About the festival
Nagasaki Kunchi combines shrine offerings with performances shaped by the port city's cultural exchanges. The participating neighborhoods rotate, so the program changes by year.
Who is it for?
Travelers interested in Nagasaki's cultural exchanges and shrine performing arts.
Photo: Marine-Blue · CC BY-SA 4.0
Original date: 2012-10-09 15:24:19. Original image or Commons thumbnail; no additional edits.
Dates and times
7–9 October 2026
Upcoming confirmed edition. Times use JST. See the official programme for session times and changes.
Venue and parade route
Nagasaki · 長崎
Official stages are Suwa Shrine, the Otabisho near Ohato, Yasaka Shrine and Central Park. Niwasaki-mawari visits follow each participating neighborhood's separate route.
諏訪神社・市内踊場
The map pin marks a reference venue, rather than every entrance or the full parade route.
Getting there by train or bus
- From Hakata, connect a limited express and the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki. Use a tram toward your ticketed venue, such as Suwa-jinja for Suwa Shrine.
What to see
- Neighborhood offerings
- Rotating performances
- Port-city cultural influences
History and origins
Tradition traces the festival to a song offering at Suwa Shrine in 1634. Nagasaki's overseas connections influenced its performances.
Planning your visit
Our editorial suggestions for planning your trip.
Choose the year's participating neighborhood and venue before buying a seat; the performances are not identical each year.
Places to visit nearby
Dejima
出島
Restored trading-post buildings explaining Nagasaki's overseas exchanges.
Visit before or after a performance, allowing time to reach the correct stage.
These stops and the suggested order are editorial recommendations. Check each venue's opening hours and festival-day road closures before travelling.
Nagasaki Kunchi: common questions
When is Nagasaki Kunchi?
7–9 October 2026 These dates refer to the stated edition; they do not confirm dates for a later year. Times are Japan Standard Time (JST).
Where does Nagasaki Kunchi take place?
Official stages are Suwa Shrine, the Otabisho near Ohato, Yasaka Shrine and Central Park. Niwasaki-mawari visits follow each participating neighborhood's separate route.
How do I get to Nagasaki Kunchi by public transport?
From Hakata, connect a limited express and the Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen to Nagasaki. Use a tram toward your ticketed venue, such as Suwa-jinja for Suwa Shrine.
Will the same neighborhoods perform next year?
Neighborhoods rotate through the festival, so performers and presentations vary by year. Use the program for your travel dates.
Official sources
- Festival and visitor guide 1 (nagasaki-kunchi.com) ↗
- Festival and visitor guide 2 (nagasaki-kunchi.com) ↗
Sources reviewed: .