What other travelers are saying about Inasayama Summit Observatory
An absolutely incredible view of Nagasaki. Come an hour or so before sundown for one of the best sunsets you will see anywhere.
This is my 2nd trip and sadly the rest area in the observatory no longer serves food or drink, which was fantastic in 2024. Still, it is a great place to unwind and relax as the night sets in.
Mt. Inasa Overlook offers one of the best night views in Japan — or so they say, and honestly, I believe it. The view was stunning. City lights stretching across Nagasaki Bay, mountains in the background, and a peaceful stillness in the air that made it feel almost surreal. It’s one of those places that makes you pause and just take it all in.
The gondola ride up was smooth, easy, and not overly crowded. I was lucky — my car wasn’t sardined at all, though I heard from friends theirs got a little packed. Still, the ride is short and scenic, so either way, it’s part of the experience.
At the top, there’s a round building where you can either walk or take the elevator up. Inside, you get a panoramic view through glass, but the real magic is outside — go up a short flight of stairs and you’ll reach the roof deck, where the full 360-degree view hits different. Breezy, calm, and absolutely worth it.
If you’re in Nagasaki, do this at night. It’s peaceful, romantic, and just a little magical. A perfect ending to the day, or a highlight all on its own.
I wonder how it looks in the day time, I was one of the last gondola to go up.
¥1250 per person for the round trip (recommended). Very smooth cable car ride took about 3-4mins and a member of the staff travelled in the car with us. The cars take about 20 people at a time and travel every 20minutes. You can basically do what you need to do up on the observatory deck in 20mins and get back to catch the tram down or if you want to take longer, you can. We just wanted to make the most of the day in port and see the other attractions.
Tip: get there as early as possible. I expect this view would be spectacular at night
This place is like heaven. Please drop by 1 hour before sunset. I know the night view is very popular, but the afternoon view of the bay and mountains on the other side is just mezmerizing. Dont miss the sunset also!!
We visited Mount Inasa in March 2025. Although you can pay 730円 to go up to the top platform, you can sit on the lower levels, inside, for free. It is popular so at 5PM on a Sunday, about an hour before sunset, most seats were already taken. It is ranked as one of Japan’s top 3 night views and offers great night scenery of the harbour, surrounding mountains, and city below. You can buy sweets and warm drinks from the vending machine or desserts from the shop outside. To access the area you can take the ropeway for 730円 (one way) or 1250円 (round trip), departing every 15-20 minutes from 9:00-22:00. Or you can do what we did, which is take the bus (every 30 minutes) to Inasayama bus stop (15 minutes, 190円 one way from Nagasaki Station) + 15 minute walk up a concrete path and stairs to the summit. Near the bus stop there is a small zoo with deer and monkeys which you can feed for 100円 from the designated vending machines.
Inasayama Observatory is open daily from 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM (last entry 9:30 PM). Round-trip ropeway tickets cost 1,250 yen for adults and 620 yen for children. The observatory deck itself has free admission once you reach the summit via ropeway or car.
Take the Nagasaki Ropeway from Fuchi Shrine station, which is accessible by bus from Nagasaki Station (15 minutes). The ropeway ride to Inasayama Summit Observatory takes 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can drive up the winding mountain road, though parking is limited at the summit.
Inasayama Observatory offers panoramic 360-degree views of Nagasaki city, Nagasaki Bay, and surrounding mountains. It's famous for spectacular sunset views and night scenes ranked among Japan's top 3 night views. On clear days, you can see Gunkanjima (Battleship Island) and the Shimabara Peninsula.
The best times for photography at Inasayama Observatory are during sunset (golden hour) and blue hour for night photography. Visit 1-2 hours before sunset to capture daylight views, sunset, and the transition to Nagasaki's famous night illumination. Avoid foggy or rainy days for optimal visibility.
Inasayama Observatory features a restaurant with panoramic windows serving Western and Japanese cuisine, perfect for dining with views. The facility also includes a gift shop, observation decks, indoor viewing areas, and restrooms. There's also a small museum about Nagasaki's history and the mountain's significance.
