Huis Ten Bosch

Background

Huis Ten Bosch is at 1-1 Huis Ten Bosch-cho, Sasebo City, Nagasaki Prefecture, in the Hario Island area on the shore of Omura Bay, and opened on 25 March 1992. Its name comes from Huis ten Bosch Palace in the Netherlands and means "house in the woods". Besides the replica palace and garden, the park has a building modelled on Gouda Town Hall and the 105-metre Dom Tower, and canal boats run between the districts. The Dutch theme has roots in history: trade between the Netherlands and Japan began in 1609, when a Dutch trading post opened in Hirado.

Local customs

• Stroll along the canals to see the Dutch streetscape, and ride a canal boat linking the districts
• climb the Dom Tower for a view over the park
• visit the palace museum and the seasonal flower shows, and see the illuminations at night
• stay in a hotel inside the park and stretch a one-day visit into two.

Travel tips

• The park is large, so allow a whole day and wear comfortable walking shoes
• ticket prices and charges for individual attractions follow the officially published information
• protect yourself from the sun in summer and dress warmly for night visits in winter. Take the JR Omura Line to Huis Ten Bosch Station to reach the park, or come by boat from Nagasaki Airport
• check the officially published routes.
• Spring flower shows, summer canals and flower beds, cool autumn walks and winter night illuminations make the park worth visiting all year round.