Nagasaki Kunchi

This ceremony of Suwa-jinja Shrine, long revered for housing Nagasaki's local deity, is considered one of Japan's three largest Kunchi, as well as being designated a national Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property. Legend says the festival began in 1634, when two prostitutes offered a sacred komai dance in front of Suwa-jinja Shrine, and each year a neighborhood is designated the Dance Town, where residents perform traditional Japanese dances, dragon dances, lion dances, and other gorgeous sacred dances and performances. There are also mikoshi portable shrine parades, and many people come from all over Japan to watch. After the sacred dances finish in the shrine hall, there are short Garden Dance dances and performances at companies, government offices, and homes throughout the city, and depending on the place you can see some outstanding performances.