Nagasaki Chinatown — Oldest in Japan

**Lantern Festival (Shunsetsu):** The 15-day Chinese New Year celebration fills Shinchi and central Nagasaki with 15,000 lanterns — hanging from wires across every street, creating canopies of red and gold light. The festival includes dragon dances, acrobatic performances, and street food stalls. Peak crowds February 8-10; visit February 2-5 for lanterns with minimal crowds. **Best restaurant strategy:** Avoid the four-gate tourist zone. Walk 100m northeast to Dozamachi where local Chinese residents eat — family restaurants with menus in Chinese and Japanese (not English) serving Fujian-style home cooking at half Chinatown prices. Ask hotel concierge for 'Dozamachi no Chuka' recommendations.