Japan KYUSHU Tourist  ジャパン九州ツーリスト株式会社

We are the specialist’s for travel and tours in Kyushu, Japan
warmly welcoming customers from all over the world.

九州を旅行する日本人をはじめとする、世界中の人たちの旅行会社です

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Christian Pilgrimage tours in Nagasaki region

  • Nagasaki / Oura Cathedral

 

Japan’s indigenous religion is Shinto. It is an ethnic religion that has continued from

Japan’s ancient times to the present day, and has permeated all aspects of Japanese

life and culture, and has the energy to accept foreign cultures including religions and

transform them into a Japanese style.

Japanese Buddhism was introduced through China in the 5th century and is a religion

that has now been incorporated into Japanese life along with Shinto.

 

Christian history in Japan was started when St. Francis Xavier came to Japan as a

first Christian missionary in 1549.

And Japanese Christianity has a unique history of continuing faith while coexisting 

with Japanese Religion Shinto and General society.

 

The tour visits Christian Pilgrimage sites including Martyrdom sites while

introducing the following:

How did Japan, whose main religion is Shinto, accept Christianity?

Why did Christianity spread in and around Nagasaki?

Why did Japan ban Christianity even though once accepted it?

How did Christians continue their faith during the ban period?

What kind of oppression and martyrdom took place during the ban on Christianity?

 

We have model Iineraries of Nagasaki Pilgrimage tours for making the customized tours.

Please select the most favorite plan and contact us by sending an Enquiry.

 


 

26 Saints Martyrs of Japan Pilgrimage tour

 

26 Saints are the first martyrs in Japan.

26 Christians arrested in Kyoto who were consisted of 20 Japanese,

4 Spaniards, 1 Mexican, and 1 Portuguese.

They walked from Kyoto to Nagasaki in January and February 1597.

How great were the physical and mental suffering of those 26 men who

were forced to march all the way from Kyoto to Nagasaki during these

cold winter days, and they all ascended to heaven at Nishizaka Hill

on Februay 05.


 

4 days Nagasaki Pilgrimage tour

 

Nagasaki-prefecture has arduous and sacrifice histories during the ban

on Christianity, such as Shimabara Rebellion and many religious

persecutions. Start from Fkuoka

Day 1 : Hirado

Day 2 : Hirado → Nagasaki

Day 3 : Nagasaki 

Day 4 : Nagasaki → drive to Fukuoka


 

9 days Nagasaki and Amakusa Pilgrimage tour

 

Introduce how Christians have been continued their faith 

Start from Fukuoka

Day 1 : Hirado, stay Hirado 

Day 2 : Hirado, stay Nagasaki 

Day 3 : Nagasaki, stay Nagasaki 

Day 4 : Nagasaki and Sotome, stay Nagasaki 

Day 5 : Unzen and Shimabara, Shimabara

Day 6 : Amakusa, stay Amakusa 

Day 7 : Amakusa and Kumamoto, stay Kumamoto

Day 8 : Fukuoak, Fukuoka

Day 9 : Return to Home


 

Japanese Christianity

 

Christian history in Japan was started when St. Francis

Xavier came to Japan as a first Christian missionary in 1549.

Then Christianity was spread in Nagasaki region. However, unparalleled

hidden Cristian history was started from when Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Shogunate proclaimed Christian ban in 1587. During ban on Christianity,

people secretly continued to faith while surviving in the midst of the

conventional society and Japanese religions. Since ban on the Christianity

was lifted in 1873, new Christian history in Japan has begun.


 

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26 Saints Martyrs of Japan Pilgrimage tour

 

26 Saints are the first martyrs in Japan.

 

26 Christians arrested in Kyoto who were consisted of 20 Japanese, 4 Spaniards,

1 Mexican, and 1 Portuguese.

They walked from Kyoto to Nagasaki in January and February 1597.

How great were the physical and mental suffering of those 26 men who were

forced to march all the way from Kyoto to Nagasaki during these cold

winter days, and they all ascended to heaven at Nishizaka Hill on Februay 05.

