【長崎観光】西の端の港町、佐世保へ行ったらグルメと九十九島の絶景がやばかった。

【長崎観光】西の端の港町、佐世保へ行ったらグルメと九十九島の絶景がやばかった。

Good morning! Right now, I’m here in Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture. What you see behind me is Sasebo Port. Sasebo has thrived as a port town for many years, and it’s located right near both the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and a U.S. military base. It’s known as an internationally diverse city. Today, I’ll be exploring Sasebo City. The journey begins at Sasebo Station. Here’s Sasebo’s official mascot: Sasebo Burger Boy. Sasebo Station is the westernmost JR station in Japan. This is the east exit of Sasebo Station. The area in front of the east exit has a distinctive arched roof. Right now I’m at the east exit of the station, where there’s a rotary out front, with commercial facilities on both sides. There’s a Toyoko Inn and some shopping centers here, though they haven’t opened yet for the day. Still, the area feels vibrant and lively. So that’s what the east side of Sasebo Station looks like. Let’s start walking around Sasebo! As I walk down the main road from the station, I see a very eye-catching church up ahead. This is the Catholic Miuramachi Church. It’s something of a symbol of Sasebo. Apparently, during the war, the military ordered the exterior to be painted with coal tar to avoid air raids, making the church black at the time. It’s hard to imagine that from its current pristine white appearance. Right in front of the Miuramachi Church is a multi-purpose facility that hosts music events and more. Let’s keep walking. If you walk down this prefectural road near the station, you’ll come across a covered shopping arcade. This place was originally a wartime air-raid shelter, which has been preserved and repurposed as a market. And there’s actually an elementary school built on top of the market. So it looks like this—the school is on top, and the market is underneath it. These shelters were originally built during the Pacific War. This is the site of the elementary school above the Tunnel Yokocho area. It’s no longer in use as a school, and now serves as the Sasebo Air Raid Museum. This road in front of the station is called Kyo-machi Street Shopping Arcade. We’ve made it back to the entrance of the Yonka-cho Arcade. Let’s go explore this arcade street. The station is back here, and I’ve walked this way— now I’m at the entrance to the arcade. This arcade is 960 meters long. It’s known as the longest straight shopping arcade in Japan. As you can see, the walkway here is incredibly wide. It’s really easy to walk through—love it. The columns are blue near the entrance, yellow a bit further in, and orange even deeper down the street. Since the arcade spans multiple towns, the color of the columns changes depending on the town. This is Kyomachi Gorieki Street. And now we’ve arrived at a popular shop—let’s check it out! They use homemade dough and fillings—white bean paste and red bean paste. I just picked some up from a place called “Ikkyu” right over there. I bought Sasebo’s soul food, a “Kaiten-yaki” from Ikkyu. White bean and red bean—100 yen each. I bought both kinds. Let’s start with the white bean. Simple and delicious! Now for the red bean. You can’t go wrong with this flavor. Being able to get this for just 100 yen is amazing. If I were a student, I’d probably buy one every day after school. Along the arcade street, you’ll find little resting spots like this. They even have trash cans—super convenient. I took a little break here. There are a lot of people, but since the street is so wide, it’s really easy to walk around. The color of the columns changed from yellow to orange. Right in front of me now is the arcade street, and nearby is “Big Man,” a Sasebo burger shop. I bought a burger and came to this plaza. There’s a concrete building here—that’s the Sasebo City Museum. The architecture looks super solid and robust. Time to enjoy my Sasebo Burger for lunch! I bought it from Big Man, the Sasebo Burger shop. It was crowded inside, so I decided to take it to go. Look at the size—it’s huge! It’s got a bun, cheese, lettuce, egg, bacon, and a patty. Time to dig into this special burger. Let’s give it a bite. So good! Absolutely delicious. It’s the kind of flavor that anyone would instinctively find tasty. Just pure, satisfying flavor. There’s a McDonald’s nearby, but I wonder if locals choose between that and Sasebo Burger? I thought it would be super filling, but it’s actually pretty light and easy to eat. And it’s got a lot of lettuce too—love that! It was really easy to eat. Now I’ve come to the riverside. I walked along the arcade and took a side street, and here I am at the Sasebo River. This is the Sasebo River. Across the river is Sasebo Park. Here’s the bridge that crosses the Sasebo River. That bridge is called Albuquerque Bridge— because Sasebo City and Albuquerque have a friendship city relationship. When I hear Albuquerque, I think of *Breaking Bad.* So Sasebo and Albuquerque are sister cities—interesting! If you cross the Albuquerque Bridge, you’ll arrive at Sasebo Park. It’s such a spacious and relaxing park. It really is big—this park. There’s a lively crowd gathered over there. I wonder what’s going on. Looks like there’s a soccer field—maybe a futsal court? Oh! I thought it was a futsal court in the park, but it turns out it’s actually inside the U.S. military base. That’s fascinating. Beyond that fence, it really feels like you’re in America. Looks like there’s a sports event going on. They’re having a great time. Looks like so much fun. This is definitely a scene unique to Sasebo, with the U.S. base nearby. Right now I’m in Sasebo Park, and if you cross the Albuquerque Bridge in front of me and keep walking straight ahead, you’ll reach the entrance to the U.S. military base. Ordinary citizens can’t go in. But just seeing people playing sports in there gives you a glimpse of America. I looked it up, and apparently on April 5th, the base is open to the public. It’s called Friendship Day, and it’s held once a year. I’d really like to go. It’s about two weeks from now, but I’m already thinking of coming back to Sasebo. That was a really cool experience. This kind of thing is unique to Sasebo, with the base here. While walking around, I often passed American folks. I spent the morning enjoying Sasebo’s downtown area. Now in the afternoon, I’ve rented a car, and I’m heading to the Kujukushima Islands. It took just 15 minutes by car from central Sasebo. Now I’ve arrived at Tenkaiho. There’s an observation deck here, along with a flower field. The rapeseed flowers aren’t blooming yet, but I’d love to come back during peak bloom season. It’s great that you can drive almost right up to the viewing platform. This is the Tenkaiho observatory. It’s one of Sasebo’s most famous scenic spots. From this hilltop, you can see the Kujukushima Islands—208 of them. What an incredible view. It’s a bit hazy today, so I can’t see all the way to the horizon. But on a clear day, you can apparently see all the way to the Goto Islands. You can also see downtown Sasebo from here. This park is really well maintained. There’s a spacious parking area, too. Even the restrooms are clean and tidy. It’s clearly been set up for visitors—it’s very tourist-friendly. Compared to the previous spot, Tenkaiho, this one gives you a panoramic view from almost any angle. I really like it here. Just look at this—what an incredible sight. The whole park is carefully maintained, and it’s spacious enough to handle lots of tourists, even during long holidays. You can even see Kuroshima, one of the sites designated as a World Heritage location. That’s Hirado Island and Takashima over there. It’s still a little hazy, but with the naked eye, the view is even more impressive than on camera. Such an open, refreshing space—it feels great to be here. It’s the perfect place to visit in spring. I’m now heading even further past the Kujukushima Visitor Park, walking through the