Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience. Through powerful exhibits, personal stories, and historical artifacts, the museum presents the devastating impact of the atomic bombing while emphasizing the importance of peace and nuclear disarmament. It is an emotionally heavy visit, but an essential one that leaves a lasting impression and a strong reminder of the value of peace.

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum offers a comprehensive historical overview, detailing the development of the atomic bomb and the selection of Nagasaki as the target for the second deployment. The museum environment is conducive to quiet reflection and provides a respectful experience for visitors.

Tragical but important part of the world’s history Not very big but informative museum. You’ll find a lot of information about historical events of 9 August 1945. There are many items from that day displayed, so you can understand the level of damages. You can also feel all the feelings of people survived with the help of movies with memories. Next to the museum located the monument of the hypocenter, there is Peace park nearby - I recommend you to visit it as well even you’re tired, there are escalators and stairs both to enter.

Very much impressed with the scope and depth of information here. Before I came here, I didn't know that Nagasaki was decided as a tertiary target, I'm assuming there could be all sorts of scholarly work. But if you come in wanting to glorify wars and simplify things down too the good guys vs the bad, I hope coming here makes you realize war is much more messier for everybody. One thing compared to Hiroshima's museum is that I feel they didn't want to over burden visitors with too much. Here however, the video clips accurately showed how bad it got. Shock value is high, but I think it drives home how devastating nuclear weapons are.

The museum is quiet and respectful, and the layout guides you through the events in a way that helps you understand both the tragedy and the message of peace that came after. The final sections focus on nuclear disarmament and the hope for a world without war — it leaves you thinking long after you walk out. 📍Take your time — it’s not a place to rush. 😶 Heavy, but important. 🕊️ Never forget, never repeat. I left with a heavy heart, but also with deep respect and a stronger belief in peace. If you come to Nagasaki, this museum is a must-visit.

Visited on August 30, on a sweltering summer afternoon — stepping inside felt like a relief from the unbearable heat. The museum was busy with both local and international visitors, yet it remained quiet and respectful. There’s also a small café inside where you can take a short break and cool off. The exhibits are deeply moving — photos, artifacts, and stories that reveal the unimaginable destruction and human suffering caused by the blast. Some displays were hard to look at, but they remind you why peace is something we should never take for granted. A powerful and thought-provoking visit — not an easy experience, but an important one for anyone who wants to understand history beyond the textbooks.

First time visit. A very wholesome learning experience about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. My family learnt much and it was especially educational for the children. I strongly recommend to visit the museum and cater more time as the exhibits are really good. Visit the museum first, followed by the Hypocenter Monument, and then finally the Peace Park. 👍👍👍

The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is a deeply moving and educational place to visit. It presents the history of the atomic bombing in a clear, honest, and respectful way, focusing not on shock, but on understanding and remembrance. Overall, the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is not just a historical museum, but a place for quiet reflection. It is a meaningful visit for anyone who wants to better understand history and leave with a deeper appreciation for peace. My next destination will Hiroshima.

4.5 stars. The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum opened in 1996 and includes a permanent exhibition, hall, museum shop, cafe, and library. Tickets are reasonably priced. The permanent and special exhibitions show photos, videos, and artifacts from Nagasaki before and after the atomic bomb in 1945. I felt surprised to see that Urakami Cathedral took up a large part of the exhibit. Other damaged artifacts include a water tank, glass bottles, clothing, and much more. A model of the Fat Man was on display. The museum touched on the world events that led to the dropping of the atomic bomb and provided details about the aftermath for the people who suffered health problems or died. In comparison to the museum in Hiroshima, Nagasaki's museum was smaller but still reminds people about the importance of world peace. I bought a t-shirt in the shop, and the cashiers nicely interacted with me.

I've been to both Hiroshima's Peace Museum and now this one, and honestly, Hiroshima's is better with more vivid stories display and the Peace statues was just outside the museum where as here it's a 10 min walk and smaller museum in general. One regret I had last time in Hiroshima was not spending enough time there and missing the final section about what led to the bombing. So this time, I made sure to focus more on the ending, where I feel like that's where most visitors skip pass. The entry fee here was 200 yen, with an optional audio guide for about 150 yen. The victim stories were mostly tucked away in a small video section near the end, with just two TVs. It wasn't ideal--only a couple people/groups could control it at once, and most visitors skipped it entirely. When the videos were in English, the audio was so quiet I could barely hear, and they only had Japanese subtitles. It would be much better if they had both English and Japanese subtitles for accessibility on every video. The museum covers the horrors of the bombing, but it feels like they gloss over Japan's role in WWII and the events that led to it. They briefly explained why the U.S. decided to drop the bomb but didn't dive into why Japan attacked Pearl Harbor or its atrocities in Asia and the number of casualties in those events in the displays in the same brutal context. If they omit it entirely to focus on the bomb, okay but If they are going to mention the conflict briefly, I think they should be more thorough in the same way the way they describe the devastation of the bomb, they could do the same for other events. Big historical events that led to the conflict like the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Nanjing Massacre, Unit 731, comfort women and Japan's alliance with Nazi Germany were not mention in the large displays. I encourage everyone to look up these incidents to get a better picture in the depth of the conflict, Japan's colonialism, and the controversy on Japan's record in history. There were some mentions in the video tucked in the corner but sometimes they would use words like "saboteurs" or the Kwantung army to remove their association that they were Japanese operated. It's all in a section towards the end where people would just skip pass. I highly recommend people to check it out. Foreign victims, like forced laborers from American to Korean soldiers, were only touched on the display, the audio guide skipped through entirely. I did find a Japanese survivor's video that talked about Korean forced laborers who were also victims of the bomb not getting water and treatment favored the Japanese victims, but it was buried with all the other victim videos so it was easy to miss. It seems like the museum wants to focus on Japanese victims to drive home its anti-nuclear message, which is important, but it also feels like they're limit the extent on Japan's wartime actions. Maybe perhaps they think showing too much of that would undercut sympathy and their message. There was cruelty on both sides and both message can exist. Acknowledge and taking responsibility is an important role in establishing peace. I also wonder how much Japanese kids learn about Japan's colonialism in school. I see a lot of Japanese students visit here on field trips, but I've heard from people who grew up in Japan that they only learned the full story of Japan's involvement in WWII after moving abroad. There's definitely room for improvement in how these difficult topics are presented.

This museum is a must see when visiting the city. Having experienced the Hiroshima museum twice I had been looking forward to seeing this one, and it did not disappoint. The amount of artifacts, photographs and other primary sources make this place a must-see if you want to learn about what happened here at the close of World War II. Especially moving was the first hand accounts of the bombing from victims at a kiosk where you could see videos of men and women who recounted what the day was like for them. Having visited both these museums as well as Pearl Harbor, the USS Missouri and the USS Hornet it all deepens your respect for history and seeing it from multiple perspectives is eye opening. Highly recommended!

Very sobering. Original film footage, original photographs, a helmet with part of a skull still stuck in it,, bones of a hand that had melted into a glass bottle. Some people vaporized, some people set ablaze. This should be a required history tour of every political leader in the world.

What's up: We came all the way to Nagasaki to visit the Peace Park as well as the Atomic Bomb Museum. We had visited the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima so we wanted to experience the one in Nagasaki as well. Access: A 4 minute walk from Atomic Bomb Museum Station (via tram 1 or 3). Since we were at the Nagasaki Peace Park, it was a 7 minute walk from there. Environment: Walking into the building, we were told to purchase our tickets from the ticket machines and then present it to the staff members. Once done, we directed to descend down a spiral stairway where the years along the wall shows that we were going back in time to 1945. The museum is self guided and you'll see tons of artifacts from the bombing. There are lots of informational displays as well as video clips that showed what happened during and after the event. There is a large focus a lot on the desire for peace and to put an end to the threats of nuclear weapons. What was ordered: - Museum tickets (¥200/person) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. Just like the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum, this was a very somber but informative visit. It's a bit smaller than the Hiroshima one, but the impact and message of Nagasaki is just as strong. There's a lot to see as well as lots to learn. Let's hope the dream to achieve world peace can become a reality! Cash only.

We had to visit this atomic bomb museum since we came to Fukuoka all the way from U.S. I was touched. Peace park was a little far to walk from the museum. But you must visit there .

This is definitely a must-see place to visit if in Nagasaki for the history and significance of war and remembrance to all those that perished on that fateful day of August 1945. The museum shows the horrific results of a nuclear bomb and also the heroic survivors that against the odds somehow survived and helped others. There is a solemn memorial within the museum to say a prayer and have a moment of silence to honor those that were innocently taken in the blink of an eye. Be sure to visit the wading pool of water as well. The museum is smaller than the bomb museum in Hiroshima but still effective in its meanings. It's hard to imagine the horrors of WWII after walking the peaceful streets of Nagasaki in Sept 2017. Let us not repeat history.

