December Events

Use these links to jump to your area, or check out the calendar just below to see an organised view of events across Nagasaki and their dates!

 

Hokusho Area ・ Sasebo Area ・ Goto Area ・Nishisonogi Area 

Omura Area ・ Nagasaki City Area ・ Isahaya Area ・ Shimabara Peninsula Area

Hokusho Area

Hirado

Night Museum
December 1st (Monday) – January 12th (Monday), Light up: 6pm – 9pm
Hirado Park, Hirado City
長崎県平戸市田平町小手田免823-1　平戸公園
Spend an evening or two walking around the grounds of this museum at night. There are numerous colourful light displays and perfect photo spots to experience! Check out more from here: https://www.hirado-net.com/pblog/nm2025.html

Tabira Park Light Festival
December 6th (Saturday) – January 12th (Monday), Light up: 5pm – 9pm
Hirado Park, Hirado City
長崎県平戸市田平町小手田免823-1　平戸公園
Tabira Park is entirely  illuminated with 160,000 lights. Visitors can enjoy unique illuminations, including handmade objects crafted from locally thinned wood and a tunnel adorned with lights of the park’s wisteria trellis. Check out more from here: https://www.discover-nagasaki.com/en/events_multilingual/63109

Hirado Commemorative Event
7th (Sunday), 10am – 3pm
Hirado IC, next to the Central Nishikai Agricultural Centre
ながさき西海農協中央ライスセンター横, 佐世保市江迎町栗越214-2付近
Celebrate the opening of the IC Centre in Hirado with plenty of activities and events! From dinosaur roars, to food galore, there’s something for everyone! Check out this website to see more information about the different events on the day: https://www.hirado-net.com/pblog/hiradoicevent.html

 

Sasebo Area

Sasebo

Fishery Festival
6th (Saturday) – 7th (Sunday), 9am – 5pm
 Temporary Plaza, Shinminato Town, Sasebo City
〒857-0855　長崎県佐世保市新港町（新みなと暫定広場）
This festival is held every year. It has a wide variety of processed seafood products from the city, including Higashihama’s wind-dried sardines and “Kujukushima iriko,” which convey all the deliciousness of the sea. There will also be many events such as an exhibition and sale of processed marine products, a limited sale of Kujukushima oysters, a mock auction market, and a grilled fish corner. Check out more information here: https://www.sasebo99.com/event/61271

Mikawachi Ware Fair
November 21st (Friday) – December 25th (Thursday)
Mikawachi Town, Sasebo City
〒859-3151　長崎県佐世保市三川内町（三川内皿山一帯）
“Mikawachi-yaki” has more than 400 years of history since the first kiln was started. It is designated as the National Traditional Craft, and the products are the local specialty that represent Sasebo city. At this fair, potters and trading companies from three Sarayama(Mikawachi, Kihara, Enaga, the villages of ceramic art) welcome you with a wide selection of Mikawachi ceramics in front of Mikawachi-yaki Traditional Industry Hall. Check out more information here: https://www.discover-nagasaki.com/en/events_multilingual/61827

Kira Kira Festival
November 21st (Friday) – December 25th (Thursday)
Shimase Park/ Sasebo Park Area, Sasebo City
長崎県佐世保市（島瀬公園・佐世保公園他）
With Shimase Park as the main venue, the parks, streets, and arcades of the central shopping district are decorated with illuminations, making it a winter tradition in Sasebo. You can also enjoy 1 million illuminations and various events held during the period. Check out more information here: https://www.sasebo99.com/event/51730

Huis Ten Bosch Count Down Fireworks
31st (Wednesday), 10am – 2am
Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo City
長崎県佐世保市ハウステンボス町（ハウステンボス）
Approximately 8,000 fireworks will be launched in 2025, creating a spectacular display that combines musical fountains and illuminations. The show of colors and lights dancing in the night sky will give visitors a special New Year’s Eve moment. The venue has multiple viewing spots such as the water garden and marine front, and you can enjoy the event in a variety of styles including decks, terraces, and paired seating. Check out more info here: https://www.huistenbosch.co.jp/event/countdown/2025/seat/

 

Goto Area

 
Goto
 
Naru Pride・’奈留自慢市・なっじまんいち‘
7th (Saturday), 10am – 12:20pm
Goto City Naru General Gymnasium
五島市奈留総合体育館
Celebrate the pride of Naru with this small festival. From buying local fish to viewing a dance performance, there’s plenty packed into these 2 hours! Check out more information here (JPNS only): https://www.city.goto.nagasaki.jp/community/naru_jimanichi.pdf
 
The Last Sunset Viewing・’最後の夕日鑑賞会‘
31st (Wednesday)
Tamanoura, Tamanoura Town, Goto City
長崎県五島市玉之浦町玉之浦
Say goodbye to the last setting sun of the year. People gather together at the outlook near the sea to view the sun dipping behind the horizon.  Check out more information here (JPNS only): https://goto.nagasaki-tabinet.com/event/62253

 

