Designated an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property, Nagasaki Kunchi runs from 7–9 October each year, centred on Suwa Shrine. The festival is famous for its dragon dances (ja odori), where performers manipulate enormous gilded dragons through the streets, and for elaborate hikiyama floats with South Chinese and Dutch-inspired designs. Different neighbourhood groups (odori-cho) take turns performing each year on a seven-year rotation, keeping the event perpetually fresh.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Autumn
- Month
- Early October
- Region
- Kyushu
- Prefecture
- Nagasaki
- City
- Nagasaki
Highlights
- ◆Spectacular gilded dragon dances unique to Nagasaki
- ◆Dutch and Chinese-influenced hikiyama floats
- ◆Seven-year neighbourhood rotation ensures unique performances each year
- ◆Ceremonies at the historic Suwa Shrine
- ◆Designated Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan