A dedicated performing art passed down at Nagasaki Kunchi, with dragon and musicians dancing in procession
Dragon Dance
The 2026 edition of Dragon Dance has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/07 〜 2026/10/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- October 7–9 / Every year
- Location
- Nagasaki Kunchi venues centered around Suwa Shrine
- Area
- Nagasaki Prefecture・Nagasaki City(From Tokyo: approx. 1 h 50 min–2 h 20 min · flight time only)Prefecture-level estimate to a main station or airport, not the venue. Airport access, check-in and onward travel are extra; remote areas and islands can take much longer.
- Highlights and activities
- Wishes behind the festival
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
The Dragon Dance presented at Nagasaki Kunchi is a traditional Nagasaki performing art in which dragon handlers and musicians portray a dragon chasing a ball. Its distinctive performance and sounds, influenced by China, add color to Suwa Shrine’s autumn grand festival.
About Dragon Dance
The Dragon Dance (Ja Odori) is a dedicated performing art at Nagasaki Kunchi, held at Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki City.
The dragon handlers and musicians perform together, depicting a serpentine dragon chasing a ball.
Passed down in connection with local festivals, it is a distinctive Nagasaki performing art that retains a strong Chinese influence.
Source: 国指定文化財等データベース
Festival highlights
A highlight is the performance in which ten dragon handlers use six-shaku poles to support the dragon’s movements as it chases a ball.
Sounds from the large drums, kakko drums, gongs, small bells, and dragon-call trumpets add to the performance, making the dragon seem to move with lifelike force.
At the 2026 Nagasaki Kunchi, Chikugo-machi is scheduled to perform the Dragon Dance as one of the festival’s dedication dances.
A dedicated performing art passed down at Nagasaki Kunchi, with dragon and musicians dancing in procession
What to expect
The performance follows sequences such as “Michiyuki,” “Zukuro,” and “Tamaoi,” depicting the dragon chasing a ball.
The dragon handlers wear Chinese-style costumes and support the dragon, while the musicians play drums, gongs, and other instruments.
At Nagasaki Kunchi, it is one of the performances that brings festive activity to the celebrations, alongside the procession and other dedicated performing arts.
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Nagasaki Kunchi venues, including Suwa Shrine.
Address: 〒850-8541 Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture (Suwa Shrine, Chuo Park, , and Yasaka Shrine).
- Train and bus
From Nagasaki Station, take the tram toward Hotarujaya to Suwa Shrine. The ride takes about 6 minutes; get off at Suwa Shrine.
For Chuo Park, get off at Meganebashi; for Otabisho, get off at Ohato; and for Yasaka Shrine, get off at Sofukuji.
Source: 長崎くんち | イベント | 【公式】長崎観光/旅行ポータルサイト ながさき旅ネット
Address 〒850-8541 Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture (Suwa Shrine, Chuo Park, Otabisho, and Yasaka Shrine)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the listed dates have passed)
Dragon dance takes place from October 7 to the 9th during Nagasaki Kunchi.
The 2026 schedule was announced for October 7 through October 9, with dragon dance scheduled to be performed as Chikugo-machi’s festival presentation.
For the specific performance times of the dedication performances, please check the information provided at each venue.
Accommodation and hotels PR
Showing nearby accommodation.
Prices and availability are current at the time of retrieval. For multi-night stays, only the first night’s price is shown. Confirm the final price and directions to the venue with the booking provider. Select your dates again when using the area search link. Search area: within 3 km of Central Nagasaki Prefecture / Nagasaki City (the search is not centered on the festival venue)
Tips for your visit
The Dragon Dance is a performing art to enjoy not only for the dragon’s movements, but also for the way the performance unfolds in unison with drums, gongs, and other accompanying instruments.
Dedicated performances at Nagasaki Kunchi take place at several venues, so it is a good idea to check the venue and time for the performance you want to see in advance.
If traveling between venues by tram, note that the nearest tram stop differs for Suwa Shrine, Chuo Park, Otabisho, and Yasaka Shrine.
Nearby attractions
Sightseeing spots near the venues include Chinzei Grand Shrine Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki Park, and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.
Other places where you can experience Nagasaki’s history and scenery include the stone bridges along the Nakashima River, Megane Bridge, and Kofukuji Temple.
You can visit cultural attractions around Nagasaki City alongside watching the Dragon Dance.
グラバー園
長崎県長崎市南山手町にある観光施設
シーボルト記念館
長崎県長崎市にある博物館
三菱重工業長崎造船所史料館
長崎県長崎市にある企業博物館
出島資料館
長崎県長崎市にある出島の歴史資料館
南山手十六番館
長崎県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
国立長崎原爆死没者追悼平和祈念館
日本の長崎県長崎市にある追悼施設
外海歴史民俗資料館
長崎県の博物館・美術館のスポットです。
山王神社
長崎県長崎市にある神社
平和公園
長崎市の公園
日本二十六聖人記念館
長崎県長崎市にある博物館
写真：No machine-readable author provided. Fk assumed (based on copyright claims). / CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo source ·
旧長崎税関下り松派出所
長崎県長崎市にある歴史的建造物
旧香港上海銀行長崎支店
香港上海銀行の旧長崎支店を引き継いだ記念館
Origins and History of Dragon Dance
The Dragon Dance is said to have developed after Chinese performing arts were introduced to Nagasaki, in connection with the Chinese settlement of Tojin Yashiki.
The Cultural Properties of Japan database explains that it arose after Tojin Yashiki was established in the Genroku era of the Edo period.
The Nagasaki Tourist Dragon Dance Association also notes that records show it took part in Suwa Shrine’s annual festival during the Kyoho era, and describes how the performance was refined over many years into its present form.
Official information
Official information about Nagasaki Kunchi is available on the website of the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association.
The Cultural Properties of Japan database also includes information about the Dragon Dance itself as a cultural property.
Dragon Dance at a Glance
The Dragon Dance is a distinctive traditional Nagasaki performing art presented at Nagasaki Kunchi, expressing the movements of a dragon and a ball.
Ten dragon handlers perform to the accompaniment of drums, gongs, and other instruments, evoking an exotic atmosphere and a sense of power.
At Nagasaki Kunchi in 2026, the Dragon Dance is scheduled to be presented as Chikugo-machi’s performance from October 7 through the 9th.
Japanese Festivals.jp Editorial Team
Celebrating local culture and helping you discover a side of Japan you never knew.
Article updated: 2026/10/19
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