mountains. You can’t drive all the way here, so you have to go on foot through the forested path. There’s an old observation post here that I’m going to check out. It’s located in a place like this— not accessible by car. It reminds me of the one I went to in Tsushima, which also involved walking up a mountain trail. Feels kind of nostalgic. Just 650 meters to go. Maybe not the best place to come during hay fever season. The path is starting to open up. We’re almost there. Tenkaiho was packed with tourists, but out here there’s practically no one—it’s really secluded. Whoa, what is this? There are stakes on both sides, set up like trenches to prevent landslides. We’ve finally made it. This is amazing. It’s a protective shelter like the ones I saw in Tsushima. In Tsushima, there were several lined up side by side, but here there’s only one. The ones in Tsushima had more depth, and were connected in the back, but this one is standalone, so it’s a simpler structure. There are stairs leading up to the observation post. Let’s go ahead and climb up. The stairs are pretty steep. I’ve arrived at the site of the Marudeyama Observation Post. This is the actual observation post used back then. It’s incredible that it still remains. Even the door is still intact. It’s quite rusty, but still standing. It’s really well preserved like this. The structure is still intact, but it’s too deteriorated to go inside. But you can get right up close to it. That’s pretty incredible. The roof is especially worn down. It’s still here now, but it might be removed someday due to safety concerns. I’m glad I got to see it while it’s still here. The one in Tsushima had already lost its roof, so it was hard to imagine what it was like. This one still has its full structure— which is really impressive. It’s just amazing. Now, here’s the view from the observation post. Take a look. Stunning. You’re not looking at Kujukushima head-on— you get a side view from here. And that’s great in its own way. To be honest, I kind of prefer this angle. This place is definitely worth visiting. There’s almost no one around, so it has a really special atmosphere. The observation post I just climbed is right over here on this hill. You can see the structure right here, and looking closely, you’ll notice it has two levels. There’s the shelter section underneath, and the observation post built above it. And the view from up here is absolutely breathtaking. That curved part of the coast you see in front of you— that’s Shirahama Beach. You can even spot what looks like a small pier. Totally worth the hike to get here. It’s tucked away in a little forested area like this. If you’re up for the walk, I highly recommend visiting. Now I’m off to get a Sasebo burger near Kujukushima. Not sure if I’ll make it before the shop closes, but I’m going to give it a shot. True to its name, Shirahama really does have white sand. The sand is soft and smooth— a classic, relaxing beach perfect for swimming. I wonder if locals in Sasebo come here to swim in the summer. That pier I saw from the observation post—that’s it right there. Just like the name says—Shirahama Beach. Unfortunately, I didn’t make it before closing time. But at least I got to eat one Sasebo burger earlier in the day, so it’s all good. This location, though, has such a great atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where you can enjoy a Sasebo burger with a view of the islands. You get to eat while looking out at the stunning Kujukushima view. Since it’s on the west coast, the sunsets are gorgeous too. Too bad I missed the chance to eat here. Now I’ve arrived at Umikaze Square in Kujukushima. This beach has a really nice vibe. It feels great just taking a stroll here. There’s a small observation deck here too. Let’s go up and check it out. It’s such a perfect time of day. All I can hear are gentle waves. This place is seriously amazing. Every part of Kujukushima is beautiful—wherever you look. This spot is no exception—it’s fantastic. I just finished walking around the entire Umikaze Park area. Now the sun’s going down, so I’ve come to the Yumihari-dake Observatory to catch the sunset. This is a spot where you can look out over the whole Kujukushima area from above. Looking at the map, I started today at Sasebo Station, explored the downtown area, visited a few of the Kujukushima viewing spots, and now I’ve made my way back here to Yumihari-dake Observatory. Downtown Sasebo and Kujukushima are just 15 minutes apart by car, which makes everything super accessible—it’s great. This observatory is well maintained, too. The sun is still a bit high, but it’s starting to set nicely, and the scenery is looking really good. There’s a roof here that kind of looks like a company logo— really unique design. Wow. You can see all of Sasebo City from here. This view is of Sasebo Port and the downtown area. There’s a huge cruise ship docked at Sasebo Port, and next to it, at the JMSDF and U.S. military base, you can see a massive aircraft carrier. What a sight. Right beside that is the Sasebo Shipyard. Really impressive to look at. This view is just amazing. You can even hear the city’s ambulance sirens from here. The sun is setting in the direction of Kujukushima and the Goto Islands. It’s beautiful on this side too. The timing is perfect—what a breathtaking view. There’s another observation platform, so I’m heading over there now. This kind of path that builds anticipation— it’s such a great touch. Really well done. What a view. Absolutely stunning. This is the view from the second observation platform. It’s unbelievably beautiful. The city of Sasebo is bathed in the golden sunset below. It’s breathtaking. And on the opposite side of the camera, you have the stunning backdrop of Kujukushima— and the sun is just about to set. You can enjoy two beautiful views at once—that’s incredible. This observatory feels so luxurious. There’s even a hotel right below the platform. Imagine staying there with this view—must be amazing. That would be nice. Yumihari-dake Observatory— it’s really well taken care of. There are trash bins, lots of benches too— it’s very comfortable to spend time here. After enjoying Kujukushima this afternoon, I’m heading back to downtown. Returned the rental car and now I’m back at the arcade. It’s about 7 PM now. I’ve still got time before my train, so I’ll grab some dinner and wander around. This is Hachinoya— famous for lemon steak and cream puffs, apparently. I was tempted, but I decided to skip it this time. As expected from the longest arcade in Japan, it’s lively both day and night. This street, Yomise-dori, is lined with restaurants. The place I wanted to go was full, so I’m heading to a different spot. There’s a nightlife area under the tracks— it’s got a great atmosphere. Sasebo has so many places to eat and drink. Thick noodle-style Sara Udon. And a half-sized fried rice. Had dinner at a Chinese restaurant called Kiraku. It had that great local, casual diner feel— I really liked it. Here’s the Catholic Miuramachi Church at night— beautifully lit up like this. Now I’m back in front of Sasebo Station. So that wraps up my trip to Sasebo, Nagasaki. It was such a great time. I really enjoyed it. This time I only visited the city area and Kujukushima, but it was more than enough fun. You’ve got a bustling downtown and beautiful natural scenery— and both are easily accessible. That balance was amazing. Also, because of the U.S. base, I kept running into foreigners— which added an interesting cultural mix to the experience. To be honest, I’m really curious about the base itself, so I’m thinking about visiting during the open day. Sasebo is a big city, and I’ve barely scratched the surface. I also want to visit Huis Ten Bosch, so I’m sure I’ll be back soon. I hope this video was helpful to you. Thanks so much for watching till the end. Found a local guardian cat of the shopping arcade! A community cat. Sitting properly on a little cushion— absolutely adorable.