 

This tour follows the pilgrimage routes of 26 saints from Fukuoka to Nishizaka.

And also visit the relating places of 26 Saints.

 


 

The customized tour is planned as per the following conditions.

1) The tour starts from Fukuoka  

2) Private vehicle is utilized as per number of person

  ・less than 7 persons : chartered taxi with English speaking driver

  ・more than 8 persons : chartered bus with Japanese speaking driver,

       English speaking tour guide navigates the tour

3) Accommodation

   ・Type : Western style accommodation, Japanese stye accommodation called Ryokan  

   ・Grade : economy, intermediate or luxury

4) Meals :Japanese cuisines, local specialities

 


 

Day 1   Hakata to Sonogi pilgrimage route, Nagasaki

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to Fukuoka ! You will be greeted tour guide.

The privete vehicle is used for the tour

 

Pilgrimage route : Hakata Port to Sonogi Port : total 120km

Actually, 26 martyrs took 4 days for the following route 

・February 01 : Hakata port → Itoshima → Karatsu →Yamamoto ; 58km

                                stay in Yamamto

・February 02 : Yamamoto → Tokusue ; 5km

                                stay in Tokusue  

・February 03 : Tokusue → Takeo ; 31km

                                stay in Takeo

・February 04 : Takao → Ureshino → Sonogi Port : 26km

                                Sonogi Port to Tokitsu port by a boat, and stay on the boat

 

Drive to Nagasaki   

Check in the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Nagasaki 


 

Day 2   Tokitsu to Nishizaka Pilgrimage route, Nagasaki 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast at the Hotel

Drive to Tokitsu

Tokitsu Port

  The place where 26 Martyrs arrived by the boat on the cold night of February 04, 

  and dawn on February 05, they got off the ship with a cold body and landed

  at Togitsu Port

Follow the Pilgrimage route by the use of privete vehicle

  12km path to Nishizaka, the place of martyrdom. Passed through the mountain

  pass, and through Michinoo, Akasako, and Urakami

Visit Nishizaka Hill, 26 Saints Martyred on February 05, in 1597 

 

Visit the 26 Martyrs Museum  

Visit Saint Filippo de Jesus Church

Visit Nakamachi Church

Return to the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Nagasaki 


 

Day 3   Nagasaki Pilgrimage sites  

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out the Hotel

 

Visit Oura Cathedral

lunch at Dejima Warf

Visit Urakami Cathedral

Visit Peace Park 

  Atomic Bomb Museum

  Ground Zero and remained Urakami Cathedral column 

  Peace Statue

 

Drive to Fukuoka

Check in the Hotel in Fukuoka

4 days Pilgrimage tour

 

This is the model plan for making your customized tour.

 

The tour visits Christian Pilgrimage sites in Sotome, Nagasaki, Shimabara and Unzen

while introducing the following:

How did Japan, whose main religion is Shinto, accept Christianity?

Why did Christianity spread in and around Nagasaki?

Why did Japan ban Christianity even though once accepted it?

How did Christians continue their faith during the ban period?

What kind of oppression and martyrdom took place during the ban on Christianity?

 


 

The customized tour is planned as per the following conditions.

1) The tour starts from Fukuoka  

2) Private vehicle is utilized as per number of person

  ・less than 7 persons : chartered taxi with English speaking driver

  ・more than 8 persons : chartered bus with Japanese speaking driver,

       English speaking tour guide navigates the tour

3) Accommodation

   ・Type : Western style accommodation, Japanese stye accommodation called Ryokan  

   ・Grade : economy, intermediate or luxury

4) Meals :Japanese cuisines, local specialities

 


 

                                                                                                              Make an Enquiry           

Tour Price
To be quoted as per customer’s conditions mentioned above.
 

 

Itinerary   

 

Day 1   Hirado 

 

 

 

Welcome to Fukuoka ! You will be greeted tour guide.

