Shinchi Chinatown: Nagasaki City

Chinatown is located in the centre of Nagasaki City and is also known as Shinchi. There you will find four gates facing in four different directions.  These gates are called the Seiryu-mon,  Byakko-mon, Suzaku-mon and Genbu-mon, with the suffix mon meaning gate in English.

Nagasaki`s Chinatown is a major draw card for tourists who seem to flock here in major numbers so you have to be careful to avoid the constant rush of people and the non stop clicks of cameras going off left, right and center!

There are many Chinese restaurants and stores selling Chinese goods throughout the area, allowing you to enjoy a bit of Chinese flavor in Nagasaki.  During the Chinese New Year this place serves as the center of the Nagasaki Lantern Festival, which is the feature winter event in Nagasaki. The whole area is decorated with many Chinese lanterns, drawing crowds of people from all around Japan and the world.

It's a great place to take a walk, lose yourself in a different part of Japan and soak in the rich history of the area.  The Chinese were major traders in the area for centuries and their presence can still be felt today reaching out to the masses.  The food here is very authentic as I am sure the traditional Chinese recipes have been passed down from generation to generation to carry on the traditions and make sure their culture remains strong and intact.  So, if you want some Chinese food that is as good as what it is in Shanghai then Chinatown is the place to come and experience its amazing flavors and smells.

Click here to see Nagasaki`s Shinchi Chinatown on a map!

Click on the photos below to enlarge:

The gate entrance to Chinatown

The Chinatown Arcade

Lanterns across the bridge

Have a look and feel Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown on the video below: