Published October 20, 2026 at 7:17 PM JST

Each winter, Nagasaki celebrates the Lunar New Year with about fifteen thousand Chinese lanterns, dragon dances, parades and warm street food, reflecting the city's long ties with Chinese culture.

Quick answer: The Nagasaki Lantern Festival is a winter celebration in Nagasaki City, Kyushu, held around the Lunar New Year, usually from late January or early February for about two to two and a half weeks. About 15,000 lanterns light the city, with stage shows, dragon and lion dances and parades. Organizers set the exact dates and program each year.

What the festival is

The Nagasaki Lantern Festival is the city's best loved winter event, and it turns central Nagasaki into a glowing, red-and-gold landscape in the coldest part of the year. The city is decorated with about 15,000 Chinese-style lanterns, according to Japanese tourism sources, along with large lantern sculptures, some taller than ten meters.

The festival marks the Lunar New Year, called Shunsetsu in Japan, the start of spring in the traditional Chinese calendar. Because the Lunar New Year moves from year to year on the Western calendar, the festival's timing shifts, and organizers announce the exact dates each year. Recent schedules have run for roughly two weeks to a little more than two weeks, starting in late January or early February. The festival is often called Lantern Fes by locals, a short nickname that hints at how popular it is.

Each evening, the lanterns light up and the streets fill with visitors, music and the smell of freshly cooked street food. Many people describe it as one of the most photogenic winter events in Kyushu.

Origins in Shinchi Chinatown

Nagasaki has a long history as a port that welcomed visitors from overseas, and the Chinese community has been part of the city for centuries. According to the Japan Up Close site, the festival began when Chinese residents of Nagasaki celebrated the Lunar New Year, and the celebration was first held in Shinchi Chinatown.

In 1994, the celebration was expanded into the Nagasaki Lantern Festival and became a major event for the whole city. A travel guide describes the festival as an expansion of the Chinatown's Spring Festival celebration. Since then, the festival has spread out from Chinatown to many parts of central Nagasaki, bringing in more neighborhoods and more decorations.

The festival is a good example of the city's friendly tradition of mixing cultures. The food, music and costumes have Chinese roots, and the whole city joins in the celebration together.

A city of lanterns: where to look

The Nagasaki city tourism site says the lanterns decorate several venues across central Nagasaki, with Shinchi Chinatown as the main venue. A lighting ceremony turns the lanterns on all at once at the start of the festival.

A travel guide describes five official venue areas in a recent year, noting that locations can change and should be checked on the official site. Shinchi Chinatown is the center, with stage shows, Chinese food stalls and rows of lanterns. Chuo Park has a more relaxed mood and is known for large animal-shaped lantern sculptures. Hamanmachi, the shopping arcade district, has lucky-themed displays. Tojinyashiki, a historic former Chinese residential area with four shrines, has lanterns that create a nostalgic atmosphere. Nakashimagawa Park features yellow lanterns hanging over the river.

The Meganebashi bridge, also known as Spectacles Bridge, is a favorite photo spot. A festival guide on Ohmatsuri notes that the yellow lanterns hang near the bridge and reflect on the water, which makes a beautiful scene in the evening.

Dragon dances, parades and stage shows

Shows are a big part of the fun. According to the Ohmatsuri guide, daily performances on the Chinatown stage include lion dances, dragon dances, Chinese acrobatics and performances on the erhu, a Chinese string instrument. A travel guide adds that face-changing shows and kung fu appear on the schedule at several venues, and that stage shows are free and do not need reservations.

The Emperor Parade, called Kotei Parade, is a highlight. In this parade, people dressed as an emperor and empress walk through the streets with attendants in colorful Chinese costumes, recreating a Qing dynasty New Year celebration, according to the Ohmatsuri guide. The parade is usually held on weekends, and a 2026 guide lists two weekend parades starting from Chuo Park.

Another feature mentioned in the 2026 schedule is the Mazu procession, which recreates a ritual of historical sailors. Mazu is the Chinese goddess of the sea, and her procession reflects the long maritime ties between Nagasaki and its overseas neighbors. Because event details change, check the official program for the exact days.

What happens during the festival

The lantern lighting usually begins in the late afternoon or early evening and continues until about ten at night, according to a 2026 guide, though the lighting hours can differ by venue and date. During the day, visitors can stroll the streets and visit shops and sights, then return in the evening for the full glow of the lanterns.

The opening lighting ceremony is the first big moment. After that, most days feature stage shows at the main venues, with weekends adding the parades and special events. The festival also has participatory elements, such as a dragon dance segment in which visitors from outside the prefecture were invited to join in 2026, and a stamp rally around the four shrines of Tojinyashiki. Some special experiences need reservations through an app or a fee, so check the official site for current details.

Lantern sculptures change from year to year. A travel guide says that the sculptures follow themes such as the zodiac animal of the year, animals and popular characters, so each festival has something new to see. Because the sculptures are spread around the city, many visitors enjoy a long evening walk to find them all.

Tips for visiting

The festival draws large crowds. The Ohmatsuri guide says that over one million people attend, and weekends and parade days are particularly busy. Arriving early in the evening, wearing warm clothes and being patient on narrow streets will make the visit more comfortable.

A travel guide suggests that walking is the best way to get around, since the main venues are within about one kilometer of each other. Tram and bus passes are also available. Traffic controls apply during the festival, especially on weekends when parades take place, so allow extra time.

From Nagasaki Station, the Ohmatsuri guide says you can take the tram toward Shougakuji-shita, get off at Tsukimachi Station, and walk about three minutes to the Chinatown area. Nagasaki city offers pamphlets in English, Chinese and Korean, which can be helpful for international visitors.

Food and local flavor

Food is a big reason to visit. A travel guide mentions Chinese dishes such as xiaolongbao soup dumplings and lu rou fan braised pork rice, plus local street snacks including jagachan, which is steamed and fried potato, and kakuni manju, a steamed bun with braised pork. Shinchi Chinatown has about forty shops.

Nagasaki is a city where Chinese, Dutch and Japanese influences have mixed for centuries, and that blend is part of what makes the festival so appealing. Walking from the lantern-lit Chinatown to the quiet river lanterns near Meganebashi gives a sense of the many sides of the city.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Nagasaki Lantern Festival held?

It is held in the winter around the Lunar New Year, usually from late January or early February for roughly two to two and a half weeks. In 2026, a travel guide listed February 6 to 23. The organizers announce each year's schedule, so check the official Nagasaki tourism site.

Is there a cost to see the lanterns?

Walking through the city to see the lanterns and watching the stage shows are free, according to a travel guide. A few special experiences, such as certain lantern activities, require reservations or a fee. Check the official site for current details.

What is the Emperor Parade?

It is a parade in which people dressed as a Chinese emperor and empress and their attendants walk through the streets in colorful costumes, recreating a New Year celebration from the Qing dynasty. It is usually held on weekends, and the schedule and route vary by year.

Further reading: the Nagasaki city tourism page on festivals and events, the Japan Up Close introduction to the festival and the Ohmatsuri guide to the Nagasaki Lantern Festival.

Keep exploring: Hakata Dontaku: Golden Week Parades Rooted in a Centuries-Old Custom; Naha Great Tug-of-War: Okinawa's Giant Rope Pull on a Main Road; Kagoshima Ohara Festival: Thousands Dancing Through Tenmonkan in November; Beppu Onsen Festival: Hot Spring Thanks, Mikoshi and a Mountain of Fire.