Drive to Hitado, the place where Japanese Christianity started

Lunch at Hirado

Tabira Church

  The church was designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, a famous

  architect of various churches in Nagasaki-prefecture, and

  built between 1915

Exploring Hirado

St Francis Xavier Memorial Church

  This church is a catholic church in Hirado, Nagasaki. Hirado

  is a place where Francis Xavier visited 3 times in Japan to

  spread Christianity

Dutch Trading Post

  Set up in Hirado in 1609 as the base of operations of the

  Dutch East India Company in Japan

Check in the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Hirado 


 

Day 2   Hirado → Nagasaki 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Hirado 

Exploring Hirado

Yamada Church 

  The Church dedicated to Satint Tomas Nishi, built in 1912 

Kurose-no Tsuji Martyrdom site of Gaspar Nishi

  who was first martyr in Ikitsuki Island 

Lunch in Hirado

Nakae no Shima Island Martyrdom site observatory place 

  Located two kilometers off the coast of Hirado Island, Nakae no

  Shima is a small, uninhabited island where religious leaders

  were executed during the persecution of Christians

Drive to Nagasaki

Check in the Hotel

Own dinner at the restaurant in Nagasaki

Stay in Nagasaki


 

Day 3  Nagasaki 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast at the Hotel

Visiting Pilgrimage sites in Nagasaki

Martyrdom of 26 Saint of Japan

  Nishizaka hill is the most significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed

  by crucifixion on February 5, 1597.

The 26 Martyrs Museum

Nakamachi Church

  The Church dedicated to 16 Saints in Nagasaki including Satint Tomas Nishi

Lunch in Nagasaki

Oura Cathedral

  The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  Established 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the

  Church of 26 Martyrs.”

Glover Garden

  nine Western style buildings. The Glover’s Residence built in 1863

  and is Japan’s  oldest wooden Western–style building

Urakami Cathedral

  Constructed in 1914 after ban on Christianity, however destroyed in

  1945 by Atomic bomb, and re-built in 1959

Return to the Hotel

Own dinner at the restaurant in Nagasaki


 

Day 4  Nagasaki → Fukuoka 

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Nagasaki

Exploring Peace Park where the Atomic Bomb dropped in 1945

 Atomic Bomb Museum

  The museum exhibits a number of photograph that depict the devastation

  caused by atomic bomb showing the lead-up to this tragic day

Ground Zero

  The plutonium atomic bomb exploded about 500m over the central monument

  at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945.   The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed,

  and a tremendous number of lives were lost

Peace Statue

  Completed in 1955, ten years after the Atomic bombing. The 9.7 meter high

  statue sitting on a 4 meter tall pedestal. The raised arm points to the threat of

  nuclear weapons and the out-stretched arm symbolizes peace

Lunch in Nagasaki 

Visit Hongouch Church and Saint Kolbe Memorial Museum

 

Drive to Fukuoka

Arrive at Fukuoka, end of the tour

 

 


 

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History of Japanese Christianity

 

Christian history in Japan was started when St. Francis Xavier came to Japan as a first Christian

missionary in 1549. Then Christianity was spread in Nagasaki region. However, unparalleled

hidden Cristian history was started from when Toyotomi Hideyoshi Shogunate proclaimed Christian

ban in 1587. During ban on Christianity, people secretly continued to faith while surviving in the

midst of the conventional society and Japanese religions.

Since ban on the Christianity was lifted in 1873, new Christian history in Japan has begun.

 


 

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 by Gaspal Villera

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 natioal isolation policy was applied

1614 The Tokugawa Shogunate prohibited Christianity throughout Japan

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 against 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

 

1853     Mathew C Perry came to Uraga; the Commodore of the US navy, who played a

             significant role in Japanese history, succeeded in opening Japan to foreign countries

1854    Treaty between the USA and Japan : ending the isolation policy and opening the country

1858    Treaty of Amity and Commerce between USA, Netherlands, Russia, England, France and

            Japan ; allow religious freedom in foreign residential areas

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, the most important event in Japanese history, which heralded a new era

             of modernization in Japan. This revolution restored the imperial rule to Japan after more

             than 250years of Tokugawa Shogunate

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 completed, 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 constructed

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

             Saints as 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    Saint 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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9 days Nagasaki and Amakusa rejion Pilgrimage tour

This is the model plan for making your customized tour.

