Sasebo

Sasebo (佐世保) is the second-largest city in Nagasaki prefecture on the island of Kyushu, Japan. It is the home of Huis ten Bosch (Hausu ten Bosu), a Dutch-themed amusement park

Understand

Sasebo is home to the U.S. Navy base, Fleet Activities Sasebo (FAS), and a base for the Japan Self-Defense Force. Sasebo is very English-ready for travels and a great place to slow down and enjoy Japan. While most Japanese cities are very busy Sasebo is calm and Japanese at the same time. The U.S. Navy has accommodation for military on base and veterans. There are about 5000 sailors and marines stationed in Sasebo and there is a designated area of Sasebo downtown known as Sailor Town. It's small and frequented by U.S. service members.

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site, which also covers nearby islands town, Ojika (小値賀).

Get in

By plane

The nearest airport is in Nagasaki (Omura Airport, 30 min to 1 hour away from Nagasaki by car) from which you can reach Sasebo by bus (80 minutes, ¥1350). Another nearby airport is in Fukuoka, from which you can reach Sasebo by bus (about 2 hours, ¥2200).

By train

Sasebo, the terminating station on the JR Omura Line, is the westernmost point on the entire Japan Railway.

Sasebo is connected to Hakata station, the last stop on the San'yo Shinkansen in Fukuoka, by the Midori limited express train. The train reaches Sasebo in 1 hr 45 min, reversing direction at Haiki station, and the trip costs ¥2350 each way if booked online up to day of departure (¥2050 if booked 3 days in advance) or ¥4500 if booked in person at a ticket counter or ticket machine (Nov 2024). While the online booking system is not yet available in English, Google Translate or a basic knowledge of Japanese is sufficient and will save you significantly. In addition, online booking allows you to obtain an e-ticket with a QR code to scan at the ticket gates and on board, saving time at the station.

Local trains from Hakata cost only ¥2070, but can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours, requiring a multiple change of trains; in which case, you're better off using the bus (see below) or spending a little more for the express train (see above). For a day trip you can also consider purchasing a JR Kyushu 1 day pass from a ticket shop for ¥3000-3500. If you still want to use the local trains, Sasebo is also connected to Nagasaki by the hourly Sea Side Liner rapid train (100 minutes, ¥1600, Nov 2024).

By bus

Frequent highway buses connect the Hakata bus terminal in Fukuoka to Sasebo (about 2 hours, ¥2310 one-way or ¥4400 return). Bus tickets can be booked online here; online booking is generally cheaper (¥2260 one-way, ¥4160 return, or ¥7180 for a set of 4 tickets usable in either direction). (Prices as of Nov 2024.)

You can also take an overnight bus from other parts of the country into Fukuoka or Nagasaki, and connect to another bus or train for the final run to Sasebo.

Get around

Downtown Sasebo and shopping arcade are easily accessible on foot. For outlying areas, bus service or taxis are recommended. Unlike other major metropolitan cities in Japan, Sasebo has no subway or train system connecting various inner city points. It also lacks the street car system of Nagasaki, therefore if you do not have a car, you will need to hire a rental vehicle, or use other resources.

See

Sasebo's most famous tourist attraction is Huis ten Bosch (Hausu ten Bosu), a Dutch-themed amusement park. A one-day passport to the park costs ¥6,100. (☏ +81 956-27-0001). Be sure to see the fireworks every evening at 20:48.

Do

Sasebo City Zoo — A small zoo that tries extremely hard at showing various types of animals, but which are common to Japan or to other zoos, e.g. an elephant, and penguins. Entrance fee is ¥300 for adults, ¥100 for school aged children, and children under 6 are free. Outside food and picnics are allowed in the zoo.
Pearl Island Resort, Sasebo Aquarium and IMAX Theater — A small shopping mall with small speciality shops and restaurants. Aquarium is small and shows animals unique to the Sasebo area and currents around Nagasaki Prefecture and surrounding Islands.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces Museum — See the glorious history of the Japanese SDF.
99 Islands tour — on a pirate ship located at Kashimai pier. There is an oyster bbq festival held on the pier in February.
SASPA (on the northwest side of Sasebo). It's a local hideout that most sailors fail to find. If you get into a taxi and ask for SASPA they will take you there. It's a traditional Japanese spa (sexes are separate) with hot, mineral, salt, and cold tubs. When you are done there are PJs you get when you arrive (for ¥500) and can eat or head up to the observation room and enjoy some quiet time. There is a movie room and a sleeping room along with pay for massages (starting at ¥2000 for 20 minutes). You can stay over night and must be out by 10:00 the next day. ¥800. (updated Nov 2024)

Buy

The famous Sasebo City spinning tops can be purchased in the shopping arcade (Yonkacho)

Eat

The most famous food in Sasebo is American-style hamburgers, owing to the influence of the US Navy in the city. They typically include a fried egg and bacon or ham. Look for restaurants that are "certified" by the Sasebo Burger Association, that way you'll know you are getting the "real" deal. Most certified shops are in the downtown Sasebo area.

Mike's Tex Mex^{[dead link]} serves superb food and is reasonably priced. Watch out though, it's small and very popular; sometimes you may have to wait outside on the bench! It can be found on the side street at the station end of the covered arcade (when facing towards the station from the arcade, the road is on your right at 45 degrees).
Skinny's Just across the Albuquerque bridge to the left, it's a small local place and any sailor can tell you how to get there. Skinny is a great cook and his fried rice and ham & egg sandwiches are tops when you are just a little hungry.
Rock & Roll Brats serves traditional American brats, beer and drinks, and coffee. The owner is American, and the staff (some of them American themselves) speak English. They have a Sasebo Brat Burger, a brat version of the local Sasebo burger. They're located in the Free Zone at the Huis ten Bosch Theme Park, a few stops on the Sea Side Liner from Sasebo.

Drink

Very roughly the city drinking establishments were divided into those catering to the Base personnel and those catering to the general populace. However the economic conditions have narrowed these distinctions considerably.

The bars for the general populace are very interesting places, and the proprietors very friendly. Although they do not profess to speak English, all of them generally do enjoy English conversations.

Sleep

There are plenty of hotels along the main street parallel to the shopping arcade (Gyoncho). Also, there is an old-school capsule hotel with sauna.

Go next

This city travel guide to Sasebo is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.