Non-ALT Events
Below are a list of events that are not hosted by ALTs, but worth checking out!
All of these events have been submitted by ALTs around the prefecture for your viewing. For more, check out the official Discover Nagasaki Facebook page.
These events are yearly and the dates may change. Please note that some links may be outdated.
January
Event: New Year Marathon 新春マラソン
Location: 芦辺町 Ashibe Town, Iki
Date: First or second weekend of the month
Other: Run 5km, 10km, or half-marathon.
February
Event: Setsubun (Bean Scattering Festival)
Location: Tomatsu Shrine, Omura
Date: February 3rd
Details: Catch packs of beans to win prizes based on the number attached, which has included TVs. Also cheap food and drinks at the shrine.
Event: Oyster Festival
Location: Sasebo’s Kujukushima Pearl Sea Resort.
Date: Saturday, Sundays and holidays in February.
March
Event: 河津桜・シロウオまつり Kawazu Cherry Blossoms and Shirouo Fishing.
Location: Saza River
Date: Late February – Early March
Details: The blooming of sakura coincides with the peak season for white goby fish along the Saza river. You can see the sakura bloom while witnessing this local fishing festival.
Event: Omura Hana Matsuri (Omura Flower Festival)
Location: Omura Park
Date: Late March to Early June
Details: Visit Omura’s amazing cherry blossoms and other flowers. See the provided link for general estimates on bloom schedules.
April
Event: Matsumoto Azalea Flower Festival
Location: Matsumoto Azalea Park
Date: April (varies each year)
Details: Access to the park generally opens in early April and go until early May – however, the exact date varies from year to year depending on when the flowers bloom.
Event: Isahaya Gourmet Festival (諫早グルメフェスティバル)
Location: Isahaya City Hall
Date: Late April
Details: Many local eateries showcase their popular dishes and diners vote for their favorites.
May
Event: Kayaze Fireflies
Location: Tajimo-machi, Omura City
Date: Early May to early June, 1 hour after sunset
Details: Although there are no food stalls like a traditional matsuri/festival event, seeing the large gatherings of fireflies along the river itself is a magical and memorable experience that makes the trip well worth it.
June
Event: Iris Gardens (Blue Flag Festival)
Location: Kushima Castle
Date: Early June, check website for blooming times.
Details: Flowers bloom in the moats of Kushima Castle. Check out cool musical performances and folk art!
Event: Iki Cycle Festival 壱岐サイクルフェスティバル
Location: 50km of scenic roads in Iki
Date: Early-mid June
Details: Largest class-cycling festival in Kyushu.
July
Event: Iki – Gounoura Gion Yamakasa 郷ノ浦祇園山笠
Location: Gounoura town 郷ノ浦町
Date: Mid-end July
Details: Men carry huge festival floats around the town. There are many different floats that correspond to different shrines in the town.
Event: Isahaya Lantern River Festival (諫早万灯川まつり)
Location: Takashiro Park and Honmyo River
Date: July 25th
Details: Lanterns are set afloat on the river to honor the lives lost in the Great Flood. Locals wear their yukata and enjoy the food stalls and firework displays.
August
Event: Omura Nagoshi Matsuri (Omura Summer Festival)
Location: Just outside Omura JR Station
Date: August 1st – 3rd (2018)
Details: This event kicks off with fireworks on the first night of the event. The event finishes after three nights with a large parade.
Event: Obon Fireworks in Iki
Location: Katsumoto 勝本
Date: Obon
Details: Each town has a fireworks show. The biggest fireworks show is in Katsumoto 勝本, the most northern town of the island. The 2018 show had 2200 fireworks.
September
Event: Huis Ten Bosch Wine and Beer Festival
Location: Huis Ten Bosch, Sasebo
Date: September – October
Details: After illuminations.
Event: Isahaya Mini-Triathalon
Location: Kantaku no Sato
Date: September 2nd (9 am ~ 12 pm)
Details: Teams of six run, swim, bike, and gata-ski through east Isahaya. The gata-ski involves pushing yourself through a muddy rice paddy on a wooden board. Cheer on ALTs and possibly join!
Event: Nonnoko Festival (諫早のんのこ祭り)
Location: Isahaya Shopping Arcade & City Hall
Date: September 15th (AM children, PM adults)
Details: Nonnoko is a traditional dance, unique to Isahaya. Thousands of dancers, of all ages, click small plates in their hands and parade through the streets.
October
Event: Walk and Cruise in Shinkamigoto
Location: Shinkamigoto
Date: October 6-7th
Event: Hirado City Walk (ひらどツーデーウォーク)
Location: Greater Hirado Area (Ikitsuki, Hirado, Tabira)
Date: October 13-14th
Details: Course lengths range between 5 km – 30 km. The walks are not consecutive but run separately over the two days (you can also do just one day). Registration fee 1500 yen for adults (per day). Registration deadline September 7th.
Event: Yosakoi Festival
Location: Sasebo
Date: October 19-20th
Details:
YOSAKOI is an energetic Japanese dance style which combines elements of traditional Japanese dance and music with a variety of modern influences (jazz, rock, hip hop, samba etc.), and is performed at a number of festivals throughout Japan.
If you haven’t seen the festival yet. Check out this video from here!
Every October Sasebo City hosts the YOSAKOI Sasebo Matsuri. The city also hosts an international exchange team called ‘International Team – GO!! -’ The team’s concept is to broaden our mutual understanding of each other’s cultures through the Yosakoi dance. This is a great opportunity for ALTs to make new friends and experience a unique part of modern Japanese culture.
You can learn more about this by visiting the Sasebo E-Channel website.
https://saseboechan.com/2024/08/29/yosakoimemberwanted2024/
Event: Iki Ultra Marathon 壱岐ウルトラマラソン
Date: October 20th
Other: 50km or 100km race around the island. Registration ends August 31st.
Event: Matsuura Naval Festival (松浦水軍まつ)
Location: Matsuura
Date: Late October (2017: 10/28-29)
Details: A festival celebrating the successful repelling of the Mongol invasion of Japan. The festival features people dressed in samurai armour and lively parades down the main road of Matsuura.
November
Event: Omura Aki Matsuri (Omura Autumn Festival)
Location: Omura Sea Hat
Date: November 4th
Event: Oyster Festival
Location: Sasebo
Date: Saturday and Sundays in November
December
Event: Kira Kira Festival
Location: Sasebo
Date: Third week of November- December 24th