長崎県で2番目に大きな街、人口約23万人の佐世保へ遊びに行ってきた！

佐世保は古くは軍港として発展し、戦後はアメリカ文化が街に息づき、今ではジャズバーや赤レンガ、そして名物・佐世保バーガーが観光客を魅了しています。

そのすぐ近くに広がる大自然が「九十九島（くじゅうくしま）」。実は名前に反して、島の数は208個もあるんです！そこには海の迷路みたいな絶景が待ってました。

動画が良ければチャンネル登録、グッドボタンよろしくお願いします👍

🍽️ 今回訪れたお店

・回転焼き 一休
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cziagv97UcCy4WwM9
・佐世保バーガー BigMan 上京町本店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JpDJkhiZcnxiZ2bN9
・中華喜楽 本店
https://maps.app.goo.gl/smctYU9nTuGDeM996

🎵 使用している音楽
Artlist（以下から登録で2ヶ月分無料になります！）
https://artlist.io/referral/c48a3ef8-a079-4f03-82ba-aa274ebf0700

📝 参考
サムネイル背景画像「九十九島観光公園2」写真提供：（一社）長崎県観光連盟

🔖 Tags
#長崎観光 #佐世保 #佐世保バーガー #九十九島 #ひとり旅 #日本旅行 #九州旅行 #観光Vlog #ご当地グルメ