Mt. Inasa / Mount Inasayama

When Is the Best Time

The best time to visit Mount Inasa (Inasayama) is in the morning, with fewer crowds, or in right before dusk. Another great time is after 10 PM at night.

The difference between visiting in the morning, evening, or at night:

Morning until Afternoon: Least crowded. Especially in the morning, you can experience the view without many other tourists. Even without the beautiful night view, it’s still a great experience in daylight.

Twilight / Dusk: Right before dusk it usually gets more crowded. Even more after dark. Top tip: Be there just before dusk to experience the fascinating change from daylight to darkness, while the city lights turn on slowly. Check sunset times here: http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/japan/nagasaki

After Dusk / at Night: Usually crowded year-round from dusk till 10 PM. That’s the time when both the last bus or the last ropeway runs (operating from 9 AM to 10 PM). After 10 PM it thins out and you experience a much quieter place. Great experience around midnight. However, staying that late means you have to pay a taxi to get back down. Otherwise, you’d have to walk and navigate down in the dark. You could also get up there and back down with your own (rental) car.

Open year-round (maintenance closure early December). Consider that even in summer it’s windy and colder up there. Bring an extra sweater in spring/summer/fall and a thick coat in winter, when it’s really cold and chilly on top of Mt. Inasa.

In general, to avoid heavy crowds don’t go during the following very busy times in Japan:

  • End of Dec – Jan 4: New Year’s travelers
    April 29 – May 5: Golden Week
    July 19 through August: School summer vacation

They say it’s one of the best nighttime views in Japan. ‘A breathtaking 10 million dollar view’. 333 feet (101 m) from the city center, Mt. Inasa offers a stunning 360 view of the thriving port city and the Sea of Japan. On a clear day, it’s possible to see as far as the remote Goto Islands, the Amakusa islands to the south, and fiery Mount Unzen to the east.

You can get up to the top by:

Ropeway
Car or taxi
Bus

You can also walk up there and already enjoy the fascinating view during the ‘climb’. The walk takes between 30 and 40 minutes.

Helpful information can be found here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4412.html

Mount Inasa

Official website: http://yakei.at-nagasaki.jp/en/inasayama/index.html

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