Hamanomachi Arcade

If you’re on the hunt for omiyage (souvenirs) for family back home or a bite to eat while in Nagasaki (or both), you’ll want to check out Nagasaki city’s most well known shopping scene – Hamanomachi.

Although sometimes referred to as a shopping street, the arcade sprawls over several blocks.

Boasting over 700 shops, you’re sure to find something that strikes your fancy. While Hamanomachi has a growing number of domestic and foreign name brand shops, like Mister Donut and Starbucks, it maintains several old-fashioned mom-and-pop establishments like boutique cafes and antiques sellers.

Hamanomachi arcade is used for events through the year, including the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. Photo by Marufish.

The roof-covered arcade, called “Hamanmachi” in the local dialect, is an ideal place to spend a few hours or even the entire day if the weather outside is less than stellar.

A restaurant there that’s on many a Nagasaki checklist is Café Olympic, an eatery in the heart of the arcade which tempts patrons to consume one of its towering parfaits. They’re available in several different flavors and soar in heights from 50 cm to 120 cm, with the latter being called the “Dream of Nagasaki.” A popular spot for groups, be prepared to wait a spell in the snug stairwell that leads up to this second floor establishment during peak meal hours. It’s open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. every day.

For anime lovers, the arcade is home to Nagasaki city’s own Animate. While smaller than most Animate shops, it offers a decent sampling of popular manga, character goods, CDs, and DVDs. Tucked on a second story, it is accessible by escalator or elevator and is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. It’s located near the entrance leading to Nishi-Hamanomachi tram stop.

Pick up a fortune from a vending machine in the area surrounding Hamanomachi.

If needing a respite from the crowds, you can crash for a few hours at the Internet café Cybac. Open 24-hours, Cybac has little cubicles of various comforts, from couches to padded floors, available for use. Additional services include a soda fountain, manga-lined bookshelves, and a shower (for an additional fee). Cybac is located in the southeastern stretch of Hamanomachi.

Several popular sites can be found a few blocks around Hamanomachi Arcade. To the northwest, there’s the Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge). To the northeast, there’s the Chinese temple Sofukuji. In the southwest, you can check out Nagasaki’s Chinatown.