 

The tour visits Christian Pilgrimage sites in Hirado, Nagasaki, Sotome,

Unzen, Shimabara, Amakusa and Fukuoka while introducing the following :

How did Japan, whose main religion is Shinto, accept Christianity?

Why did Christianity spread in and around Nagasaki?

Why did Japan ban Christianity even though once accepted it?

How did Christians continue their faith during the ban period?

What kind of oppression and martyrdom took place during the ban on Christianity?

 


 

The customized tour is planned as per the following conditions.

1) The tour starts from Fukuoka  

2) Private vehicle is utilized as per number of person

  ・less than 7 persons : chartered taxi with English speaking driver

  ・more than 8 persons : chartered bus with Japanese speaking driver,

       English speaking tour guide navigates the tour

3) Accommodation

   ・Type : Western style accommodation, Japanese stye accommodation called Ryokan  

   ・Grade : economy, intermediate or luxury

4) Meals :Japanese cuisines, local specialities

 


 

                                                                                                                  Make an Enquiry          

Tour Price
To be quoted as per customer’s conditions mentioned above. 
 

 

Itinerary

 

Day 1   Hirado 

 

 

 

Welcome to Fukuoka ! You will be greeted tour guide.

Drive to Hitado

Lunch at Hirado, local cusine

Tabira Church

  The church was designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, a famous

  architect of various churches in Nagasaki-prefecture, and

  built between 1915

Exploring Hirado

St Francis Xavier Memorial Church

  This church is a catholic church in Hirado, Nagasaki. Hirado

  is a place where Francis Xavier visited 3 times in Japan to

  spread Christianity

Dutch Trading Post

  Set up in Hirado in 1609 as the base of operations of the

  Dutch East India Company in Japan

Check in the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Hirado 


 

Day 2   Hirado 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Hirado 

Exploring Hirado

Hoki Church 

  The Church built in 1898, at the place overlooking the sea

Yamada Church 

  The Church dedicated to Satint Tomas Nishi, built in 1912 

Kurose-no Tsuji Martyrdom site

Lunch in Hirado

Nakae no Shima Island Martyrdom site observatory place 

  Located two kilometers off the coast of Hirado Island, Nakae no

  Shima is a small, uninhabited island where religious leaders

  were executed during the persecution of Christians

Drive to Nagasaki

Check in the Hotel

Own dinner at the restaurant in Nagasaki

Stay in Nagasaki


 

Day 3  Nagasaki

 

 

 

Breakfast at the Hotel

Martyrdom of 26 Saint of Japan

  Nishizaka hill is the most significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed

  by crucifixion on February 5, 1597.

the 26 Martyrs Museum

Oura Cathedral

  The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  Established 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the

  Church of 26 Martyrs.”

Glover Garden

  nine Western style buildingsThe Glover’s Residence built in 1863

  and is Japan’s  oldest wooden Western–style building

Lunch in Nagasaki

Dejima

Urakami Cathedral

Return to the Hotel

Own dinner at the restaurant in Nagasaki

Stay in Nagasaki


 

Day 4  Nagasaki

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast at the Hotel

Exploring Peace Park where the Atomic Bomb dropped in 1945

 Atomic Bomb Museum

  The museum exhibits a number of photograph that depict the devastation

  caused by atomic bomb showing the lead-up to this tragic day

Ground Zero

  The plutonium atomic bomb exploded about 500m over the central monument

  at 11:02 a.m. on August 9, 1945.   The most part of Nagasaki was destroyed,

  and a tremendous number of lives were lost

Peace Statue

  Completed in 1955, ten years after the Atomic bombing. The 9.7 meter high

  statue sitting on a 4 meter tall pedestal. The raised arm points to the threat of

  nuclear weapons and the out-stretched arm symbolizes peace

Drive to Sotome

Lunch at Sotome

Shitsu Church

  On an elevation commanding a view over the Sea of Goto, Father

  Marc Marie de Rotz established a church at his own expense 1882

Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

  The setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome is blessed with a

  unique history and culture of Christianity

Drive to Nagasaki 

Own dinner at the restaurant in Nagasaki

Stay in Nagasaki


 

