About this Stay
Sasebo city in Nagasaki Prefecture is surrounded by mountains to the east and west. Among the three north–south mountain ridges on the western side, the southernmost and closest to the sea is Mount Yumihari (364 meters above sea level). It is a well-known scenic spot within Saikai National Park, offering panoramic views of Sasebo Port and the Kujukushima (Ninety-Nine Islands).
The resort hotel where we stayed this time, Yumiharino-Oka Hotel, stands halfway up Mount Yumihari. The views of the sea and the city are outstanding, and the night scenery was equally impressive. The buildings are arranged around a central swimming pool, creating a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere where we could unwind at a leisurely pace.
At the breakfast buffet, a wide variety of dishes were available, including Nagasaki’s famous castella sponge cake and Goto udon. The hotel’s signature dish is its French toast.
After checking out, we also visited the Yumihari Observatory, located near the summit of Mount Yumihari.
From in front of Sasebo Station
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Shuttle Bus Stop
This is JR Sasebo Station. A free shuttle bus to Yumihari no Oka Hotel operates from in front of Sasebo Station, so we first came here.
In front of the Station
This is the area in front of Sasebo Station. Since Sasebo is home to a U.S. Navy base, you can also see Americans around the city.
Sasebo Port
This is the view of Sasebo Port near Sasebo Station.
It serves as a ferry terminal for destinations such as Nagasaki, the Goto Islands, and Saikai City.
Inside the Hotel
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Hotel Entrance
We arrived at Yumihari no Oka Hotel. This is the main entrance.
The entrance and front desk are located on the 5th floor of the five-story hotel, while the guest rooms are on floors 1 through 4.
Entrance to the Lobby
This is the entrance to the front lobby.
Near the Front Desk
This is a sofa seating area near the front desk on the 5th floor.
Lounge (1)
This is the café bar lounge on the same floor as the front lobby on the 5th floor. Normally, guests can enjoy drinks here, but as of December 2020, the lounge was closed due to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The view of Sasebo city and the harbor from the windows is beautiful. It is a wonderful location.
Lounge (2)
This is the bar counter of the café bar lounge.
Reception
This is the reception counter.
Christmas Tree
A Christmas tree was decorated in the front lobby.
Pool and Chapel
This is the pool located on the 4th floor of the hotel. You can go down to it via an outdoor staircase from the 5th-floor lobby.
The building with the cross visible beyond the staircase is the chapel.
Gate with a Bell
This is a gate with a bell by the pool on the 4th floor. Perhaps the bride and groom pass through here on their way to the chapel.
Views from the Hotel
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View from in Front of the Lobby
This is the view from the deck in front of the lobby on the 5th floor. What can be seen in Sasebo Port appears to be shipyards and a U.S. Navy base. In the foreground, the city spreads out.
Kujukushima Seen from the Terrace
This is the view of Kujukushima, a famous scenic spot of Saikai National Park, as seen from the terrace on the 5th floor.
Cityscape and Kujukushima from the Terrace
This is the view of the city and Kujukushima as seen from the terrace on the 5th floor of the hotel.
Sasebo City at Dusk
This was taken as the sun was setting.
Night View of the City
The night view from the hotel is also very beautiful.
Morning Glow
This is the scene of the morning glow.
Morning View
This is the morning view of the city and harbor bathed in the morning sun.
Breakfast
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Buffet
This is the breakfast venue. All items were individually wrapped.
The food containers and even the dressing packets were neatly arranged.
Table with a Beautiful View
I carried my food and sat down at the table.
The view from the large windows is wonderful.
Breakfast I Enjoyed
This is the breakfast I enjoyed. It was nice to be able to try a wide variety of dishes.
- • Goto Udon
- • French toast (a specialty of this hotel)
- • Curry
- • Scrambled eggs
- • Simmered fish
- • Five kinds of bread
- • Castella sponge cake
- • Salad
To Yumihari-dake Observatory
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Departing the Hotel
After checking out of the hotel, I headed up to the Yumihari Observatory located near the summit of Mt. Yumihari.
Heading for the Summit
This is the road as I climbed up the mountain.
Yumihari-dake First Observatory
This is the First Yumihari-dake Observatory.
It was designed by structural designer Yoshikatsu Tsuboi (1907–1990) and is famous for its massive triangular roof inspired by the shape of a bow.
To reach the observation deck, there are these stairs as well as a spiral ramp on the left.
Spiral Ramp to the Observatory
This is the long spiral ramp leading up to the First Observatory.
View from the Observatory (1)
Once you reach the top of the observatory, you can enjoy a beautifully clear view of Sasebo city and its harbor.
- • JR Sasebo Station
- • Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force facilities
- • U.S. Navy Sasebo Base
- • Arkas Sasebo (concert hall), etc.
View from the Observatory (2)
This is another view of the same scenery from the observatory.
Poem by Kojiro Yoshida (1)
There is a stone monument dedicated to Kojiro Yoshida (1886–1956), a novelist and essayist who spent his youth in Sasebo and later served as a professor in the Faculty of Literature at Waseda University, publishing many literary works.
The poem inscribed here (shown on the next slide) is a nostalgic verse expressing his longing for Sasebo while living in Tokyo.
Poem by Kojiro Yoshida (2)
The nostalgic poem by Kojiro Yoshida is engraved on this stone.
“How dearly I miss the spring mountains of my hometown, As I stand alone amid the snow of Musashino.”
Kujukushima Eight Scenic Views
This illustration shows the Kujukushima Eight Scenic Views, selected from locations nominated by local residents as their favorite viewpoints of the Kujukushima Islands. Yumihari-dake Observatory is one of them.
Remains of a Fortress Gun Emplacement
These are the remains of a fortress gun emplacement from the Pacific War era.
Sasebo became a major base of the former Imperial Japanese Navy with the establishment of a naval district in 1889, and fortifications and artillery batteries were built here for air defense.
Distant View
The weather was clear on this day as well, allowing for beautiful long-distance views.
To Sasebo City Center
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Walking Down to the City
Instead of taking the shuttle bus, I walked from Mt. Yumihari down to Sasebo city. Until I reached the urban area, there were many stretches with hardly anyone around, which made me feel a bit uneasy.
Residential Area
This is a view of a residential neighborhood I passed while walking from Mt. Yumihari toward the city.
Hillside Neighborhood
This is another scene from the walk down from Mt. Yumihari into the city.
The stairs are quite steep. Many homes are built even on slopes like this.
Sasebo City
I finally made my way down into the streets of Sasebo.
Sunplaza Sasebo Sangaicho Shopping Arcade
I arrived at the Sunplaza Sasebo Sangaicho Shopping Arcade.
