Highlights
- **Daily dragon dance (龍踊り/jaodori)** — a ~20 m dragon weaves through the crowd every day, alongside Chinese lion dance and mask-changing (変面) performances.
- **Emperor's Parade (皇帝パレード)** on **Sat 13 Feb & Sat 20 Feb 2027** — ~150 performers in Qing-dynasty costume process through the city.
- **Mazu Procession (媽祖行列)** on **Sun 7 Feb & Sun 14 Feb 2027** — the sea-goddess Mazu is carried in prayers for a safe voyage.
- **Megane-bashi water reflections** — yellow lanterns mirrored on the Nakashima River are the festival's top photo spot.
- **Giant zodiac lantern objects at Minato Park (湊公園)**, the main-object hub beside Shinchi Chinatown.
Background & story
The festival began in **1987** as the local Chinese community's Spring Festival celebration in **Shinchi Chinatown**, marking the Lunar New Year. In **1994** it expanded citywide and was renamed the "Nagasaki Lantern Festival," growing into a tourism pillar and now Japan's largest event of its kind. It draws on Nagasaki's unique trading heritage — the Chinese quarter at Tojin-yashiki and the Dutch outpost at Dejima — that made the city Japan's window to the world.
Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2027 runs Friday 5 – Sunday 21 February 2027, turning the whole city into a sea of light with about 15,000 lanterns and giant illuminated figures. It's free, and it's Nagasaki's biggest winter event — a spectacular expression of the city's centuries-old Chinese heritage. Here are the verified dates and times, where to go, what to see, and how to get there.
2027 dates & lighting times
- When: 5–21 February 2027 (17 days).
- Good to know: since 2026 the festival has a fixed schedule — the first Friday of February for 17 days — so it no longer moves with the Lunar New Year date. That makes 2027 easy to plan around.
- Lights on: daily 17:00–22:00, with the opening lighting ceremony from 18:00 on day one. The Shinchi Chinatown and Hamanmachi venues light up earlier, from 12:00.
- Best after dark — come in the evening when every lantern is glowing.
Where it happens
The festival is citywide, centred on Shinchi Chinatown, with major displays at:
- Minato Park — the biggest objects and the main stage events.
- Chuo Park — another core venue for performances.
- Meganebashi (Spectacles Bridge) — the most photogenic spot, lanterns mirrored in the river.
- Hamanomachi arcade — lanterns strung the length of the shopping street.
What to see
- ~15,000 lanterns and giant illuminated objects lighting every main street.
- Dragon dances, Chinese acrobatics and mask-changing (bian lian) on the stages.
- The Emperor's Parade and the Mazu Procession — the festival's spectacular costumed processions through the city (check the daily schedule for times).
Getting there & admission
- Admission: free (some seated/special events may be ticketed).
- Access: the heart of the festival is about 5 minutes from the Shinchi-Chukagai tram stop in central Nagasaki, easy to reach by tram from Nagasaki Station.
Plan your visit
February is peak season in Nagasaki, so book accommodation early. Go after dark, start at Meganebashi and Chinatown for photos, then work toward the stage events at Minato Park. Official info and the daily programme: at-nagasaki.jp. If you're touring Japan's winter lights, see other winter festivals on the network.
Good to know for visitors
- Getting there
- About 5 min from the Shinchi-Chukagai tram stop in central Nagasaki. Open directions in Google Maps ↗
- Booking & entry
- Free to attend — details on the official page (button above).
- Language
- Mostly in Japanese — a translation app on your phone helps.
- Good for
- culture seekers, date night, art lovers
Good to know
Come between **17:00 and 22:00**, when all ~15,000 lanterns are lit (Shinchi Chinatown and Hamanomachi glow from noon). Get around by **tram (Nagasaki Electric Tramway)**: use the **Shinchi Chinatown stop** for Chinatown and Minato Park, the **Kanko-dori stop** for the arcades, and the **Megane-bashi stop** for the river reflections — the flat single-ride fare accepts IC cards (as of July 2026). Note the **Confucius Shrine (孔子廟)** near Ishibashi stop (Line 5) is a separate paid attraction, not part of the free festival. For full route options and discount rail fares from Fukuoka see our **Nagasaki Lantern Festival access guide**; for a day-by-day plan of the parades see our **highlights & events guide**; and for the story behind the lanterns see our **history & origins guide**.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the Nagasaki Lantern Festival 2027?
- February 5–21, 2027 — 17 days. The dates are officially confirmed (announced May 2026).
- Is the Nagasaki Lantern Festival free?
- Yes — viewing the lantern displays and parades on the streets is free.
- When are the Emperor's Parade and Mazu Procession?
- The Emperor's Parade is on Saturday, February 13 and Saturday, February 20, 2027; the Mazu Procession is on Sunday, February 7 and Sunday, February 14, 2027.
Getting there
Citywide — Shinchi Chinatown, Minato Park, Chuo Park, Meganebashi, Hamanomachi Arcade — Shinchimachi, Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture