Gotō Islands (五島) are an archipelago in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan.

The Gotō Islands in relation to Nagasaki Prefecture.

Municipalities and islands

The main municipalities are Goto City (五島市) and Shin-kamigoto Town (新上五島町). Some fringe islands belong to Sasebo City, Ojika Town and Saikai City.

The five main islands that give name to the archipelago are (from South to North):

• Goto City
  • Fukue (福江島, Fukuejima). Biggest island both in extension and population.
  • Hisaka (久賀島, Hisakajima).
  • Naru (奈留島, Narushima).
• Shin-kamigoto Town
  • Wakamatsu (若松島, Wakamatsujima).
  • Nakadori (中通島, Nakadorijima).

Understand

Hamawaki Church, Hisaka Island.

"Gotō" means "Five Islands".

When they started spreading Christianity in Japan, priests were particularly successful in Gotō. Even when a ban on religion entered in effect, many believers did not change their faith and continued worshipping secretly for two centuries. After the ban on Christianity was lifted on the 18th century, many churches were constructed. They constitute one of the main attractions of Gotō, along with its beautiful nature and fresh produce, especially fish.

Tourist information sites

• Goto City has a multilingual guide site.

• Shin-kamigoto Town has a Japanese-only guide site. Clicking on Language>English opens a 21-page guide book in English.

Talk

If you speak to older people, you may be able to hear a little of Gotō dialect. It has some interesting variations not found in Nagasaki dialect, like:
-Min (水): water
-Min (右): right
-Min (耳): ear
-Gesakka (げさっか): vulgar or lewd person
-Baraka (ばらか): violent person, courage
-Bittsunmijoka (びっつんみじょか): cute, beautiful

Get in

You can get to Gotō by slow ferry, fast jet foil and airplane.

Ferry/Jetfoil

The ferry Manyou

Kyushu Shosen (Japanese) operates regular service between Nagasaki and Fukue, as well as some other islands. It takes 3 hr 10 min by ferry or 1 hr 25 min by jetfoil. The cost depends on the season and oil price fluctuations. For example, May 2024 fare was \4080 for ferry and \9030 for jetfoil.

The company also operates ships sailing to Kami-Gotō (north of the islands) from Sasebo.

Airplane

Fukue airport

In only 30 minutes you can fly with Oriental Air Bridge (Japanese) from Nagasaki to Fukue Airport for ¥11300, one way, and ¥19500, round trip. Flight schedule varies greatly depending on the dates (1 to 3 daily flights either way).

Stay safe

While even Fukue area can get very dark at night due to no lighting, Gotō is as safe or more as the rest of Japan. Exercise basic caution and you´ll be fine.

Go next

Your only choice to continue your trip is to get back to the Japanese mainland, either Nagasaki, Omura, or Fukuoka, by boat or plane.