What other travelers are saying about Nagasaki Chinatown (Shinchi Chinatown)
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.
We visited Nagasaki in October and stayed in a hotel just outside Chinatown. At nighttime, you can see all the pretty lights. But most of the shops were closed when we walked through one Friday night. Even some of the restaurants were closed by 8pm.
Walking through the practically deserted streets was a bit eerie (although you don't feel unsafe).
Nagasaki Chinatown, or Shinchi Chinatown, is the oldest Chinatown in Japan, established in the 17th century. It originated when Chinese traders settled in Nagasaki during Japan’s period of national isolation (sakoku), as Nagasaki was one of the few ports open to limited foreign trade. The Chinese were confined to a specific district—Shinchi—to control their interactions with locals.
Over time, Shinchi evolved into a vibrant cultural and commercial center, blending Chinese traditions with Japanese influences. Today, it stands as a symbol of Nagasaki’s long history of international exchange and remains a hub of Chinese cuisine, architecture, and festivals—most famously the Nagasaki Lantern Festival.
A small china town in Nagasaki. Restaurants and gift stores. Unfortunate all the restaurants were closed for lunch but plenty of food stalls still open.
