Nagasaki Chinatown
About This Destination
Location
Prefecture: Nagasaki
Address: Nagasaki, Japan
Nearest Station: Tsukimachi Station
Visitor Information
Credit Cards: Accepted
Food Options: Famous for champon noodles and sara-udon. Numerous Chinese restaurants serve Nagasaki-style Chinese cuisine distinct from other Chinatowns.
Access
Nagasaki, Japan
Get DirectionsFrequently Asked Questions
How do I get to Nagasaki Chinatown?
Take the Nagasaki tram (streetcar) to Tsukimachi or Shinchi-Chukagai stop (about 7 minutes from Nagasaki Station, 140 yen flat fare). The chinatown gates are right next to the stops. From Nagasaki Station, walking takes about 12 minutes south. Most visitors arrive on foot from Dejima (5 minutes east) or after sightseeing the Hamamachi shopping arcade.
What's the difference between Nagasaki champon and other ramen?
Champon noodles are thicker and chewier than ramen, in a milky pork-and-chicken bone broth that's loaded with stir-fried pork, squid, shrimp, vegetables, and a sprinkle of pink kamaboko fish cake. The dish was created in 1899 by Chen Pingshun at Shikairo restaurant to fill up Chinese students cheaply. Sara-udon is the crispy version — fried noodles topped with the same toppings in a thicker sauce. Both dishes are unique to Nagasaki and quite different from regular Japanese ramen.
When is the Lantern Festival and is it worth seeing?
The Nagasaki Lantern Festival runs for 15 days during Chinese New Year (typically late January to mid-February — exact dates depend on the lunar calendar). Around 15,000 colorful Chinese lanterns illuminate Chinatown and 5 nearby venues. Highlights include the Imperial Procession, dragon dances, and acrobatic shows. It's spectacular but extremely crowded, especially on weekends and the festival's final 'closing ceremony.' Weekday evenings are quieter. Free to view.
What's nearby to combine with the Chinatown visit?
Dejima (5 minutes' walk east) — the artificial island where Dutch traders lived in seclusion during the Edo period, with reconstructed buildings (520 yen). The Hamamachi shopping arcade is across the canal. Sofukuji and Kofukuji Temples in the Teramachi temple district are 15 minutes' walk north, with rich Chinese-Japanese fusion architecture. The Megane (Spectacles) Bridge — Japan's oldest stone arch bridge — is on the way to those temples. A half-day Chinatown-Dejima-temple walk is a classic Nagasaki itinerary.
Nearby Destinations
🎯 Other Attraction in Nagasaki
⭐ Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to review!
Sign In to ReviewOwn or manage this venue? Claim this listing to update information and photos