Nagasaki Lantern Festival
Nagasaki Lantern Festival
4.5
About
This winter event in Nagasaki is held from the 1st through the 15th of the first month of the traditional Japanese calendar. The entire area centered on Nagasaki Chinatown is decorated with more than 15,000 vividly colored Chinese paper lanterns and various illuminated art objects both large and small. Originally a New Year festival celebrated by Chinese residents of Nagasaki, the scale of the celebrations was expanded in 1994, and it became famous nationwide. There are many events with a rich traditional Chinese flavor, including the dragon dances (a Chinese ritual to pray for rain), erhu ( a stringed instrument) concerts, Chinese acrobatics, Chinese mask shows, and the magnificent Emperor's Parade. It boasts as many as 1 million visitors.
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4.5
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ハイク
Tokyo Prefecture, Japan2,948 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
Attracted by the light of the lanterns, I walked around the venue. There was a lot to see, with colorful decorations, and the red, pink, and yellow lanterns reflected and swaying on the river's surface... it was beautiful. I went on a weekday, so the events in Minato Park, the gourmet spots, and the souvenir shops were empty and it was easy to see. The shops in Chinatown were closed, and there were stalls selling pigeon buns, pork buns, and other items. There weren't many lines, so it was easy to walk around. I had planned to have dinner at a Chinese restaurant, but everything was closed except for family restaurants, fast food restaurants, and ramen shops. While I was eating dinner at a family restaurant, I saw a dragon marching through the window. It was all festival-like and fun.
Written 29 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cecilykko
Hong Kong, China40 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
It was crowded on a Friday night. Lots of lantern and I was able to take some very nice photos. It was a surprise for us to stumble on this lantern festival. We didn’t know about this festival when we booked our trip. Pretty glad that we were able to attend this lantern festival.
Written 2 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Willow888
Melbourne, Australia816 contributions
Feb 2017 • Couples
It is a must visit festival if you are around Kyushu area during Chinese New Year. It is 15 days event that will take place from first day of CNY, closed with Emperor Parade, acrobatic, dragon dance, lion dance music and dance. During the event, Nagasaki Sinchi Chinatown and surrounding parts of the city centre are decorated with around 15,000 chinese lanterns, painting Nagasaki in the glorious cultures, stories and colors of china. We spend two whole days viewing, photographing and enjoying small, medium, large and giant lanterns on display.
Written 11 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CatherineBulg
Moscow, Russia161 contributions
Feb 2019 • Friends
Amazing atmosphere, lots and lots (!) of colorful decorations, some of which are of grand scale! The decors in Chuo park were most spectacular, as well as those installed along the river! It all starts at the railway station of Nagasaki! You’ll need several hours just to see them all! Plus, don’t miss cultural events, such as Dragon dance and Chinese opera! I would recommend to stay in Nagasaki at least for two days to have enough time to enjoy the festival!
If you can’t come there on weekend when parades take place, don’t get discouraged: we’ve been there in the middle of the week, and are very content with our two-days trip, because there are many other interesting performances and we could see and take pictures of lantern decorations without any disturbances. I was told by the locals that on weekends he Chinese Lantern Festival gets really crowded! We, on the other hand, had a unexpected experience to be almost only Westerners visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Very authentic! Besides, you can easily get nice and affordable lodging on weekdays.
By the way, during the daytime, I would highly recommend visiting the Dejima island museum, temples and port!
If you can’t come there on weekend when parades take place, don’t get discouraged: we’ve been there in the middle of the week, and are very content with our two-days trip, because there are many other interesting performances and we could see and take pictures of lantern decorations without any disturbances. I was told by the locals that on weekends he Chinese Lantern Festival gets really crowded! We, on the other hand, had a unexpected experience to be almost only Westerners visiting on Tuesday and Wednesday. Very authentic! Besides, you can easily get nice and affordable lodging on weekdays.
By the way, during the daytime, I would highly recommend visiting the Dejima island museum, temples and port!
Written 27 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fismi
44 contributions
Feb 2018 • Friends
You must to visit Nagasaki Lantern Festival because this is the biggest lantern festival in Japan. You can see various shapes of lantern lighten up the city. You can also to buy souvenir and try local foods at this festival.