Nishisonogi Area

Togitsu

Togitsu Illumination
1st (Monday) – 26th (Friday), 5pm – 9:30
Togitsu Waterfront Park
時津ウォーターフロント公園、時津町
Delight in a multitude of lights and colours and experience Togitsu in a shimmering spectacle with this year’s illumination! Check out the website here (JPNS only): https://www.town.togitsu.nagasaki.jp/event/9433.html

 

Omura Area

Higashisonogi

‘Let’s Speak Japanese’ Class 
7th (Sunday), 1:30pm – 4pm
Meiji Historical House, Higashisonogi Town
明治の民家、東彼杵町
Turn your Japanese learning experience into a more immersive opportunity with this class! The topic for this class is learning about the local sights of Higashisonogi! Ride on a bus into the city, learn about the local shrine and walk around an onsen! Attending the class is free, so why not give it a go? You must apply before hand, so be sure to check out the pamphlet for more info here: https://www.town.higashisonogi.lg.jp/soshiki/somuka/3/chiikidukuri/3488.html

 

Nagasaki City Area

Korean Cooking Class
6th (Saturday), 10am – 1pm
2F Cooking Room, Nagasaki City Civic Hall
Cost: ¥500
長崎市民会館　2階　調理実習室（長崎市魚の町5番1号）
Learn to cook Korean food with other Nagasaki residents! Joining on the day is also welcomed. Check out the menu and more information here: https://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/page/65981.html

Pokémon Paper Craft Exhibit
Until December 7th (Sunday)
Nagasaki Museum of History and Culture
〒850-0007　長崎歴史文化博物館、長崎市立山1丁目1番1号
Appreciate the art of paper sculpting with this exhibition, which showcases about 90 works by 20 Japanese artists, who have taken on the challenge to create Pokémon-inspired artworks using a variety of materials and technique. Check out this webpage for ticketing prices and more info: https://www.nmhc.jp/pickup_english/pokemon-x-kogei-playful-encounters-of-pokemon-and-japanese-craft/

Oyster ‘Kaki’ Cooking Event
Until March 29th (Sunday), 10am – 4pm
Next to Tachibana Fishery, Toishi Town, Nagasaki City
Cost: ¥1,700 (Includes 1kg of oysters, coal & chopsticks)
たちばな漁協直売所「うおふく」横（長崎市戸石町2164-22）
Oysters are in full season during winter! Head to Tachibana and enjoy the grilled delicacy of ‘Kaki’ oysters! Check out more information here: https://www.city.nagasaki.lg.jp/page/70681.html

Planetarium Evening “Under the Shooting Stars”
13th (Saturday), 6pm – 7pm
Nagasaki Science Museum, Nagasaki City
長崎市科学館
Watch the shooting stars of the Gemini Meteor Shower at the Planetarium. Advanced booking and an entry fee of ¥520 is required. See the website for more information: https://www.nagasaki-kagakukan.jp/events/1377/

 

Isahaya Area

Light Fantasia Night
November 29th (Saturday) – January 4th (Sunday)
Central Exchange Plaza in front of City Hall, Higashikoji Town
市役所前中央交流広場（東小路町）
A fantastic light-up event with huge light patterns sprawling across the grass and electric illuminations that fill the ground with light.Check out more information here: https://www.iwafu.com/jp/events/1042451

Soba Festival
14th (Sunday), 11am –
Takagi City Hall Parking Lot, Isahaya City
高来支所駐車場, 諫早市役所
Delight in Isahaya’s traditional soba at this event! Each bowl of soba is ¥500 each. Check out more information here: https://isahayakosodate.jp/event/1807.html

 

Shimabara Peninsula Area

Shimabara

Winter Night Fantasia
7th (Sunday) – January 11th (Sunday), Light up: 5:30pm – 10pm
Chuo Park, Shimabara City
長崎県島原市中央公園ほか
It began as a symbol of hope for recovery from the Unzen-Fugen Volcanic Disaster, and it is held in places such as Chuo Park and the arcade streets. Popular photo spots and “interactive illuminations,”  light up the area with around 200,000 lights. Be sure to check out more info here: https://www.discover-nagasaki.com/en/events_multilingual/51747 and here (JPNS Only): https://www.city.shimabara.lg.jp/page933.html

Clean Up Shimabara Castle 
20th (Saturday), 8:30am – 10:30am
Shimabara Castle, Shimabara City
島原城天守閣前
Express gratitude and respect to Shimabara Castle, the symbol of Shimabara City, and carry out a simultaneous cleaning of Shimabara Castle. Be sure to check out more info here (JPNS only):https://www.city.shimabara.lg.jp/page18560.html

 

Minamishimabara

Festivitas Natalis
6th (Saturday), 1pm – 8pm
Kitaarima Town, Minamishimabara City
長崎県南島原市北有馬町
Take a step back in time to 400 years in the past to celebrate a group of four young men who were sent to Europe as the Tensho Embassy to learn western music, art, astronomy, Latin, and religion there. This festival is a Christmas event which recreates the atmosphere at that time. Be sure to check out more info here (JPNS Only): http://festivitas.web.fc2.com/posuta-2025-10.htm