Immerse yourself in history and unique culture. Enjoy a trip to Sasebo, Kujukushima, and Kuroshima in Nagasaki without renting a car

A gourmet walking course in downtown Sasebo

Sasebo city has a history of flourishing as a military port, and has developed in a unique way with a mixture of American and Japanese culture. It is filled with culture that you won't find in other cities, such as hamburgers from the US Navy, "lemon steak" which is a Japanese version of an American steak, and jazz bars where English is spoken everywhere.

Near Sasebo Station, we recommend a gourmet stroll around "Tunnel Yokocho," where you can eat and drink inside an air raid shelter, and the long arcade that stretches for about 1 km and is lined with numerous shops.

Don't miss the Sasebo Burger! Popular local restaurant "BigMan"

The American culture of the hamburger first came to Sasebo around 1950. It started with a recipe learned directly from the US Navy, and at the time, there were many hamburger shops lined up outside the base, mainly in the foreign bar district.

Since then, the hamburger has been adapted to the Sasebo style and is still preserved as a traditional flavor in this area.

Among the approximately 30 Sasebo burger restaurants in the city, BigMan is particularly popular. Since its establishment in 1970, this burger restaurant has been loved by Sasebo residents and has four locations in the city.

We want our customers to be able to enjoy our products safely and deliciously, so we take great care in making our buns, bacon, and other products using carefully selected ingredients in our own factory.

The Sasebo Burger King uses 100g of cherry wood smoked bacon, which takes approximately 120 hours to prepare, and is the only item to bear the name Sasebo Burger since the restaurant opened in 1970.

BigMan Kamigyomachi Main Store

Walk (Time required: approx. 5 minutes)

Eat your way through "Tono Market Street and Tunnel Yokocho"

Tono Ichiba Street has been loved as the kitchen of Sasebo citizens since the Taisho era. On both sides of the 200m long street, there are stores selling fresh foods such as meat and fish, tempura, kamaboko, and household goods.

This is a spot where you can experience Sasebo's food culture and human kindness, such as Tunnel Yokocho, where a row of shops are lined up in places that used to be bomb shelters during wartime.

Tono Market Street and Tunnel Alley

Walk (Time required: approx. 5 minutes)

Searching for souvenirs at the Saruku City 4○3 Arcade

"Saruku City 4○3 Arcade" is the collective name for the 4 in Shikamachi Shopping Street, the ○ in Sasebo Tamaya, and the 3 in Mikkamachi Shopping Street. It runs through seven towns in the city center, stretching for about 1km, making it one of the longest straight arcades in Japan.

From long-standing favorites among locals to trendy cafes, the old and the new mix together, making it a place you can enjoy regardless of the weather. This lively shopping street has garnered attention nationwide.

Saruku City 4○3 Arcade

Walk (Time required: approx. 10 minutes)

Enjoy the lemon steak that originated in Sasebo at "Hakujuji Parlour (Porto Sohonpo)"

Lemon steak, like the Sasebo burger, is a gourmet dish that originated in Sasebo. After the war, when the US military base was established and many US naval personnel came to the area, many American steak restaurants opened in the area.

So, based on the idea of creating an easy-to-eat steak that would suit the Japanese palate, thinly sliced beef was prepared with a soy sauce-based lemon-flavored sauce, and even today there are many famous lemon steak restaurants in Sasebo city.

The Sasebo way is to mix rice with the remaining sauce and eat it.

The lemon steak at Hakujuji Parlour (Porto Sohonpo) is made from domestic Wagyu beef topped with a generous amount of special lemon steak sauce and served sizzling on a hot iron plate.

The lemon steak sauce is made using a unique method with soy sauce as the base, and garlic and lemon juice are added. The savory soy sauce and garlic aroma whet your appetite, while the lemon gives it a refreshing taste. This restaurant is also popular with tourists.

Hakujuji Parlour (Porto Sohonpo)

Experience Nagasaki culture at a jazz bar and foreigner bar at night

In the mid-1950s, Sasebo was filled with sailors, and there were many halls, cabarets, and clubs, attracting over 200 jazz musicians from all over the country. Even now, there are many places in the city where you can enjoy live jazz performances.

This bar for foreigners opened around the time the US Navy base was established in Sasebo. You can enjoy a Little America Sasebo night surrounded by English and cheerful laughter. The cash-on-delivery style will make you feel even more like you're in America.

Guided tours of these bars are also popular. If you plan on visiting, we recommend checking the social media accounts of each establishment to see what live shows they have in store.

Jazz and Foreigner Bar

The Sasebo area is filled with the rich sea and unique culture. Choose your favorite itinerary and experience the charms of each area.

*Some content was updated on May 20, 2022.

Related article

A trip to Hasami, the town of pottery, to "discover pottery"

With more time being spent at home, many people may have started ordering slightly more luxurious gourmet food or decorating their rooms with flowers. For those who enjoy "improving the quality of their lives" in this way, we would like to suggest a "journey to discover tableware."

ontrip.jal.co.jp

JAL Hometown Support Team Walks the World Heritage Pilgrimage Route in Nagasaki and Amakusa

JAL Hometown Support Team [Nagasaki Prefecture] Cabin Attendants Naito and Tanaka
Hello everyone!
We are Naito and Tanaka, flight attendants in charge of Nagasaki Prefecture on the JAL Hometown Support Team.
In July 2018, the hidden Christian sites in Nagasaki and the Amakusa region were registered as a World Heritage Site.
In conjunction with this, a World Heritage Pilgrimage Route in the Nagasaki and Amakusa regions was established in 2021.
This time, we will introduce Pilgrimage Route 8, "The Pioneer Migration Road to the New World" (Arikawa to Kashiragashima) in Shinkamigoto Town. The goal is the village of Kashiragashima, one of the constituent assets of the World Heritage Site.
(Courtesy of Nagasaki Prefecture)
Shinkamigoto Town, where ancient stone culture remains...

ontrip.jal.co.jp