When traveling, I enjoy learning the country's history. The Nagasaki bombing is taught in the United States but the education system sugar costs things. I wanted to know what really happened. The museum was moving, no doubt about that. From written personal stories to artifacts from the bombing, this museum will bring you to tears. This museum isn't for the faint at heart, you will see helmets with skin burnt on and other horribly sad items around. However, this is must-do when visiting this beautiful city. You will learn a great deal and your mind will be opened and your heart will be gentler. As an American visitor, I was not made to feel hated or unaccepted. In fact, everyone is very friendly and kind, here. This country is filled with nothing but love. This museum is definitely worth the visit! Side note: bring extra cash because the souvenirs are quite lovely. I wish I bought more of the origami keychains (they're cheaper here than near the Peace Park shop.

A visit to Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum should be mandatory for all world leaders. It pulls no punches. Seeing twisted ruins of buildings and everyday items and reading the lengthy timeline were rattling enough. But it was seeing the photos of dead and burned bodies of all ages that was gut-wrenching. There were also photos and stories from survivors, highlighting the immediate and long-term effects of radiation. There's a rather child-toy like but chilling map that displays the nuclear weapons stockpiled by countries (that we are aware of). The museum is fully accessible. However, once you enter the musuem proper (as opposed to the entry and shop areas), there are not many places to sit down.

This was my first stop in Nagasaki after dropping of my luggage at the air bnb nearby. It's a short uphill walk from Hamaguchi-machi street car stop. Signs will point you where to go. Before you get to the ticket booth you take a spiral path from second to first floor. On the Wall list the years starting at the current date and ending at the year the atomic bomb was dropped(1945). Once you get to the counter you can purchase a ticket to enter and a electronic walking tour headset as well. I'm not going to go into too much detail on the museum but it was a deep, heavy hearted time for me. The impact of the bomb, seeing the pictures of the aftermath, reading about those that died immediately, those that survived but lived with health issues, the amount of civilian casualties....I can go on and on. Just really sad as the tour goes on. After the main tour there's also a section of Japan's involvement in WWII and another about nuclear bomb test sites and the people affected. It was a very emotional and informative trip to this museum. I really hope that we never see this kind of destruction ever again.

We all know history and the devastating effects and destruction that the atomic bombs brought upon Japan during World War Two. But to fully understand and to actually "feel" the effects they produced, you have to see for yourself the actual artifacts and remains from the destruction. I went into the museum with an open mind and emerged a different person, emotionally. The destruction done by the Atomic Bomb that was dropped on the city of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 at exactly 11:02am will live on forever, not only to the land, but to the victims and their families through the generations to come. To see how powerful the bomb blast and after effects were, one has to hear the stories and testimonials from survivors and their families. I heard accounts of a big silver airplane flying high overhead and not long after, a great flash of light which was the bomb being detonated 300 meters in the sky, thunderous explosion and concussion then, total darkness. After sunlight gradually shown its way through the huge blast cloud, the people who were not instantly vaporized slowly began to realize and witness the unspeakable destruction that surrounded them. Bodies piled one upon another, people walking around in a daze, people with missing limbs or burns so bad that their skin was hanging, people screaming for water, mothers and children calling out for one another... Hell on earth, as one survivor put it. If the blast didn't kill you, the radiation fallout did. People were so desperate for a drink of water that when it started raining they opened their mouths to catch rain water-black rain water filled with radiation. Within weeks their hair started to fall out and people succumbed to their injuries and burns. But history is history, I hope in this world that we live in now that history will not repeat itself. Perhaps the United States could have dropped the bombs out in the ocean to demonstrate the devastating effects- war isn't fair. I'm very touched by the folks who lost their lives in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, let's all hope and pray it won't happen again. If you have a chance to visit Nagasaki, make the effort to visit the museum, it'll change the way you feel... Five Solid Stars * * * * *

I enjoyed visiting this museum in Nagasaki. Children learn about the atomic bombings in Japan by the US, and visiting Nagasaki brought me back to that childlike curiosity and wonder about this complex world. The US faced a dilemma during World War II battling the Japanese. This museum's thesis is to elicit sadness and remorse for the disturbance and loss of civilian lives. There are graphic images. There's artifacts and pictures. There's a lot of personal stories and recounts of the bombings. There's information about the world leaders involved and how history has expanded since the atomic bombings like pictures of leaders signing on SALT and 9/11 bombings. The US and other world leaders are outsiders to the devastation impacted on civilians. It's not a happy event to think about at all, but it was amazing to come all the way to Nagasaki to see this museum. They did a good job.

