9 Best Places to Go Shopping in Nagasaki

The Hamanomachi Arcade brings you a taste of local market life in Nagasaki. You can find a range of souvenirs, snacks and gifts in a bustling environment. The traditional roof-covered arcade is easily accessible, thanks to the Hamano-Machi Arcade tram station.

Hamanomachi Arcade has over 700 stores, so you’re bound to find what you’re looking for. Most of the small independent businesses are on the ground floor. You’ll find ornaments, fans, and clothes, just to name a few. There are lots of patisseries and cafes offering castella cakes too, in case you want to try a traditional Nagasaki dessert.

Hamaya is one of Nagasaki’s biggest and most famous department stores. It’s attached to the Hamanomachi Shopping Arcade, offering 8 floors of shops and restaurants.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to clothing and cosmetics. Each floor hosts a wide range of international brand names. Popular stores include Ralph Lauren, Yves Saint Laurent, and Swarovski. There are regular clearance sales that coincide with the changing seasons, so Hamaya is worth checking out during your visit if you want to catch a decent bargain.

Shinchi Chinatown is the original Chinatown in Japan, going back to the 1700s when the first Chinese traders in Japan weren’t allowed to leave its boundaries. Since then, a vibrant community has developed in and around Shinchi.

Dozens of food vendors line the streets, while stores offer a wide range of handmade antiques. You can find plenty of Chinese restaurants serving fusion Chinese and Japanese cuisine that’s hard to find elsewhere in Nagasaki. It’s a good idea to visit Shinchi Chinatown during Chinese New Year when lion dances and parades add to the vibrant ambience.

Amu Plaza is one of Nagasaki's most popular shopping malls. Conveniently attached to Nagasaki Station, it’s a great place to hang out and shop while you're waiting for a train.

Spanning 5 floors, Amu Plaza has fashion boutiques, speciality shops, and a supermarket. Some of the more interesting shops include a bookstore on the 3rd floor and Tower Records if you want to explore Japan’s music scene. There’s also a cinema that plays English subs on some movies as well. If you’re hungry, make your way to Amu Plaza’s food court on the ground floor.

Mirai Nagasaki Cocowalk is a 5-storey shopping mall with plenty of stores and restaurants. There’s also a Ferris wheel on the rooftop, from which you can see the entire city of Nagasaki and the Uragami River. Accessible within a short walk from the Zenzamachi Station, the mall is well worth a visit for the Ferris wheel alone.

Hospitality is really valued at Mirai Nagasaki Coco Walk. Door staff welcome you with a bow, while attentive workers in the stores greet you with a smile. There’s more fun to be had than your average mall, with a big arcade and cinema for when you’re done with shopping.

Nagasaki Dejima Wharf is a harbourside shopping complex with many shops, restaurants, and cafés. Located just on the edge of Dejima, it's a charming place to spend a few hours browsing or simply watching ships come and go.

You’ll mainly find cafés and restaurants at Nagasaki Dejima Wharf, but there are a couple of speciality stores worth checking out. Native Green stocks clothes and equipment from brands like Patagonia and Osprey. It’s a great place to stock up if you’re planning to hike Nagasaki's many viewpoints.

Fukusaya is a great place to try one of Nagasaki’s most popular cakes, called castella. It has several outlets across the city, with the main store just a few blocks from Shinchi Chinatown.

Castella, named after Castile in Portugal, is a light and moist cake that tastes like Madeira. Designed by a Japanese baker after trying Portuguese desserts in the 16th century, it has become a speciality dessert in Nagasaki. At Fukusaya, you can get different sizes and in a variety of exquisitely designed boxes. 

Youme Town Yumesaito is a 3-storey mall at the northern end of Dejima Wharf. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from Ohato tram station. Being so close to Nagasakiminato Terminal, there’s always a thriving atmosphere with ferries coming in and out of the bay.

Youme Town Yumesaito is one of Nagasaki’s biggest shopping malls, housing many famous Japanese brands. There's a huge food court on the basement floor – great for enjoying authentic Japanese food at local prices. Small independent stalls are dotted around walkways surrounding the mall.

Aeon Togitsu Shopping Center sits at the northern end of Nagasaki Prefecture. It’s a modern mall that offers a place to relax, eat, and, of course, do some shopping.

Aeon Togitsu Shopping Center has pretty much anything you might have forgotten or need during your travels. The mall has a supermarket, electronics stores, an osteopathic clinic, and a fitness centre. You can also find a few high-street stores, including Japanese fashion outlet, Mac House. Food-wise, popular options include McDonald’s, Baskin Robbins, and Shoya.