The Nagasaki Kunchi (長崎くんち) is the festival of Suwa Shrine, held annually in Nagasaki on October 7-9. The festival has been celebrated for about 400 years and incorporates different aspects of Chinese and Dutch cultures, which have played a role in the city's history. The festival's name is believed to come from ku-nichi ("9th day"), the ninth day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar.

The festival's highlights are the dance and show performances by groups representing Nagasaki's various city districts. Each district (odori-cho), participates only once every seven years, so this festival remains fresh to even the regular viewer.

About five to seven groups perform each year, presenting traditional Japanese dances, Chinese influenced dragon dances or performances involving large floats, many of which are shaped like ships. While some performances are calm and peaceful, others get wild and hectic.

Performances are held at four main venues with paid seating and/or standing areas in the morning and evening of October 7 and in the mornings of October 8 and 9. The four main stages are Suwa Shrine, Otabisho, Yasaka Shrine and Chuo Koen.

Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible for the average foreign tourist to purchase tickets for paid seating because they sell out quickly several weeks before the event through sales channels that require Japanese language skills. However, at some of the main venues, it is possible to take a glimpse at the performances without a ticket, but these areas tend to get very crowded, and people arrive early to capture the best spots.

Performances are also staged at a few other locations across the city, for which no tickets are available and people can watch freely. Among them is the Kamome Hiroba plaza in front of Nagasaki Station, where most groups have appearances on some of the festival days (in 2024 mainly on October 7).

It is also possible to follow the floats and dancers as they walk through the city's districts and pay visits to supporting shops and households during the rest of the day. Festival schedules in Japanese and English are available at tourist information desks and hotels.

