Day 2

Yanagawa, less than an hour from the city by train, is a perfect half day or leisurely day trip. The small castle town has pretty canals to explore by punt boat. A leisurely cruise offers a unique view of this historical town, drifting past traditional merchant houses and under low bridges, as your pilot entertains you with local folksongs. Feast on unagi, the local specialty: steamed eel on rice, topped with sauce and thin strips of omelet.

Day 4

Explore the charming streets of Arita, and visit  Sueyama Jinja Shrine, near Kami Arita Station. The torii gates, lanterns, even the ema (plaques for writing wishes), are made from blue and white porcelain. Relax at nearby  Takeo Onsen , a 1300-year-old hot spring town with a mix of traditional inns, modern hotels and public hot springs. Visit the spectacular  Mifuneyama Rakuen Gardens nearby, with walking trails around the mountain and lake. You can stay at the luxurious on-site inn, Onyado Chikurintei.

Day 5

Gunkanjima, (Battleship Island), officially Hashima, is a fascinating ghost town. Once an undersea coal mine that housed over 5,000 people with apartments and schools, it is now abandoned. The eerie atmosphere has inspired movies including the James Bond Skyfall. Several companies offer cruises to the island from Nagasaki Port Terminal. Spend an extra day to visit the beautiful Western-style houses built around  Glover Garden in the 1860s and stroll the streets of Dejima, an island built in 1636 to house Portuguese traders.