Explore the Kujukushima Islands by land and sea, an enlightening experience that will highlight their extraordinary natural beauty. As you will see, the best view of Kujukushima’s islands is from the Tenkaiho Observatory Tower, which offers a 180-degree perspective of dozens of the more than 200 islands that make up the archipelago.

For a closer look at the islands, you will board a boat at the Kujukushsima Pearl Sea Resort and cruise through the archipelago, which is a national park. Only four of the islands are inhabited, which has kept the area pristine and environmentally sound. The islands are so undeveloped and photogenic that they were shown in the opening scenes of the movie “The Last Samurai,” which was set in 1876.

Back on land, you will stop to observe the sea from Saikai Bridge, which connects Sasebo to Nagasaki. It is a magnificent setting as more than 1,000 cherry trees surround the bridge.

Delve into the fascinating history of Hirado, a now rather forgotten island that was once a thriving trade center thanks to its proximity to the Asian mainland. The Dutch East India Company set up a trading post there during the early 1600s, and you will see a replica of one of the warehouses from that time. Exhibits in the museum inside the warehouse present a collection of armor, paintings and historical documents that detail the Japanese-Dutch trade relations. Japan banned Christianity in the early Edo Period and the ban wasn’t lifted until the late 1800s.

You will visit two churches built shortly afterwards—St. Francis Xavier Memorial and the red-brick Romanesque-style Tabira Church. The latter is considered one of architect Tetsukawa Yosuke’s greatest masterpieces and the Japanese government has deemed it an official cultural asset. Time will also be allotted for you to enjoy the serenity of an urban park while pausing for photos.

Gain a broad understanding of the area in and around Sasebo through attractions that highlight its extraordinary porcelain and natural beauty.

Mifuneyama Rakuen is a particularly lovely floral landscape, as it features a colorful floating garden, thousands of cherry trees and an outstanding view of Mt. Mifune. While you may find porcelain while stopping briefly to shop, you will behold some of the absolute finest examples of it at a gallery that honors famed 19th-century porcelain craftsman Chuji Fukagawa.

Fukagawa’s treasured vase that won a gold medal at the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris is encased in glass. The first porcelain produced in Japan was made in nearby Arita, a legendary town for potters since the 17th century. The craftsmen donated the white porcelain torii archway at Tozan Shrine and it has become the town’s beloved symbol. While meandering about the shrine, you can also expect to see unusual porcelain statues and porcelain plaques on which visitors write prayers.

Enjoy hours of free time in Huis Ten Bosch, a meticulously manicured theme park that is a re-creation of a quaint Dutch town. Named for the royal palace in the Hague, Huis Ten Bosch is a sincere homage to the Dutch, who opened a Dutch East India Company trading office nearby in the 17th century.

While wandering about the canals, you may see a replica of the palace, clusters of windmills, fields of colorful tulips and every other imaginable Dutch icon. As you might expect, large areas of the park are devoted to shopping, entertainment and restaurants. More unusual aspects include the horror-themed Thriller City, where you might ramble through a digital haunted mansion.

There is truly something for everyone, including a carousel, porcelain museum, robot kingdom and virtual-reality fishing. Perhaps the best place to start your adventure is atop the Domtoren observation platform, which offers a sweeping view of this wonderfully bizarre theme park.

See how some of the most definitive products of Sasebo are made, starting with a behind-the-scenes tour of Umegae Sake Brewery. This traditional brewery has been producing high-quality sake since 1787, and you will observe the process firsthand. A tasting will showcase the attributes that make this brand of sake so desirable throughout Japan.

The town of Mikawachi is known for porcelain adorned with landscape paintings, which has been made there since the 16th century. While browsing the porcelain exhibits in a museum in town, be sure to notice the most distinguishing characteristics, which include fine-grained snow-white porcelain with a delicate underglaze of blue. Incense burners, plates and bowls are among the items that are produced using traditional techniques. Hasami-yaki produces a porcelain that is quite different but no less magnificent. In part, the porcelain tableware has remained extraordinarily popular through the centuries because the designs change with the times.