Day 5  Unzen & Shimabara 
 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Nagasaki

Drive to Unzen

Nita Pass

  One of the best scenic spot in Unzen. At any time of the year the

  natural scenery of Nita Pass in Unzen is magnificent. Azaleas, green

  leaves, brilliant autumnal tints of maples and silver frost represent 

  each season of the year

Visit Unzen Church

Unzen Jigoku Martyrdom site

  Jigoku, means Hell, is the number one attraction of Unzen with a

  peculiar smell of sulfur emitted from the springs, and with white smoke

  rising from the ground over a wide area

Lunch at Unzen Obama

Drive to Shimabara 

Harajo Castle ruins

  The Christian pilgrimage site, registered on UNESCO’s World

  Heritage Site. The battle field of Shimabara Rebellion which was

  a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians

  under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637

Shimabara Castle

  it was built in 1625 by the feudal load Matsukura Shigemasa,

  who was regarded as a master of castle building

Check in the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Shimabara 


 

Day 6  Amakusa

     

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Shimabara

Drive to Minami-shimabara

Harajo Castle ruins

  The Christian pilgrimage site, registered on UNESCO’s World

  Heritage Site. The battle field of Shimabara Rebellion which was

  a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution of Christians

  under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637

Transfer to Amakusa from Kuchinotsu by a ferry

Lunch in Amakusa

Visit Amakusa Shiro Memorial Museum 

Check in the Hotel

Dinner at the Hotel

Stay in Amakusa

 


 

Day 7  Amakusa & Kumamoto                                    

 

 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Amakusa 

Visiting Christian sites in Amakusa

Oe Cathedral

  The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first

  churches built right after the ban on Christianity was lifte

Sakitsu Village / UNESCO World Heritage

  A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village.

  In 1934, a Freh priest Augustin Halbout MEP purchased the

  premises of the former village headman and built a wooden and

  concrete finished church

Lunch in Amakusa

Drive to Kumamoto using Amakusa Gokyo / Pearl line

Sakurano-baba Josaien

  Josaien is located in Sakurano-baba, at the foot of Kumamoto

  Castle

Kumamoto Castle

  The Castle is one of the three great castles and one of the 100

  best places in Japan to view cherry blossoms. Due to the

  Earthquakes in 2016, the Castle have heavy damages and many

  of Castle buildings were destroyed. After that the restoration

  activities are being performed as fast as possible

Check in the Hotel

Own dinner at the restaurant in Kumamoto

Stay in Kumamoto 


 

Day 8  Fukuoka 

 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Kumamoto 

Drive to Fukuoka 

Arrive  at Fukuoka and Check in theHotel

Free and Easy

Stay in Fukuoka


 

Day 9 

 

 

After breakfast, check out of the Hotel in Fukuoka  

Drive to Fukuoka airport 

Return to Home


 

Travelling Map

 

 


 

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Christian Pilgrimage sites in Nagasaki Region

                                                                                                                                            HOME  

 

Hidden Christian site is registered on UNESCO’s World Heritage. Japanese Christianity has

a long history of continuing faith while coexisting with Japanese traditional religion Shinto and

General society. Japan’s unique practice of the Christian faith continued even during the ban

on Christianity. Hidden Christian Site in NagasakiShimabara , Hirado and Amakusa Regions

bear unique testimony to the tradition of people and their communities who secretly transmitted

their faith in Christianity while surviving in the midst of the conventional society and its religions

during the time of prohibition.

