Nagasaki Kunchi 2026 Confirmed

長崎くんち — Nagasaki (Kyushu)

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Nagasaki Kunchi is the autumn festival of Suwa Shrine, Nagasaki's guardian shrine, held for three days every October 7–9. Neighbourhood groups perform dances offered to the gods — many with foreign influences from the city's trading past, such as the Chinese-style dragon dance and ship floats — at the shrine, in Central Park and at the shrine's temporary seat (Otabisho), and then parade their performances through the streets.

Background

The festival is said to have begun in 1634, when two courtesans offered a Noh chant at Suwa Shrine. Its dances were designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property in 1979. Each neighbourhood performs only once every seven years, so the line-up changes every year.

Getting there

Suwa Shrine is a short walk from the Suwa-jinja tram stop on the Nagasaki Electric Tramway. Central Park and the Otabisho are in the city centre, also on the tram lines.

Tips

• Dances start early: on October 7 the first group performs at Suwa Shrine at 7:00 AM, then moves on to Central Park and the Otabisho. The official timetable for each group is on the festival site.
• The 8:10 AM performance slot in Central Park on day one is all invitation seats.
• Rain changes the order: a cancelled day-one morning performance moves to the following days, so check the official site each morning if the weather is poor.
• Outside the main venues, groups also perform door-to-door around town (niwasaki-mawari); the official site publishes a map and schedule.

Last verified against the official source: Sat, September 26, 2026