Nagasaki was ranked 17th and Okinawa 46th on the New York Times’ list of “52 Places to Go in 2026.”
The U.S. newspaper explained that, unlike Hiroshima, where the atomic bomb was dropped on the city center in August 1945, Nagasaki’s city’s central area was largely spared from destruction because the atomic bomb missed its intended target.
“As the threat of nuclear proliferation spreads around the world, travelers have a potent reason to visit,” the NYT said.
It mentioned popular tourist spots in the city, such as Glover Garden and the 800-year-old camphor tree, together with local delicacies from a long-established castella cake shop.
Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki reacted to the listing on the city’s official website on Jan. 7.
“Many of the specific tourist spots in Nagasaki introduced in the article would never have existed today if the atomic bomb had been dropped on the city center as originally intended,” he wrote. “The fact that Nagasaki was selected this time is precisely because its charming spots strongly convey the preciousness of peace to the world amid growing nuclear threats.”
The mayor added, “We will continue to promote the charm of this city and convey the reality of the damage from the atomic bombing both within Japan and to the world.”
In the article introducing Okinawa, the NYT focused on Shuri-jo Castle in the prefectural capital of Naha. The castle is scheduled to reopen in autumn, following years of reconstruction from a devastating fire in 2019.
The Japanese cities of Toyama and Osaka were selected for the NYT’s list last year, while Yamaguchi city was picked in 2024.