 


 

Nagasaki  & Sotome

 

 


 

Oura Cathedral  / UNESCO World Heritage

Basilica of Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan. 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.

 


 

Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan     

On February 5, 1597, Paulo Miki and 25 others were crucified for their belief in God on order of
Toyotomi Hideyoshi. The martyrs including four Spaniards, one from Goa, India, one Mexican and 
20 Japanese demonstrated their spiritual unity despite differences in races, ages and professions.
 


 

 Sotome area Hidden Christian Site  / UNESCO World Heritage 

Sotome is located between Nagasaki-city and Saikai-city, and face to East China Sea. 

During the ban on Christianity from 17 century to end of the 19 century, Sotome was

home to communities of  “Hidden Christians”, many of whom emigrated there from

other parts of Nagasaki as the remote region allowed them to practice their religion

in secret. French missionary Father Marc Marie de Rotz played a large role in 

reestablishing the religion in the area. He established Shitsu Church on a hill

overlooking the sea.

 


 

Urakami Cathedral

Originally constructed in 1895 as a brick Romanesque building, after a long-standing ban on

Christianity was lifted. When completed in 1914, it was the largest Catholic church in East Asia.

The atomic bomb dropped on August 9, 1945 explored in Urakami, only 500m from the cathedral,

which was completely destroyed. What remained of the cathedral is now on display in the 

Atomic Bomb Museum.

 


 

Shimabara  Unzen / Nagasaki-prefecture

 

 


 

Harajo Castle Ruins / UNESCO World Heritage

The Battle field of Shimabara Rebellion which was a peasant uprising agaist bakufu’s persecution

of Christians under the leadership of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.  Christian farmers rose in a riot due

to their grievance about the oppression by Matsukura Shigemasa. The Shogunate regarded this

riot as Christian rebellion and sent its punitive force, therefore locked themselves in the castle and

with their leader Amakusa Shiro Tokisada fought against the Shogunate. On February 27, 1638,

he died in battle. The following day, the castle fell. 37,000 Christians including women and children

died a violent death.

 


 

Unzen jigoku

Jigoku, means Hell, is the number one attraction of Unzen with a peculiar smell of sulfur emitted

from the springs, and with white smoke rising from the ground over a wide area.

Unfortunately, this was once put into reality nearly 350 years ago during the time of religious

persecution in Japan.  30 Japanese Christians, failing to renounce their faith met  their death

here in the scalding spring of Jigoku.

 


 

Hirado  / Nagasaki-prefecture

 

 


 

Christianity in Hirado

When the religion was banned in the early Edo Period, and the Christians were forced to give up their

religion, a few believers, known as the “Hidden Christians”, continued to practice their religion in secret

for over two centuries. Some did so in the remote villages of Hirado Island.

In the late 1800s, the ban on Christianity was lifted, and many of the Hidden Christians rejoined the

Catholic Church and built new churches with the assistance of foreign priests. A few also refrained from

rejoining because their religious practices evolved quite a bit over the centuries to a degree where they

were not compatible with Catholicism anymore.

 

Nakae no Shima / UNESCO World Heritage

Located two kilometers off the coast of Hirado Island, Nakae no Shima is a small, uninhabited island

where religious leaders were executed during the persecution of Christians. The island is considered

sacred, and water collected there is used for baptism.

 


 

Kasuga Village   / UNESCO World Heritage

This idyllic, remote village was refuge to a small community of Hidden Christians who practiced here

for centuries, far from the prying eyes of the government. After the ban on Christianity was lifted, the

local villagers decided to continue practicing their own unique brand of the religion rather than rejoin

the Catholic Church. As a result, churches were not erected in the village, and the religion remains

outwardly invisible.

 


 

Tabira Church

The church was designed by Tetsukawa Yosuke, a famous architect of various churches in

Nagasaki-prefecture, and built between December 1915 and October 1917. It is one of the latest

brick churches in the prefecture of Nagasaki. Tetsukawa Yosuke has called this one of his best works.

