There are four venues where you can see the dedication dance! If you want to see it without making a reservation, you can buy standing seats on the day or go around the garden.
There are four "dance areas" in the city where the dedication dances are performed. The main venue, Suwa Shrine, is particularly popular. Seat reservations are highly competitive, but each venue starts selling tickets on different dates, so you have multiple chances to reserve. Even if you can't reserve a seat, anyone can still watch the dedication dances by trying to get a standing seat on sale on the day or by trying to get a seat in the "garden tour" held in the city!
One of the three biggest festivals in Kyushu! The fun of Nagasaki Kunchi lies in the unusual and flashy "offerings" that differ from town to town.
The Nagasaki Kunchi festival's votive dances are performed in a seven-year cycle by seven groups from all 58 dance towns. Each group has its own characteristics and highlights, but they can be broadly divided into four types: "dance," "pulling," "carrying," and "passing." Let's try to discover the charm of Nagasaki Kunchi by looking at these classifications and the "movements" of the votive dances.
The dances are mainly traditional Japanese dances called "hon-odori." The highlight is the beautiful sight of the dancers dancing.
The towing event involves a large group of people pulling around large-scale exhibits, including boats on wheels. Don't miss the emotional scenes, such as the "river boat" boatman throwing a net and the "whale blowing" water.
The dance involves literally carrying the "Shachi Taiko" drums. The moment when the large floats are thrown into the air is a spectacular sight!
The "Toorimono" procession is an attractive sight as it parades along the road. This year, the "Yamabushi Dochu" procession will be performed, so this is also a must-see.
1. The Jaodori (Dragon Dance), which is said to depict a dragon trying to eat the moon, which is said to be the source of eternal youth and longevity, is one of the most representative offerings of Okunchi.
2. There are only two of these floats in the 58 towns, so even if you go there for seven years, you can only see them twice.
3. The "Ume no Fusha" float, which weighs over 3 tons and has fixed wheels that cannot bend left or right, spins five times in unison in a spectacular fashion.
4. The highlight of the Dragon Boat is when jets of smoke are sprayed towards the box seats.
5. The main dance of Kozencho is called "Shakkyo" and features a red and white lion dance.
6. The "Kasaboko" is a town sign that stands at the head of the procession of the dancing town, which is different for each town. The heroic figure of one person carrying a weight of 130 to 150 kg is also worth seeing.
7. At the end of September, a "Garden Tour Map (Schedule)" that combines the three-day garden tour schedule and a rough map will be posted on the website. It will also be distributed at tourist information centers.
8. The main venue is Suwa Shrine, as shown in the photo, but the procession will go around the city and perform votive dances at a total of four venues.
Nagasaki Kunchi
Dates: October 10th (pre-event), October 7th (middle day), October 10th (later)
Nagasaki Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Association (Nagasaki Chamber of Commerce and Industry)
Tel: 095-822-0111
web: https://nagasaki-kunchi.com/
*Sales, reservations and advance applications for viewing tickets and seats are accepted at each dance hall, so please contact each information source for more information.
[Main viewing spot (Landing)]
Suwa Shrine (Kunchi Dance Baba Sajiki Management Committee)
850-0006 Kaminishiyamamachi, Nagasaki City, 18-15
Phone: 095-821-8596
[Main viewing spot (Landing)]
Otabisho (Otabisho Sajiki Management Committee)
850 Motofunamachi, Nagasaki City, 0035-17
Phone: 095-823-9073
[Main viewing spot (Landing)]
Yasaka Shrine (Yasaka Shrine Sajiki Management Committee)
850-0831 Kajiyacho, Nagasaki City, 8-53
Phone: 095-822-6750
[Main viewing spot (Landing)]
Central Park Kunchi Viewing Grounds
850-0876 Nigiwaicho, Nagasaki City, 5-27
Phone: 095-822-0111
Among the 58 dance towns, here are the dedication dances that will be performed this year.
Even if you can't make it for the three days of the actual event, you can watch practice sessions from around June!
A day at the special seating area on the front steps of "Nagasaka" with a 7:1 chance of winning by lottery using a round-trip postcard!
