Nagasaki Kunchi Festival

Held annually on October 7, 8, and 9, the Nagasaki Kunchi Festival (長崎くんち) is the city’s most famous event, with a history spanning nearly 400 years. Although it began as a traditional Japanese autumn festival, certain aspects such as the “garden showing” (庭見せ, niwa-mise)—a reminder of the era when public displays of Shinto loyalty were used to identify “hidden” Christians following the Shimabara Uprising of 1637—have been deeply influenced by the history of Nagasaki. It is registered as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property.

The festival is centered around Suwa Shrine but held at multiple venues throughout the city. The highlight is the Hono Odori (dedicatory dances), with the 59 districts of the city performing in rotation once every seven years. These performances often showcase Nagasaki’s unique international heritage, featuring heavy influences from Chinese, Portuguese, and Dutch cultures. The four main stages are Suwa Shrine, the Otabisho, Yasaka Shrine, and the Nagasaki City Hall plaza.

A distinctive aspect of the experience is the “Motte-koi” call—an enthusiastic encore shout from the audience that requires the performers to bring their massive floats or dragons back into the arena for an additional high-energy display. While the tiered masu-seki (box seats) are sold in sets of four and often sell out via lottery in August, limited free standing room is available at the back of the venues. To secure these free spots, spectators typically need to arrive several hours before the first performance at sunrise (7:00 AM), as the shrines are cleared of pedestrians between each scheduled dance set.