Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies

Nagasaki has a vibrant history of international exchange, at one point serving as Japan's only gateway to other countries. As a result, Nagasaki has a unique culture and history that reflects its Dutch, Portuguese, and Chinese influence. To deepen your understanding of Nagasaki and Japanese history, please consider participating in the following festivals and traditional cultural events.

Major Festivals and Traditional Events in Nagasaki City

Date	Event	Location	Details
First and second week of April	Kite Flying Tournament	Touhakkei	Kite Battles, Kite Classroom, Treasure Hunting, and more ■Nagasaki Shimbun 095-844-2111
April 23-27	Nagasaki Boat Festival	Nagasaki Mizubenomori (Seaside) Park, Dejima Warf Area	See boats from around the world. Cruising, field concert, and more. ■Nagasaki Kaiko Kinen Kaikan (Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 095-822-0111
April 29-May 5	Mt. Inasa Azalea Festival	Mt. Inasa Park	Appreciate more than 80,000 azaleas and enjoy the folk song competition and children’s song festival. ■Nagasaki City Midorinoka 095-829-1171
Late July	Nagasaki Minato Festival	Mizubenomori (Seaside) Park	A large event built around Nagasaki’s harbor serves as a host to sports, small concerts, and other attractions. Food stands are plentiful, and the event is good for children and adults. ■Nagasaki Minato Festival Executive Committee (Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 095-822-0111
Late July weekend	Nagasaki Dragon Boat Race	Matsugae International Sightseeing Warf	The Dragon Boat Race brings the Nagasaki Minato Festival to a close. ■Nagasaki Dragon Boat Race Association (Nagasaki International Tourism and Convention Association) 095-823-7423
August 15	Spirit Boat Procession	Throughout Central Nagasaki City	In this lively traditional event, the spirits of deceased relatives are sent to the afterlife. ■Nagasaki City Sightseeing and Publicity Division 095-829-1314
(Old Calendar) July 26-28	Chinese O-Bon Gathering	Sofukuji Temple	In this Chinese O-Bon Gathering, people from around the country visit the Sofukuji Temple national treasure to comfort ancestors' souls. ■Sofukuji Temple 095-823-2645 ■Kyoka Kaikan 095-821-7824
Late September	Nagasaki Foreign Settlement Festival	Glover Garden, East and South Yamate Area	Listen to mini-concerts and participate in a variety of events at Glover Garden and the surrounding area. ■Nagasaki Foreign Settlement Festival Executive Committee (Nagasaki City Sightseeing and Publicity Division) 095-829-1314
Final Saturday in September	Confucius Festival	Confucius Shrine	Celebrates the birthday of Confucius. The ceremony is faithfully reproduced in its original Chinese form as celebrated since the Ming Dynasty. ■Confucius Shrine 095-824-4022
October 7-9	Nagasaki Kunchi	Suwa Shrine area and other locations	Taking place every autumn at Suwa Shrine, this is one of the three largest festivals in Japan. The shows and dances are rich in Chinese, Dutch, and other international flavors. ■Nagasaki Traditional Performance Art Promotion (Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 095-822-0111
October 16-17	Nagasaki Kunchi "One More Time"	Nagasaki City Kokkaido Front Square	Some of the year's Kunchi performances make one more appearance. ■(Nagasaki International Tourism and Convention Association) 095-823-742323
October 14-15	Takengei Bamboo Performance	Wakamiya Inari Shrine	In this autumn event at Wakamiya Inari Shrine, two young people wearing masks of male and female foxes perform acrobatics on top of two 10-meter green bamboo poles. ■Wakamiya Inari Shrine 095-822-5270
January 1-3	New Year's First Shrine Visit	Suwa Shrine and other locations	Many people dress up in kimonos and make their first temple visits of the new year. ■Suwa Shrine 095-824-04455
January 10	Nagasaki City Coming-of-Age Ceremony	Nagasaki City Kokkaido Hall	A gathering to celebrate youth who turn twenty years old. Large numbers of kimono-clad youth will attend the ceremony. Nagasaki City Hall 095-825-5151
Late January to Early February (Chinese New Year)	Nagasaki Lantern Festival	Minato Park and other locations	Associated with the celebration of Chinese New Year. More than 12,000 lanterns and Chinese ornaments are hung in and around Chinatown. Dance and other performances may also be seen. ■Nagasaki Lantern Festival Executive Committee (Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry) 095-829-1314
February 5	Anniversary of the 26 Martyrs	Site of the 26 Martyrs	A Catholic mass is held near the site of the 26 Martyrs. ■Memorial Hall of the 26 Martyrs 095-822-6000

Location	Details	Hours
Glover Garden	Meiji Era village in Nagasaki. Inside the park is Glover Residence, a nationally designated Important Cultural Property (built in 1863 and the oldest western-style wooden building in Japan), as well as Linger House, Ortho house, and a collection of other western-style buildings. [Regular Admission]600円　[Discounted Admission]500円	8：00～21：30
South Yamate House #16	Constructed in the 1860s as Japan's first female high school building, now used to display Christian documents and articles from articles from the Glover family. Screenings of Kunchi traditional performance video and related exhibitions. (Kunchi is held every September in Nagasaki and is the third largest festival in Japan.) [Regular Admission]400円　[Discounted Admission]200円	9：00～18：00
Oura Catholic Church	National Treasure. Constructed in 1864, dedicated to the souls of the 26 Saints. Famous in world religion history and a stage for the "Revival of Nagasaki Believers." Oldest wooden Gothic style church in Japan. [Regular Admission]250円　[Discounted Admission]200円	8：00～17：45
Confucius Shrine and Museum of Chinese History	The only overseas Confucius Shrine created by Chinese. Linked to the Museum of Chinese History, which displays Chinese cultural assets.	8：30～17：00
Sofukuji Temple	Registered as a National Treasure, Important Cultural Property, and a Prefectural and Municipal Cultural Asset. Built in 1969, oldest Obaku Zen Buddhist temple in Japan, and home temple of many naturalized Chinese. [Regular Admission]300円　[Discounted Admission]240円	8：00～17：00
Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum	Originally established in 1995, the museum's current building opened on April 1, 1996, as a prayer for lasting peace and international understanding. Inside the building is a detailed depiction of the horrors of the atomic bombing. The museum is of interest to many international students and is a recommended place to visit. [Regular Admission]200円　[Discounted Admission]160円	8：30～17：30
Peace Park	The bronze statue praying for peace was constructed in 1955 in Peace Park, near the center of the atomic bombing. Its right hand signals the threat of nuclear weapons, and left hand and closed eyes represent peace and a comforting of the spirits of war victims.	--
Suwa Shrine	Most famous Shinto Shrine in Nagasaki and a major site of Kunchi in September. The rice cake at the tea house on the shrine grounds is also famous.	--
Dejima Museum	Originally built in 1636 as a small island to isolate Europeans and limit the spread of Christianity. Served as the only European port in Japan for more than 200 years. A "Mini Dejima" is also nearby.	9：00～17：00
Hamano-machi	Nagasaki's Shopping District. Hang around here and have a good time.	--
Nagaskai Ropeway	Connected to the summit of Mt. Inasa. Offers a panoramic view of not only Nagasaki but also as far away as Unzen National Park. On a clear night, one can see more than 10 million meters. In addition to a viewing platform at the summit, there are also restaurants and an event space on the side of the mountain that accommodates up to 15,000 people. [Regular Admission]1200円　[Discounted Admission]840円	9：00～21：00

Date	Event
Mid-July	Togitsu Dragon Boat Race
August 15	Spirit Boat Procession
October 2	Town Athletic Festival
November 3	Town Culture Festival
January 7 (approx.)	Onibi-Taki Fire Festival
January 8 (approx.)	Coming-of-Age Ceremony