An important and must place to visit in Nagasaki. The Museum was well laid-out. Walking through the quiet and peaceful streets of Nagasaki today, it is difficult to grasp the horror of what people lived through.

A must see if you visit Nagasaki for its historic significance as well as the feelings that it generates. Tickets are 200 yen for adults, and those that have a Nagasaki tourist pass (often available at hostels/hotels) can get in for a discount. Although a bit smaller than Hiroshima's atomic bomb museum, I feel like the layout of the museum and the smaller spaces are incredibly effective in showing what life was like before, during, and after the bombing. You begin with some pictures of Nagasaki post-WWII, and there is a timeline leading up to the bombing. There are many displays and areas regarding the bomb itself, the damage done based on how close to the blast everything was, the chemical effects of radiation, but the most emotional I got was at the end. Personal accounts of adults and children in writing and video form line the walls near the end, and I could not help but cry when reading the recollections of their experiences. After this, you turn in to a brighter, more spacious room that gives an overview of peace movements and information about the nuclear arms race, which can both give a bit of hope, but also make one shake his/her head at the same time. After the museum area (or before), one has the option to go to the Atomic Bomb memorial. On the outside, it is a circular pool with lights to signify how many died due to the bombing. The pool is a symbol of providing water (what the victims desperately needed) during the atomic bomb. Underneath, there is another exhibit where you can see a 3-D virtual tour of the blast site as it would have looked after the bomb hit. There is also a fantastic memorial with green-ish pillars where one can pray for the victims while facing the direction of the actual bomb site. Overall, the museum was very well-planned out, and when I went (weekday afternoon), it wasn't as crowded as the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum, so I was able to spend more time at the exhibits. Tip: there are headsets with different languages that one can rent at the entrance.

Taking part in the yelp nationwide relay!! http://www.yelp.co.jp/topic/%E6%9D%B1%E4%BA%AC-yelp-japan-%E6%97%A5%E6%9C%AC%E5%85%A8%E5%9B%BD%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E3%83%A5%E3%83%BC%E9%A7%85%E4%BC%9D Of course you know that Japan is an only country where two atomic bombs were dropped, don't you? One was in Hiroshima, the other in Nagasaki. Both cities were devastated in a minute. We must not forget the sad memories in order not to repeat such a tragedy. This Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum was built in 1996. I thought I had to come here to report. It's my duty. A volunteer of the museum showed us the exhibition rooms. She explained us each artifact and picture in detail. She took part in a training as a volunteer guide in Hiroshima counterpart and went to the UN headquarter to appeal the importance of peace. When I went to Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Museum, a narrative woman called "Kataribe" who experienced the exposure of the atomic bomb and suffered physical damage came to us and told us about the situation of those days. When the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, she worked at an army factory in the city. The whole city was destroyed but she said she was surprised at the living power of the plant because the ivy attached to the building close to the hypocenter later growing sprouts. She talked it calmly, which made me cry. I'm worrying that the number of Kataribe has been decreasing. We have to take over their narration and inform our successors of the misery of war. Many artifacts and pictures related to the atomic bomb are displayed here. I stood still in front of one monochrome picture, which was taken by a foreign photographer. An around 10-year-old boy holding his baby brother on his back stood on a waste land, shutting his mouth firmly and staring at nowhere. His baby brother looked like sound sleeping, but was dead. Then he took his younger brother to a crematory. He didn't shout or cry, but he showed his sorrow killing his sentiment. His silent grief made me sad further. At that time everyone didn't have the right to have their opinion at their own will. Everyone was obliged to move in the wrong direction. The persons who stood up and shouted "We are doing wrong things!!" were suppressed by the government. Many pictures and artifacts depicted cruel reality those days. I don't describe it here, but say "Watch it yourselves!" Even if the governments had apologized to the victims of the atomic bombs, they could not have got back their former lives. Let our world be full of joy, peace and happiness! Let's change our world!!