Traditional Nagasaki dedication performances in a vibrant blend of cultures
Nagasaki Kunchi
The 2026 edition of Nagasaki Kunchi has ended.
Festival information
EVENT INFORMATION- Dates
- 2026/10/07 〜 2026/10/09Ended
- Season / frequency
- October 7–9 / Every year
- Location
- Suwa Shrine, Central Park, , and Yasaka 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
- Participation / viewing
- Spectators welcome
- Participation fee
- Tickets must be purchased in advance for reserved seating. You can also watch from free viewing areas.
- Official website / social media
- Official website
- Last updated
- 2026/10/19
Nagasaki Kunchi is a traditional event in Nagasaki City, passed down as the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine. Colorful dedication dances, floats, and processions are presented at venues around the city and throughout its streets, offering a close-up experience of Nagasaki’s distinctive Wakaran culture.
About Nagasaki Kunchi
Nagasaki Kunchi is the autumn festival of Chinzei Grand Shrine Suwa, the tutelary shrine of Nagasaki City.
Dedication dances blending Chinese, Western, and Japanese cultures are presented, offering a taste of Nagasaki’s distinctive Wakaran culture.
The festival is centered on Suwa Shrine, with events also held at Central Park, Otabisho, Yasaka Shrine, and other locations, and the festivities extend into the city streets.
Source: 長崎くんち | イベント | 長崎市公式観光サイト「travel nagasaki」 / 初めての長崎観光決定版！人気スポット・定番グルメ・絶景・イベント情報 | 観光特集 | 長崎市公式観光サイト「travel nagasaki」
Festival highlights
A highlight is the wide variety of performances presented by the odori-cho.
Floats, which are fitted with wheels and pulled by large groups of people, move with a powerful flourish as the sound of their wheels blends with that of the stone-paved streets.
With Taikoyama and Shachidaiko, large groups of carriers bear the performance structures and display daring feats, tossing them into the air and clapping in rhythm.
The festival is also enlivened by spectators calling out “Motte Koi!”
Traditional Nagasaki dedication performances in a vibrant blend of cultures
What to expect
During the festival, dedication dances are performed at 4 locations: Suwa Shrine, Central Park, Otabisho, and Yasaka Shrine.
After completing their dedications, each odori-cho presents short dances and festival music during , visiting businesses, government offices, private homes, and other places in central Nagasaki.
Mikoshi processions and umbrella-pole parades also take place during the festival, and you can enjoy the festivities while looking for performances around the city.
Source: 長崎くんちナビ2026 / 本番５ヶ月前から見どころたくさん！ 長崎くんちの歩き方 | 観光特集 | 長崎市公式観光サイト「travel nagasaki」
How to take part
Visitors can watch the event.
参加費：有料席はチケットの事前購入が必要です。
You can also watch from free viewing areas.
Location and access
- Venue and address
Held at Suwa Shrine, Central Park, Otabisho, and Yasaka Shrine (Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture).
- Train and bus
From Nagasaki Station, take the streetcar: for Suwa Shrine, take the Hotarujaya-bound tram for about 6 minutes and get off at Suwa ; for Central Park, transfer at Shinchi Chinatown and get off at Meganebashi; for Otabisho, get off at Ohamaguchi; and for Yasaka Shrine, get off at Sofukuji.
- By car
In 2026, major traffic restrictions will be in effect in central Nagasaki and around Yasaka Shrine and Suwa Shrine.
Source: 【交通規制】令和8年長崎くんち開催に伴う交通規制について | お知らせ | 長崎市公式観光サイト「travel nagasaki」
Address 〒850-8541 Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture (Suwa Shrine, Central Park, Otabisho, and Yasaka Shrine)
Dates and season
2026 event information (the dates listed have passed)
The 2026 Nagasaki Kunchi was listed as scheduled to take place over 3 days, from October 7 through the 9th.
For Reiwa 8, Uemachi, Chikugo-machi, Motoshiromachi, Imakago-machi, Kajiya-machi, and Aburaya-machi are listed as the participating odori-cho.
Dedication dances and performances by each neighborhood are presented.
Source: 指定催しの指定 - 長崎市ウェブサイト（消防局 予防課）
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
If you plan to watch performances from reserved seating, you need to buy tickets in advance.
You can also watch from free areas, but they can be crowded due to the festival’s popularity.
In 2026, major traffic restrictions will be in effect in central Nagasaki and around the shrines, so consider using public transportation such as the streetcar and allow plenty of time for travel.
Source: 나가사키 군치 | 이벤트 | DISCOVER NAGASAKI/일본 나가사키현 공식 관광 홈페이지
Nearby attractions
Near the venues are Chinzei Grand Shrine Suwa and the Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture.
The Nakashima River stone bridges, Meganebashi Bridge, and Tōmyōzan Kōfukuji Temple are also listed as attractions in central Nagasaki.
These spots can be combined with visits to the festival’s dedication venues and the city streets where Niwasaki-mawari takes place, offering a chance to explore the area’s history and culture.
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 Nagasaki Kunchi
Nagasaki Kunchi is said to have begun in 1634. The dedication dances are said to have originated when 2 courtesans performed the Noh song “Komai” before the deity at Suwa Shrine.
With the cooperation of the Nagasaki magistrate, the festival gradually grew more elaborate.
Each odori-cho takes its turn presenting a dedication dance once every 7 years, carrying on a long tradition.
Official information
For official information, visit the Nagasaki Kunchi website of the Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association.
The Nagasaki Kunchi Navi also provides information on the 2026 schedule and the performances taking place on the day.
Nagasaki Kunchi at a Glance
Nagasaki Kunchi is one of Nagasaki City’s signature traditional events, held as the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine.
Dedication dances, floats, -yama, mikoshi processions, and more, blending Chinese, Western, and Japanese cultures, take place at 4 venues and throughout the city.
In 2026, the festival will be held from October 7 through the 9th, so it is important to secure seats in advance and prepare for crowds.
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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