Nakadori Island

Nakadori Island (中通島) is one of the islands in the Goto archipelago, located in the western part of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. The Goto archipelago is made up of five main islands and numerous smaller islands, with Nakadori Island being the second largest of the five main islands.

Nakadori Island has a population of around 13,000 people and is known for its beautiful beaches, historical sites, and unique culture. The island has a rich history and was an important center of Christianity in Japan during the 16th and 17th centuries. Visitors can explore the island’s Christian heritage by visiting several churches, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Kashragashima Church and Kyu-Gorin Church, as well as the oldest church on the island, Reisui Church, known for its beautiful Gothic architecture.

Tourists can also visit the Goto Folk Museum, which showcases the island’s traditional crafts and customs, and the Kento-shi Furusato-kan (遣唐使ふるさと館), a museum dedicated to the history of Japanese envoys to Tang Dynasty China. The island is also famous for its seafood, particularly the Goto Udon noodle dish made with fresh fish.

Nakadori Island is connected to Wakamatsu Island by the Wakamatsu Bridge, a 525-meter-long red arch bridge. Visitors can access Nakadori Island by ferry from Fukue Island (Fukue Port).

Getting there

From Nagasaki Port:

• High-speed boat: About 90 minutes, around 9,000 yen
• Car ferry: About 2.5 hours, around 4,000 yen
  Both serve Narao Port in the south of Nakadori Island.

From Sasebo Port:

• High-speed boat: About 90 minutes, around 6,500 yen
• Car ferry: About 2.5 hours, around 4,000 yen
  Both serve Arikawa Port in the north of Nakadori Island.

From Fukue Island:

• High-speed boat: About 30 minutes, around 2,800 yen
• Car ferry: 60-90 minutes, around 1,000 yen
  Both connect to Narao Port on Nakadori Island.

The main ports on Nakadori Island are:

• Narao Port in the south
• Arikawa Port and Tainoura Port in the center/north

For those coming from major cities:

1. From Tokyo: Fly or take a bullet train to Nagasaki, then take a ferry.
2. From Osaka: Fly to Nagasaki or take a train, then take a ferry.