 


 

Amakusa / Kumamoto-prefecture

 

 


 

Hidden Christian of Amakusa

Christianity was first brought to Japan in 1549 by a Jesuit priest named Francis Xavier when trading

opened in Kagoshima. Not long after, it spread to neighboring areas such as Nagasaki and Amakusa.

In 1614, the Tokugawa regime felt threatened by the growth of Christianity out of their fear of

colonialism. Persecutions began and the eradication of Christianity started. Missionaries and priests

alike were killed, while those who practiced Christianity were given an option to renounce their faith or

face death. Some chose to convert to Shintoism and Buddhism in order to hide their Christian faith.

Fed up with famine and cruel treatment, peasants from Amakusa organized a rebellion to fight against

the regime. This resulted in the Shimbara Rebellion, which is considered as one of the largest revolts

during the Edo period.

 

Oe Cathedral 

The oldest Catholic Church in Amakusa and was one of the first churches built right after the ban

on Christianity was lifted. The and Romanesque-style architecture and the chalky white structure

was rebuilt in 1933 by a French missionary priest named Father Garnier using his own money and

contributions from local Christians living in the area.

 


 

Sakitsu Village   / UNESCO World Heritage

A Gothic-looking church is located on a cove of a fishing village. In 1934, a French priest Augustin

Halbout MEP purchased the premises of the former village headman and built a wooden and

concrete finished church, with Tetsukawa Yosuke’s design and construction. He placed the altar

at the very site where fumie or a test to ensure non-allegiance to Christianity had been conducted.

 


 

Amakusa Shiro Memorial Hall

The theme Museum shows History of Christianity in Amakusa and Shimabara Rebellion

which was a peasant uprising against bakufu’s persecution of Christians under the leadership

of Amakusa Shiro in 1637.

 

 


 

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Nagasaki Pilgrimage one-day tour

 

This is the model plan for making your customized tour.

 

The tour visits Christian Pilgrimage sites in Sotome and Nagasaki

while introducing the following:

How did Japan, whose main religion is Shinto, accept Christianity?

Why did Christianity spread in and around Nagasaki?

Why did Japan ban Christianity even though once accepted it?

How did Christians continue their faith during the ban period?

What kind of oppression and martyrdom took place during the ban on Christianity?

 


 

The customized tour is planned as per the following.

1) The tour starts from Fukuoka  

2) Private vehicle is utilized as per number of person

  ・less than 7 persons : chartered taxi with English speaking driver

  ・more than 8 persons : chartered bus with Japanese speaking driver,

       English speaking tour guide navigates the tour

3) Meals :Japanese cuisines, local specialities

 


 

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Tour Price
To be quoted as per customer’s conditions mentioned above.
 

 

Itinerary 

 

 

 

 

 

8:00 Star the tour at the designated place in Fukuoka

Dirive to to Nagasaki, 2 hours

Visiting Sotome Pilgrimage site ; region was home to communities

  of Hidden Christians   

Shitsu Church

  On an elevation commanding a view over the Sea of Goto, Father

  Marc Marie de Rotz established a church at his own expense 1882

Endo Shusaku Literary Museum

  The setting of Endo Shusaku’s novel Silence. Sotome is blessed with a

  unique history and culture of Christianity

 

Lunch at China Town

 

Exploring Peace Park where the Atomic Bomb dropped in 1945

  Visit Atmic Bomb Museum, Ground Zero and Peace Statue

 

Martyrdom of the 26 Saints of Japan       

  Nishizaka hill is the most significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  The 26 Martyrs of Japan were a group of Catholics who were executed

  by crucifixion on February 5, 1597.

Oura Cathedral  

  The Cathedral is one of the significant Christian Pilgrimage site in Japan.

  Established 1865, this church is officially known as “Oura Cathedral, the

  Church of 26 Martyrs.”  

 

Drive to Fukuoka, 2 hours 

18:00 Arrive at  Fukuoka, end of the tour

 


 

Map of Nagasaki

 

 

 


 

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