Getting there and around

Hotels around Nagasaki

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    • Nagasaki Marriott Hotel
      Luxury
      Situated 200 metres from Nagasaki Station, Nagasaki Marriott Hotel offers 5-star accommodation in Nagasaki and has a fitness centre, a restaurant and a bar. Among the facilities at this property are a business centre and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The accommodation features room service, a 24-hour front desk and currency exchange for guests. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a wardrobe, a coffee machine, a fridge, a minibar, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. Rooms are fitted with a kettle, while certain rooms come with a balcony and others also boast city views. At Nagasaki Marriott Hotel, rooms have a seating area. A buffet breakfast is available each morning at the accommodation. Popular points of interest near Nagasaki Marriott Hotel include Nagasaki Museum of History, 26 Martyrs Museum and Fukusaiji Temple. Nagasaki Airport is 39 km from the property.
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    • Nisshokan Bettei Koyotei
      Luxury
      Nisshokan Bettei Koyotei is located in the Nagasaki Area, a 10-minute drive from Nagasaki Peace Park. Featuring views of the beautiful Nagasaki, it offers a public bath and free parking. Bettei Koyotei Nisshokan is a 15-minute drive from Glover Garden. JR Nagasaki Train Station is a 5-minute drive from the hotel, and a free shuttle is provided. The Japanese-style guestrooms offer both air-conditioning and heating facilities, and an en suite bathroom. Each room is equipped with a fridge, tea/coffee making facilities and a TV with cable channels. Guests can take a relaxing bath while enjoying the views of Nagasaki. There is a gift shop on-site. A Japanese breakfast set can be enjoyed in rooms. Drinks can be purchased from the vending machine on-site.
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    • Nagasaki Kagamiya
      Budget-friendly
      Set within 2.8 km of Nagasaki Station and 5.4 km of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, Nagasaki Kagamiya provides rooms in Nagasaki. This 1-star hostel features free WiFi and a garden. The property is non-smoking and is located 1.9 km from Nagasaki Museum of History. Peace Park is 6 km from the hostel, while Oura Catholic Church is 4.3 km away. Nagasaki Airport is 34 km from the property.
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    • Hilton Nagasaki
      Luxury
      Located 400 metres from Nagasaki Station, Hilton Nagasaki offers 5-star accommodation in Nagasaki and features a fitness centre, a restaurant and a bar. Featuring a spa and wellness centre, the hotel is close to several noted attractions, around 500 metres from 26 Martyrs Museum and around less than 1 km from Fukusaiji Temple. The property is non-smoking and is set 1.3 km from Nagasaki Museum of History. At the hotel, every room comes with a desk. All units will provide guests with air conditioning, a safety deposit box and a flat-screen TV. Guests at Hilton Nagasaki can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Languages spoken at the reception include English and Japanese. Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is 2.5 km from the accommodation, while Peace Park is 3.1 km away. Nagasaki Airport is 39 km from the property.
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    • Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae
      Luxury
      Set within 3 km of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and 3.6 km of Peace Park, Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae offers rooms in Nagasaki. With a restaurant, the 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi. Private parking is available on site. At the hotel, every room is equipped with a desk and a flat-screen TV. At Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast. Dormy Inn Premium Nagasaki Ekimae provides a range of facilities such as a wellness area including a sauna. Speaking English and Japanese, staff are ready to help around the clock at the reception. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Nagasaki Station, Nagasaki Museum of History and Fukusaiji Temple. Nagasaki Airport is 38 km from the property.
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    • i + Land Nagasaki
      Luxury
      Renovated in April 2018, i + Land Nagasaki is 18.5 km or a 40-minute drive from Nagasaki Station. A hot spring bath, sauna, garden and kids area are available for guests. The property provides a 24-hour front desk. An Asian breakfast is served daily at the property. Guests can make use of the sauna. Cycling is among the activities that guests can enjoy near the resort. Nagasaki Museum of History is 11 km from i + Land Nagasaki, while Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum is 11 km from the property. Nagasaki Airport is 27 km away.
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    • FAV LUX Nagasaki
      Luxury
      Set 2.1 km from Nagasaki Station, FAV LUX Nagasaki offers 4-star accommodation in Nagasaki and has a restaurant. The property is around 2.6 km from Nagasaki Museum of History, 4.7 km from Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and 5.3 km from Peace Park. Free WiFi is available and private parking can be arranged at an extra charge. Guest rooms at the hotel come with a seating area. Complete with a private bathroom fitted with a bidet and free toiletries, all guest rooms at FAV LUX Nagasaki have a flat-screen TV and air conditioning, and some rooms also feature a terrace. At the accommodation the rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. Guests at FAV LUX Nagasaki can enjoy a continental breakfast. Popular points of interest near the hotel include Oura Catholic Church, Glover Garden and Inorinooka Picture Book Museum. Nagasaki Airport is 38 km from the property.
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    • hotel H2 TRIP&BUSINESS NAGASAKI
      Mid-range
      Hotel H2 TRIP&BUSINESS NAGASAKI features a shared lounge, terrace, a restaurant and bar in Nagasaki. Among the facilities at this property are a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage space, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is non-smoking and is located 1.3 km from Nagasaki Museum of History. The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms offering a desk, a kettle, a fridge, a microwave, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. At hotel H2 TRIP&BUSINESS NAGASAKI each room comes with bed linen and towels. Buffet and American breakfast options are available daily at the accommodation. Popular points of interest near hotel H2 TRIP&BUSINESS NAGASAKI include Nagasaki Station, Oura Catholic Church and Glover Garden. Nagasaki Airport is 38 km away.
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    • ROUTE - Cafe and Petit Hostel
      Budget-friendly
      ROUTE - Cafe and Petit Hostel is located in Nagasaki, within 2.6 km of Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum and 3.2 km of Peace Park. This 2-star hostel offers a shared kitchen, luggage storage space and free WiFi. The property is non-smoking and is set 300 metres from Nagasaki Station. All rooms are fitted with a kettle, while some rooms come with a kitchen with a stovetop. At the hostel all rooms are equipped with bed linen and towels. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire is available at ROUTE - Cafe and Petit Hostel. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Nagasaki Museum of History, 26 Martyrs Museum and Fukusaiji Temple. The nearest airport is Nagasaki Airport, 39 km from ROUTE - Cafe and Petit Hostel.
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    • THE GLOBAL VIEW Nagasaki
      Luxury
      Featuring massage services, 3 restaurants and a concierge, THE GLOBAL VIEW Nagasaki is situated right outside Takaramachi Tram Station, which is the 2nd station from Nagasaki Station. WiFi is accessible in all areas of the hotel and rooms include a private bathroom and a flat-screen TV. Guests at THE GLOBAL VIEW Nagasaki stay in contemporary rooms with a fridge and safe with complimentary green and black teas. The private bathroom has a bathtub and toiletries, while pajamas are provided. JR Nagasaki Train Station is an 8-minute walk away. Guests can also take a sight-seeing bus from the front side of this hotel. Nagasaki Peace Park and Urakami Cathedral are 10-minutes away via car, while Nagasaki Airport is a 50-minute ride away on the express bus service. The Kitchen boasts 15th floor views of Nagasaki City and serves a sumptuous Japanese and Western breakfast buffet comprised from over 40 different dishes. Coffee and snacks are served at Cafe de Bijoux. Please note that renovation of Fifth floor is going on from 10:00 to 17:00 daily and some rooms may be affected by noise.
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