 meters in diameter, the fountain sits on the park's main axis with its jets shaped to suggest the spread wings of a dove or crane. The stone in front of it is inscribed with a young survivor's account of searching for water after the bombing, which is the reason the fountain is there at all. Many visitors pause here longer than they expect to.
Walk the Peace Symbols Zone
Since 1978, foreign countries and cities have donated monuments that now line the park's walkways. Documented contributions include works from Portugal, Cuba, Poland, New Zealand, and Australia, along with a 1992 monument from Saint Paul, Minnesota, Nagasaki's sister city in the United States. Each carries its own dedication, and taking them in order along the path gives a clear sense of how widely the city's appeal has been answered.
Continue down to Hypocenter Park
The adjoining Hypocenter Park sits closer to street level, roughly 5 to 10 minutes downhill. Its black stone monolith marks the point above which the bomb detonated on August 9, 1945. Remnants of the original Urakami Cathedral wall stand nearby. The two parks are separate spaces with different characters, and seeing both is worthwhile.
Know what happens on August 9
The Nagasaki Peace Memorial Ceremony is held at the foot of the Peace Statue each August 9, and the mayor delivers the annual Peace Declaration there. Survivors, bereaved families, and official delegations attend. If you are in the city that day, plan around heavy crowds and restricted access to the plaza; if you would rather visit quietly, choose another date.
Pair the park with the Atomic Bomb Museum
The park carries no exhibition of its own, so the history behind the monuments is easiest to pick up at the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum on the same hillside, about 5 to 10 minutes away on foot. Seeing the museum's artifacts and testimony first, then walking up to the statue, is a common and effective order.
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.
From Nagasaki Station
Take tram line 1 or 3 from outside Nagasaki Station and ride roughly 10 minutes to the Peace Park (Heiwa-koen) stop. From there the statue plaza is a few minutes' walk. Trams charge a flat fare paid as you get off, and major IC cards are accepted.
If you plan to see the Atomic Bomb Museum first, get off one stop earlier at Hamaguchimachi and walk up to the park afterward.
Walking within the Urakami cluster
Nagasaki Peace Park, Hypocenter Park, and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum sit within roughly 500 meters of one another on the same hillside, with about 5 to 10 minutes of walking between them. Urakami Cathedral is a further 8 to 10 minutes on foot to the east.
Signage between the sites is in Japanese and English. Note that these three sites are separate from Nagasaki's harbor-side attractions, which need a tram ride rather than a walk.
By taxi or from Nagasaki Airport
A taxi from central Nagasaki reaches the park in about 15 minutes outside peak hours and can drop passengers close to the upper plaza, which is useful for anyone who would rather not climb. From Nagasaki Airport, take the limousine bus to Nagasaki Station, roughly 45 minutes to an hour, then transfer to the tram.
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.
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
Frequently Asked Questions
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