Nagasaki travel guide

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The city in harmony with foreign countries cultures

Nagasaki-city has many oversea countries cultures and the significant Japanese histories

like no other areas. The fascinating Nagasaki-city has been created since Japan began exchanging

with foreign countries during the National isolation period. In addition to above features, the

geographical conditions are creating fascinating tourism and now many tourists are visiting here.

 

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Historical features

1）National isolation in Japan

     Nagasaki is the only place opened to oversea countries ( just Dutch and China ) during the

     National isolation period from 1639 to 1854.

     And trading with Dutch was done at artificial island Dejima.

2) Christian Pilgrimage sites

    Japan’s unique practice of the Christian faith continued in Nagasaki region even during the ban

    on Christianity from 1587 to 1859.There are many Christian Pilgrimage site and

    Hidden Christian Sites in Nagasaki region is registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage in 2018.

3) Japan’s Industry modernization

    Shipbuilding, and Coal Mining, industries in Nagasaki were great contributed Japan’s Industry

    modernization. And 5 sites of these industries are registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage as

    Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution         

4) Atomic bomb

   The Atomic bomb exploded at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945.

    The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost.

    Nagasaki is now appealing for World Peace, Disastrous War must not be repeated.

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Peace Park

Established in 1955 near the Ground Zero where the Atomic Bomb was dropped at 11:02 am on

Aug. 09, 1945. Peace Memorial Ceremony is held in front of the statue on August 9 every year and

the Mayor of Nagasaki makes the “Nagasaki peace declaration” for the whole world.

 

Peace Statue Completed in 1955, ten years after the atomic bombing

Peace Fountain Reminds the tragic scene unfolded shortly after the dropped Atomic Bomb

Ground Zero The Atomic bomb exploded about 500m over the central  monument

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Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution UNESCO World Heritages sites  

The origin of Japan’s modernization is here.  Under the growing sense of crisis over a foreign

menace, Nagasaki supported the introduction of Western countries technology, which started

during the last years of Japan’s National isolation period. With “ Dejima ” as the only window

to West during the period of National isolation. Nagasaki contributed for Shipbuilding and Coal

Mining and 7 sites have been registered on the UNESCO World Heritage. 

 

Glover House

Hashima island /  Gunkan-jima island

Giant Cantilever Crane

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Christian Pilgrimage sites in Nagasaki

 

Oura Cathedral  / UNESCO World Heritage

Basilica of Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan.     

One of the famous landmarks in Nagasaki-city, was built in 1865 under the supervision of 

the French priest Bernard Petitjean. It was designated as a National Treasure in 1933 for

its value as Japan’s oldest Gothic-style cathedral.

 

Entrance gate of Oura Cathedral

Japan’s oldest Gothic-style Cathedral building

Statue of Mary, at entrance of Cathedral, installed in 1867

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Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan     

Nishizaka hill, the site of Martyrdom in 1597

The martyrs said that  ” All people, bless God ”

The 26 Japanese martyrs have  been canonized in 1862

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Sotome Pilgrimage sites   / UNESCO World Heritage

When he discovered the underground Christians, Petitjean realized that there were many other

Christians hiding in the Sotome region.He appointed de Rotz as the parish priest of the Shitsu and

Kurosaki districts.    

 

Shitsu Church

Former Shitsu Aid Centre

The statue of Mary

 

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Featured destinations

 

Mount Inasa   World’s three great night veiw  can be seen from the summit

Megane-bashi bridge The oldest stone arch bridge in Japan

Kazagashira Park Magnificent view of Nagasaki, on the other side of Mt. Inasa

 

Dejima Only the trading port in Japan  during Natinal isolation

Urakami Cathedral Newly constructed church, after destroyed by Atomic bomb

Sofukuji temple  The first Chinese style temple in Nagasaki

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China town One of the three big China  town in Japan

Confucius Shrine   The world’s only Confucian shrine built outside China by Chinese hands

Suwa Shrine The spiritual and cultural hub for the citizens of Nagasaki

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Nagaaski Wharf Elegant international & domestic tourist harbour

Kofukuji Temple A Chinese temple to pray for safe navigation

Nagasaki Pearl Nagasaki-prefecture is the birthplace of pearls

 

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Tour results

We are offering various types of tours, and the tour results up to now are shown links below.

Tailor-made tour     Study tour     Golf tour

 

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History of Japanese Christianity

1549  St. Francis Xavier came Kagoshima Japan as a first Christian missionary and

           commenced the Christian history in Japan

1550  St. Francis Xavier came Hirado as a Christian missionary

1551  Catholic Hirado Church was constructed as first church in Japan

1557   Introduction of Catholicism to Ikitsuki, Kasuga in Hirado

1563  Omura Sumitada, feudral lord of Nagasaki who was first lord convert to Christianity

1569  Todos os Santos Church was constructed as first in Nagasaki

1571  Nagasaki Port was opend to Portugal by feudral lord Omura Sumitada

1580   Arima Harunobu, lord of Arima convert to Christianity and the Seminario was

          established in Kuchinotsu as first in Japan

1582  Arima Harunobu teamed up with Kyushu Christian lords Otomo Sorin and ura Sumitada

          to dispatch the Tensho Mission to the Pope in Rome

1587  Shogunate, Toyotomi Hideyoshi proclaimed Christian ban

1590  The Tensho Mission retured to Nagasaki

1597  The Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan, were a group of Catholics who were

          executed by crucifixion on February 5 at Nagasaki. Their martyrdom is especially

          significant in the history of the Catholic Church in Japan.