Written 30 March 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AndraYo
Tokyo, Japan1,467 contributions
Jan 2020
This Lantern Festival in Nagasaki, the major Chinese New Year's Celebration is based on Chinese traditions but with a Japanese slant. Floats, exhibits, events, special foods, and colorful Decorations Galore- fun for the Whole Family! Would definitely plan to go again.
Be sure to check the dates because every year is a different date.
Be sure to check the dates because every year is a different date.
Written 10 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephenbkk20156
Okayama Prefecture, Japan696 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
We happened to be in town for the last night of the festival. No wonder we had difficulty getting a hotel reservation! The event itself was amazing, totally wonderful.
In the afternoon, we saw people posing in front of static displays of lanterns on a bridge at the entrance to Chinatown. A fun place for pictures we thought, and joined in. Then we noticed the lanterns in the river, strings of them, but not yet lit.
Come evening, we could see the lit lanterns stretched the length of the river. There was a throbbing of drum beats from Chinatown and throngs of people from every direction.
We followed the crowds and drums into Chinatown, where, in a stadium, we saw dragons representing various schools and colleges doing battle. Colourful, exciting, noisy, and we felt totally safe throughout.
Later, we surged out of the stadium with the crowd and find ourselves at a Chinese shrine in a park, surrounded by lanterns and candles. Lots to see and photograph. The crowds began to thin.
Of course, there were lots of places to eat, stalls in addition to regular restaurants.
How lucky we were to see this. Thrilling.
In the afternoon, we saw people posing in front of static displays of lanterns on a bridge at the entrance to Chinatown. A fun place for pictures we thought, and joined in. Then we noticed the lanterns in the river, strings of them, but not yet lit.
Come evening, we could see the lit lanterns stretched the length of the river. There was a throbbing of drum beats from Chinatown and throngs of people from every direction.
We followed the crowds and drums into Chinatown, where, in a stadium, we saw dragons representing various schools and colleges doing battle. Colourful, exciting, noisy, and we felt totally safe throughout.
Later, we surged out of the stadium with the crowd and find ourselves at a Chinese shrine in a park, surrounded by lanterns and candles. Lots to see and photograph. The crowds began to thin.
Of course, there were lots of places to eat, stalls in addition to regular restaurants.
How lucky we were to see this. Thrilling.
Written 22 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
今回、初めて長崎ランタンフェスティバルに行くのですが長崎も初めてなので日帰りツアー（夜のみで自由行動です）を申し込みましたが、どのように見て回るのが良いですか？
Written 15 January 2018
ランタン祭りでは、中華街だけでなく、ランタン飾りや大型の装飾が街の様々な場所で見ることができます。全て見ようとするとかなり時間が掛かります。
その中でも、必ず行くべきとおすすめするのは、眼鏡橋と中華街にある湊公園です。
どちらがツアーの発着場所か分からないので何とも言えませんが、数時間しか自由時間がないのでしたら、港公園→中華街食べ歩き/レストランで軽い夕食→眼鏡橋（徒歩圏内ですが、急ぐならタクシー/路面電車）がおすすめです。
Written 1 February 2020
Where best to buy a kimono in Nagasaki, resonal prices?
Written 29 November 2017
2017年のランタンフェスティバルに行く計画を立てていますが、仕事があるので、どうしても土日でしか行けません。来年の期間中の土日は1月28、29日か、2月4、5日のようですが、28日は夕方から点灯式のようです。
どちらの週末が楽しめますか？
また、それぞれの時期の混雑具合も知りたいです。
公共交通機関を使いますので、駐車場の心配はありません。他の観光地を回ることも考えていないので、ランタンフェスティバルだけが目的です。
Written 13 October 2016
ランタンフェスティバルの開催期間中は平均的に夜混雑してます。点灯式はローカルニュースでも放映されるぐらいなので点灯式の日が1番多いのではないでしょうか？あとは、媽祖行列などのイベントで変わってくるでしょうけど。
Written 13 October 2016
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