Nagasaki
Nagasaki Family Hotels: From Huis Ten Bosch to Unzen and Hirado
An international port city and a theme park you can't see in a day
A family trip to Nagasaki looks very different depending on whether you build it around Huis Ten Bosch or around sightseeing in Nagasaki City. Choosing between staying at an official hotel inside or next to the park, or widening your view to the city and the remote-island resorts, is part of what makes this prefecture so interesting.
Around Huis Ten Bosch, support for families with babies runs deep, from Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch, which holds Japan's Welcome Baby certification (a nationwide standard for baby-friendly hotels), to Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch with its nursing room and baby food options, to the cottage-style Forest Villa Huis Ten Bosch. The park itself is so large that you can't see it all in a single day, so choosing accommodations with a multi-night stay in mind makes a real difference to how satisfying the trip feels.
In Nagasaki City, you can build an itinerary around history and international flavor, combining a Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) cruise, Dejima, and food-hopping through Shinchi Chinatown. i+Land nagasaki, on Iojima and reachable from the city by bridge, is a resort-style property with hot springs and activities that's popular with families looking for a longer stay.
Of the 28 hotels listed on this site, 7 have a kids' room, 11 rent out cribs, and 5 have a private-hire bath. Add in Unzen Onsen and Hirado, and this single prefecture offers a choice of very different kinds of stays — theme park, city sightseeing, and hot springs.
With two nights and three days, you can also build a touring family trip through Sasebo, where sightseeing boats depart for the Kujukushima islands, Unzen Onsen with its Unzen Jigoku hot spring vents, and the castle town of Shimabara.
Highlights
- checkSupport for babies runs deep around Huis Ten Bosch, with Welcome Baby–certified hotels and rooms equipped with nursing facilities
- check7 properties with kids' rooms and 5 with private-hire baths give this area strong facilities for longer stays
- checkOne prefecture, three different trips: theme park, international port city, and hot spring towns
Family-friendly features in Nagasaki
Browse all features on ourFeaturespage.
Recommended hotels (23)
Shimabara Onsen Hotel Nampuro
i+Land nagasaki
Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort
Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch
Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch
Yumiharinooka Hotel
Hirado Tabira Onsen Samson Hotel
Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Saikaibashi
The Global View Nagasaki
Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae
See all hotels in Nagasaki (23)expand_more
- Shimabara Onsen Hotel Nampuro
- i+Land nagasaki
- Garden Terrace Nagasaki Hotel & Resort
- Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch
- Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch
- Yumiharinooka Hotel
- Hirado Tabira Onsen Samson Hotel
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Premium Saikaibashi
- The Global View Nagasaki
- Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae
- Forest Villa Huis Ten Bosch
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Nagasaki Hotel Seifu
- Dormy Inn Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown
- Richmond Hotel Nagasaki Shianbashi
- Hotel JAL City Nagasaki
- Quintessa Hotel Sasebo
- ANA Crowne Plaza Nagasaki Gloverhill
- CANDEO HOTELS Nagasaki Shinchichukagai
- FORZA Hotel Nagasaki
- Ooedo Onsen Monogatari Unzen Toyokan
- Sasebo Green Hotel Premier
- Hirado Kaijo Hotel
- Omura Central Hotel
Nearby attractions
Travel tips
It's about 1 hour 45 minutes from Hakata to Huis Ten Bosch by limited express train. The park is huge, so plan on using a stroller or the park's own rental strollers. Nagasaki City has many slopes and stone-paved streets, so it's worth relying on the streetcar to get around. Public transportation is limited toward Unzen, Shimabara, and Hirado, so a rental car is the practical choice. Hotels around Huis Ten Bosch fill up early during summer vacation, so book two to three months ahead if you're planning a multi-night stay.
Best season
Spring and fall are the most comfortable. Huis Ten Bosch is at its best with tulips in spring and illuminations in winter, giving the park a different look each season.
Getting there
About 1.5 hours from Hakata to Nagasaki Station by the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen. About 1 hour 45 minutes from Hakata to Huis Ten Bosch on the Huis Ten Bosch limited express train. From Nagasaki Airport to Huis Ten Bosch is about 50 minutes by high-speed boat or bus.
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age can kids enjoy Huis Ten Bosch?
expand_more
Children can enter from age zero, and the park has indoor attractions for preschoolers and seasonal flower fields that are enjoyable at any age. The park is large enough that a stroller is close to essential. Once kids reach elementary-school age and more height-restricted attractions open up, the park offers a different kind of fun.
If we're visiting Huis Ten Bosch, where's the best place to stay?
expand_more
For a multi-night stay, an official hotel inside or next to the park is the easiest option, since it cuts out travel time. Support for babies is also strong, with the Welcome Baby–certified Hotel Okura JR Huis Ten Bosch and Hotel Nikko Huis Ten Bosch, which has a nursing room. If you'd rather keep costs down, staying in Sasebo City or Omura and commuting in is also an option.
Is Nagasaki City easy to get around with kids?
expand_more
It's a hilly city, but the main sightseeing spots are connected by streetcar, which doubles as a fun train ride for kids. Food-hopping through Shinchi Chinatown, Glover Garden (which has a moving walkway), and Dejima are all compact enough to see in half a day to a full day, which works well for families with children.
Can we still enjoy Nagasaki on a rainy day?
expand_more
Huis Ten Bosch is designed with plenty of indoor attractions and museums for rainy weather. In Nagasaki City, the Nagasaki Penguin Aquarium is mostly indoors and is a rainy-day favorite too. It's also an easy area to switch gears and simply relax with a multi-night stay at a hot spring inn.
When is the best season to visit Nagasaki?
expand_more
Spring (March–May) and fall (October–November) offer the most comfortable weather. Huis Ten Bosch has two signature seasons: the tulip festival in spring and the "Kingdom of Light" illuminations in winter. Summer is hot, but you can pair the heat with water play at seaside resorts like Iojima.