Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

Nagasaki Kunchi is a festival dedicated to Suwa Shrine, held each year on 7, 8, and 9 October, dating back to 1634 when it was first officially established. It is notable throughout Japan for its unique multicultural character: Nagasaki was for two centuries Japan’s only open port during the Edo period, and the city’s Chinese and Dutch trading heritage is visibly embedded in the festival’s performances. Dragon boat dances (jaryuu odori), a recreation of a Dutch sailing ship, and Chinese-style lion dances are performed alongside more conventional Japanese festival elements. The festival is designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan.

The Performances

The festival rotates performances among Nagasaki’s 59 neighbourhoods (cho), with each cho performing on a cycle of approximately seven years. In any given year, around seven to eight cho present their dedicated performances (dedication dances, or homonocho). The programme varies by year, but certain performances are reliably among the most anticipated.

The jaryuu odori (dragon boat dance) is the centrepiece that most people associate with Nagasaki Kunchi: a large dragon — up to 18 metres long — is carried by a team of performers who move it through a prescribed pattern of circular movements, imitating a dragon swimming in water, while another performer sprays water with a ball on a string in front of its mouth. The dragon represents Chinese maritime tradition and has been part of the festival since the early Edo period.

The Oranda-mansen (Dutch ship float) features a model of a Dutch trading vessel carried by participants in European-style costume, reflecting the specific history of Dutch-Japanese trade through Dejima island in Nagasaki harbour. The Chinese lion dances (karashishi) and other performances each represent a different strand of the city’s historical connections.

Where to Watch

Performances take place at multiple locations throughout the city, beginning at Suwa Shrine on the morning of 7 October and moving through a series of performance squares (hiroba) on each day. The main hiroba include Suwa Shrine, Yasaka Shrine, Ohato terminal, and the Nagasaki Prefectural Government grounds. Tickets for seated viewing in the hiroba are sold in advance; the best seats at popular venues sell out quickly. Standing and free viewing is possible at a distance. Check the official Nagasaki Kunchi website for the 2026 hiroba schedule and ticket purchase dates.

Getting There

Nagasaki is on the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen from Hakata (Fukuoka), journey time approximately 30 minutes. October is one of Nagasaki’s most comfortable months weather-wise (typically 18-24°C). See our Nagasaki guide for accommodation options.