 

1603 Tokugawa Shogunate was established and the natioanl isolation policy was appied

1614 The Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited Christianity throughout Japan

Continue Christian faith during the ban period in the following hidden Christian sites resistered on

the UNESCO World Hiritage Sites

・Kasuga Village in Hitado

・Ikitsuki in Hirado

・Sotome district

・Goto island

・Amakusa

 

1622 five Christians were martyred at Nakae no Shima in Hirado

1624 three Christians were martyred at Nakae no Shima in Hirado

1627 twenty seven Christians were martyred at Unzen Jigoku

1637 Shimabara Rebellion : a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians

         under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro

1637 Lorenzo Luiz from Philippines martyred at Nashizaka hill in Nagasaki

1641 Dejima, the small artificial island was opened as Dutch trading port in Nagasaki 

1644  Last Christian missionary in Japan is martyred

 

1862     The 26 Japanese Martyrs at Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaki were canonized by Pope Pius IX.

1865     Oura Cathedral was built as the basilica of Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan 

1868     Meiji Restoration : led to enormous changes in Japan’s political and social structure and

             spanned both the late Edo period and the beginning of the Meiji period.  

1873     Ban on the Christianity was lifted

1882     Shitsu Church in Sotome construction started by Father de Rotz’s design

1909     Shitsu Church was completed 

1914     Urakami Cathedral construction was compleeted, it was the largest Catholic church in East Asia

              at that time

1912     Yamada Church in Hirado was constructed

1917     Tabira Church in Hirado was construted

1920     Kurosaki Church was completed by Father de Rotz’s design

1931     St. Francis Xavier Memorial Church in Hirado was constructed at the present location

1945     Atomic bomb dropped in Nagasaki on Aug. 9

　　　　The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed, and a tremendous number of lives were lost.  

              and Urakami Cathedral was completely destroyed.

　　　　About 73,000 died instantly, and up to 60,000 were injured.

 

1950     Pope Pius XII designated the Nishizaka Hill in Nagasaaki of Martyrdom of 26 Japanese

             Saintsas an official Pilgrimage site for Catholics

1959     Urakami Cathedral replacement was built

1981     Pope John Paul II visited in Nagasaki

1982     Saint Teresa of Calcutta commonly known as Mother Teresa visited in Nagasaki

1987    Satint Lorenzo Ruiz was canonized by the same pope in the Vatican city on 18 October,

            making him the first Filipino Saint

2000    Ebdo Shusaku ( novelist of Silence ) Literary Museum is opened in Sotome

2018    Hidden Christian site is registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage

 

2019     Pope Francis visited Nagasaki on Nov.24 and and calls for a ‘world without Nuclear

             Weapons’ at the Ground Zero.

 

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Contact us 

 

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Nagasaki Pilgrimage one-day tour   Nagasaki Pilgrimage 3 days tour   Nagasaki Pilgrimage 6 days tour

 

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Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

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The peaceful Sotome, the setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence

Sotome area of Nagasaki-city has an abundance of natural beauty in its sea, mountains and

rivers. It also is blessed with a unique history and culture of Christianity.

In particular, the area in which the Endo Shusaku Literary Museum stands is known as the site

of a Christian village, one of Endo’s most notable work, Silence, is set here.

 

From the literary museum, there is a magnificent view. In a sweep of eye one can see sun as

it majestically sets over the sea of Goto, along with the Silence Literary Monument in Shitsu

Bunka Mura. Endo Shusaku and the Sotome area are linked through Silence ; this bond has

been built up starting from when Endo was writing the novel, and continues into the present day

with the construction of literary museum.

 

Following Endo Shusaku’s death, this Literary Museum was established thanks to kindness of

his family, and was filled with Endo’s persona belongings, mementoes, manuscripts, and his

extensive collection of books.

 

The Museum exhibits trace the footsteps of Endo Shusaku as one of Japan’s greatest writers

of literature. In addition, it has facilities for collecting, preserving, and exhibiting materials

related to Endo’s public perusal and research, and operating as an information center.

 

Note : Silence

Silence is a 1966 novel of theological fiction by author Endo Shusaku, published in English

by Peter Owen Publishers. It is the story of a Jesuit missionary sent to 17th century Japan,

who endures persecution in the time of Hidden Christians that followed the defeat of the

Shimabara Rebellion. The recipient of the 1966 Tanizaki Prize, it has been called “Endo’s

supreme achievement and “one of the twentieth century’s finest novels Written partly in the

form of a letter by its central character, the theme of a silent God who accompanies a believer

in adversity was greatly influenced by the Catholic Endō’s experience of religious discrimination

in Japan, racism in France, and a debilitating bout with tuberculosis.

 

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