Rooted in the Chinese New Year traditions of Nagasaki's long-established Chinese community, this festival illuminates the city with approximately 15,000 red and gold lanterns strung across Shinchi Chinatown, Nagashima Park, and the former foreign settlement. Dragon and lion dances weave through the streets nightly, and elaborate stage performances of Chinese acrobatics draw large crowds to Minato Park. The festival runs for about 15 days following the lunar new year, making it the largest Chinese New Year celebration in Japan and one of the country's most vivid winter events.
- Type
- Festival
- Category
- Matsuri
- Season
- Winter
- Month
- Late January–Mid February
- Region
- Kyushu
- Prefecture
- Nagasaki
- City
- Nagasaki
Highlights
- ◆15,000 hand-painted lanterns illuminate streets and harbour
- ◆Dragon and lion dances through Shinchi Chinatown nightly
- ◆Chinese acrobatics and folk performances at Minato Park
- ◆Unique blend of Japanese and Chinese cultural heritage
- ◆Runs approximately 15 days from Lunar New Year's Day