Nagasaki Chinatown

Attraction

Prefecture

Nagasaki

Type

Attraction

N/A

0 reviews

Restaurant Train Access Cafe

About This Destination

One of Japan's three great Chinatowns alongside Yokohama and Kobe, famous for champon noodles and the Lantern Festival.

One of Japan's three great Chinatowns, established in the Edo period when Chinese merchants were confined here for trade. Four ornamental gates mark each compass direction; cobblestone streets lined with restaurants and shops. Nagasaki's Chinese-Japanese fusion cuisine was born here: champon noodles with pork bone broth and seafood, and crispy sara-udon. The Lantern Festival in January-February fills the district with thousands of colorful lanterns for Chinese New Year.

Location

Prefecture: Nagasaki

Address: Nagasaki, Japan

Nearest Station: Tsukimachi Station

Best time to visit: Late January to February for the spectacular Nagasaki Lantern Festival around Lunar New Year; lively year-round for champon and sara udon

View on Google Maps

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.

Frequently 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 lively 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) is 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.