Nagasaki Kunchi: A Dedication Festival of Nagasaki Suwa Shrine with Dragon Dances and Snake Dances

Nagasaki Kunchi is the autumn grand festival of Suwa Shrine, the guardian shrine of the whole of Nagasaki City. A historic festival that has continued since 1634, it is also designated a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. The great highlight is its distinctive performances (dashimono), which fuse the foreign cultures of China, the Netherlands and elsewhere in a way possible only in the trading port of Nagasaki. Among them, the spirited "dragon dance (ja-odori)" is an overwhelming traditional performing art that colors autumn in Nagasaki. It is also counted as one of "Kyushu's Three Great Festivals" alongside Hakata Gion Yamakasa and Karatsu Kunchi.

What Nagasaki Kunchi Is

Nagasaki Kunchi is a dedication festival held at Suwa Shrine from October 7 to 9 every year. "Kunchi" is the name for autumn festivals in northern Kyushu, and it is said to originate in festivals giving thanks for the harvest. Its distinctive feature is the gorgeous performances that strongly reflect the cultures of China and the Netherlands, something possible only in Nagasaki, which flourished as an international trading port. It is a traditional rite that Nagasaki takes pride in, handed down for more than 380 years.

The Power of the Dragon Dance

The performance that represents Nagasaki Kunchi is the "dragon dance (ja-odori)," which has its origins in China. A large team of bearers manipulates a dragon with a long body, making it undulate as though chasing a ball. Amid the sound of gongs and drums, the sight of the dragon leaping and twisting is full of power. It has become such a signature part of the festival that the audience's shouts of "Motte koi!" call for encore after encore.

A Wide Variety of Dedication Dances

Besides the dragon dance, Nagasaki Kunchi has a wide variety of performances. Each town (odori-cho) dedicates an ingeniously devised performance, such as the "kawafune" and "goshuinsen" modeled on splendid ships, and the spinning kasaboko parasol floats. Because a town's turn comes around only once every several years, each performance is special to that year alone. The many glittering and powerful dedication dances captivate all who see them.

Characteristics of Performances (Dashimono)

The greatest characteristic of Nagasaki Kunchi is "dashimono (performances)" incorporating foreign culture from China, the Netherlands, and others. Various neighborhoods create and dedicate their own performances including "dragon dance (ja-odori, Chinese culture)," "snake dance," "nanban ship (Portuguese and Spanish ships)," "oranda manzai (Dutch manzai)," and "vermilion seal ships." The "Kokko-desho (Taiwa-yama)" where the bearers spin intensely and the dynamic movements of dragon dances are particularly popular.

Best Season and Access

Nagasaki Kunchi is usually held from October 7 to 9. During this period the streets of Nagasaki are filled with the heat of the festival. For access, take a streetcar or similar from JR Nagasaki Station to Suwa Shrine. Some viewing places require a ticket for the sajiki tiered seating, but at the "niwasaki-mawari" performances around town you can enjoy the dashimono for free. Do experience for yourself this traditional festival that colors autumn in Nagasaki. Since Nagasaki Kunchi has many venues, confirming performance schedules in advance and planning a viewing plan is recommended. Inn and hotel reservations within the city need to be made early.

Practical Information for the Festival (2026)

• Dates: October 7, 2026 (Maeb, Wednesday) / October 8 (Nakabi, Thursday) / October 9 (Atobi, Friday)
• Odori-cho and performances for 2026: Imagago-machi (kasaboko, hon-odori) / Aburaya-machi (kasaboko, kawafune) / Motofuna-machi (kasaboko, Tosen Matsuri) / Uwa-machi (kasaboko, Uwa-machi Kokko-desho) / Kajiya-machi (kasaboko, takarabune, Seven Lucky Gods) / Chikugo-machi (kasaboko, dragon dance)
• Odoriba (venues): Suwa Shrine (Kaminishiyama-machi, Nagasaki City), Chuo Park Kunchi Viewing Ground, Otabisho (Motofuna-machi, Nagasaki City), Yasaka Shrine (Kajiya-machi, Nagasaki City)
• Performance times (30 minutes per town, about 3 hours in total for all six towns)
• October 7, morning: Suwa Shrine 7:00 Imagago-machi / 7:30 Aburaya-machi / 8:00 Motofuna-machi / 8:30 Uwa-machi / 9:00 Kajiya-machi / 9:30 Chikugo-machi (then touring in the order Chuo Park, Otabisho)
• October 7, evening: Suwa Shrine 16:00 to 18:30 (same order, at 30-minute intervals), then Chuo Park
• October 8: Yasaka Shrine 7:00 Kajiya-machi / 7:30 Chikugo-machi / 8:00 Uwa-machi / 8:30 Aburaya-machi / 9:00 Imagago-machi / 9:30 Motofuna-machi (then Chuo Park)
• October 9: Otabisho from 7:00 (then Suwa Shrine)
• Viewing tickets (operation and sales differ by venue)
• Chuo Park Kunchi Viewing Ground: front-row chair seat 7,000 yen / stand S seat 6,500 yen / stand A seat 4,500 yen / wheelchair seat 7,000 yen (sold as a pair of two including a helper, 14,000 yen). All seats are reserved bench seating and there is no child rate (children under 2 may sit on a lap). On sale from 10:00 on August 3, via Ticket Pia and Seven-Eleven in-store terminals (P-code 661-095). Note: there are no counter sales or telephone sales
• Suwa Shrine: masu box seats (one box seats four) S seat 36,000 yen / A seat 30,000 yen / B seat 24,000 yen / C seat 18,000 yen; standing room is sold on the day at 1,500 yen per person. Individual sales are available only for B and C seats. Sales start at 7:00 on June 7 (office) / 9:30 on June 10 (online) / 10:00 on June 10 (telephone, TEL 095-821-8596). The Nagasaka steps facing the performance ground are opened as free viewing seating, but you need a "Nagasaka numbered ticket" allocated by advance application and lottery
• Otabisho: masu box seats (all seats with cushions, seating four) S seat 24,000 yen / A seat 22,000 yen / B seat 20,000 yen. Telephone reception is July 13 to 17, 13:00 to 16:00 (TEL 095-823-9073), and advance reservation is required
• Yasaka Shrine: masu box seats (seating four) S seat 30,000 yen / A seat 28,000 yen / B seat 26,000 yen. Online reservations from 9:00 on June 10; telephone reservations from June 18 onward on weekdays 9:00 to 16:00 (TEL 095-822-6750)
• Stalls: many stalls line the area around the Otabisho
• In case of rain: if the dedication dance cannot be performed at a venue, the schedule is rearranged. If the first day's morning session cannot be held it is postponed to the following day or later; if the first day's evening session cannot be held it moves to the middle day; and if the middle day's morning session cannot be held it is performed on the final day after the Otabisho and Suwa Shrine, in the order Chuo Park (starting 9:30) and Yasaka Shrine (starting 10:30). If you cancel because of a schedule change, half of the viewing fee is refunded (the procedure differs by venue)
• Choosing a seat: the organizers themselves note that "the performance ground at Suwa Shrine is very popular with ardent Kunchi fans, and getting a good seat is a struggle." The Otabisho is on flat ground facing Nagasaki Port, has good bus and train connections and many stalls, so it suits first-time visitors

*Car parks, temporary toilets and traffic restrictions for 2026 have not been published officially.*

(Source: Nagasaki Kunchi official site (Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association))