What other travelers are saying about Nagasaki Chinatown (Shinchi Chinatown)
Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown is a lively mix of sights, smells, and flavours that captures the city’s multicultural spirit. Though compact, it’s packed with charm—bright lanterns, colourful shopfronts, and tempting street food at every turn. It’s more relaxed than bigger Chinatowns but still full of character, making it a fun place to wander, snack, and soak up the atmosphere, especially in the evening when the lights come on.
More about Nagasaki Chinatown (Shinchi Chinatown) from our blog
Frequently Asked Questions
Apart from being the oldest Chinatown in Japan, its historical significance as a hub for Chinese traders and its colorful Nagasaki Lantern Festival make it a unique cultural and historical site.
The area is renowned for its delicious culinary offerings, including local Nagasaki specialties like noodle-based dishes, kamaboko (boiled fish paste), and bean sprouts, among its diverse range of Chinese cuisine.
The Chinatown covers a square area of about 250 meters, featuring around 40 shops and restaurants that cater to a variety of tastes and preferences.
While the area is fascinating year-round, visiting during the Nagasaki Lantern Festival (typically held in February) offers a uniquely vibrant and festive experience.
We really enjoyed walking through Nagasaki Chinatown. There are lots of shops and restaurants to explore, and the atmosphere is lively and colorful. We had a great meal while we were there, and it’s also a great spot for photos. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Nagasaki!
Not very big, and not especially vibrant or bustling compared to other Chinatowns I've visited around the world. A regular street with a few Chinese shops and decorations, I found it disappointing as a place to visit rather than to just pass through.
My wife and I decided to explore Nagasaki Chinatown from a cruise ship trip. Instead of taking the ship excursion, we went on our own. It was an easy walk from the ship terminal to Nagasaki Chinatown. We bought a pork bun for ¥350 and 3 shumai for ¥300 from a sidewalk vendor and looked at all the other stores and restaurants. It was a fun and easy walking trip and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to explore Nagasaki Chinatown on their own.
